Brad Gartner is on track for the race of his lifetime, taking the wheel in this weekend's Adelaide 500.
Driving in the S5000 Tasman Series is a long way from the dirt go-kart races he started with — a dream come true for the 19-year-old from Penola on South Australia's Limestone Coast.
Gartner will put the pedal to the metal this weekend, driving a 560-horsepower, open-wheel car capable of reaching speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour.
"It's a completely new experience for me, driving this type of racecar," he told ABC ahead of the weekend of racing.
"I'm getting to work learning how to take it through the circuit here in Adelaide."
The Gartner name is one steeped in motor-racing folklore with both his brothers, his father and his uncle competitive car racers, along with his grandfather.
His uncle Greg Gartner is one of the country's biggest names in off-road racing, with numerous Australian Off Road Championship titles under his belt.
A rising star on the track
Gartner got his start in motorsport at age seven, racing go-karts on local dirt tracks before, at age 10, he moved onto a Datsun Sunny and a Hyundai Charade at the local speedway.
From there until he was 17, he was a rising junior star on the Victorian circuit before relocating to Adelaide to take his dream to the next stage.
"My team and I made the decision to move into racing on bitumen in August 2021 and we were top 10 in our first race," Gartner said.
"We had podiums quite quickly, and a big win when we moved into the Mustang TA2 just last month."
This weekend will be the first time Gartner races in an open-wheeler, which he describes as an "aerodynamic" and "extremely fast" car.
"It's nothing like anything I've ever driven before," he said.
"The little Excel I raced a couple of years back hit a top speed of around 180km/h but the S5000 is going 225km/h through corners.
"It's shaped to perform, with wings, and very high horsepower as well as a paddle-shift gearbox and a single driver seat."
After taking some time to get acquainted with the car, Gartner says speed will be the main game when he takes to the track tomorrow.
"I'm trying to get as many laps under my belt as quickly as possible," he said.
City racing challenge
Racing in the heart of a city poses its own challenges, Gartner says, with unforgiving barriers and limited run-off areas.
"In Adelaide, three metres on either side of you there's a wall," he said.
"The walls don't move. Anywhere else we go you can go off the track and you've got sand or grass."
Getting to this level in his career, Gartner says, has "only been possible" with the support and encouragement of his family, team and sponsors.
"I just love what I do, I love motorsports," he said.
"I remember watching my older brother when I was young and I've always known this is what I wanted to do."
While natural ability, ultra-fast reactions and steadfast confidence are all elements of his trade, Gartner says a strong team and a good attitude are paramount.
"You need to be a good people person, be confident and always have a smile – that takes you a long way," he said.
"I always put my best foot forward and stay positive. That's helped a lot in my journey this far.
"I'm also extremely grateful. It's a dream come true to be here, so I just have to keep my head, enjoy the experience and hopefully, have a good weekend."
