A third generation racing driver is dreaming of the big time as one of Northern Ireland’s most famous motorsport families prepares to write its next chapter.
Co Tyrone kid Max Colbert is just 11 years old, but is hoping to follow the path of his dad Stephen and grandad Kenny, the former who is currently an engineer in Formula 3 and the latter who is a former rally champion.
A talented karting driver himself at just 11, Max is hoping it will be a stepping stone to be able to compete with the best drivers in the world in Formula One. The Killyman youngster and the Colbert family are the subject of a new documentary produced by motoring magazine Influx.
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Max says he loves the adrenaline of the sport and wants to follow in the footsteps of his family.
“I think the thing I love most about motorsport is the speed and the adrenaline that you can have whilst driving it - and mostly getting out of school early just to do Wednesday night testing,” Max said..
“Ever since the start I thought ‘I want to be in Formula 1’. That’s the place where I want to be.
"It makes me feel very lucky that I am in a racing household because if I wasn’t I don’t know where I’d be. I wouldn’t be sitting at a race track, I know that.”
Dad Stephen grew up watching his father Ken tackle, and win, races and rallies across the country as well as learning from his engineering expertise.
He’s a racing fanatic himself and is now determined to have a similar impact with the latest Colbert - who also benefits from the wisdom of having his grandad by his side.
“Being the link in the middle between the younger generation and the older generation, I was very lucky because I grew up with my dad obviously teaching me and passing down all of that knowledge and information and that’s kind of gone full circle,” Stephen said.
“It would be fantastic to get there but I do see the journey it takes and explaining that to an 11-year-old is just a non-starter at the moment. So he keeps his dream, keeps aiming high.
"I think it’s fantastic to shoot for Formula 1 but at the end of the day if he doesn’t make it that far, I’ve made a career from motorsport by getting the chance to come kart racing, so it’s trying to give him the same opportunity really. "
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