At what age can you start motorsports: the answer is unexpected

Motorsport is not just a driving technique, it is a real art that requires the ability to combine skills, psychology, and creativity. The first steps in this direction can be taken as early as 5 years old, starting with such disciplines as car cross on a mini-buggy.

This was stated by Vasyl Kobenko, a well-known Ukrainian racing driver and coach, in an interview with OBOZ.UA.

According to him, motorsport is not just about speed and maneuvers, it is also about a deep understanding of the car and interaction with it, as well as the work of a team that creates ideal conditions for the athlete. Kobenko explained that driving a car can be both conscious and unconscious, but real success comes when an athlete is 100% aware of what he or she is doing behind the wheel.

The coach noted that motorsport is a difficult path with no universal recipe for success. However, it is important to remember that this sport requires constant development, creativity, and attention to detail. Mr. Kobenko emphasized the importance of understanding the technique and psychology of driving. However, he also emphasized that the ability to understand your body and your reaction behind the wheel is equally important.

When it comes to the age at which one can start practicing motorsports, Kobenko is confident that it can even be five years old. He noted that children of this age can start karting or car cross on special cars similar to mini-buggies. At the same time, the coach drew attention to the importance of the child's own interest in motorsports, not just fulfilling their parents' dreams.

According to Vasyl Kobenko, it is not the best approach to impose sports on children. If a child does not want to go into motorsport, it is impossible to force them to do so. Sometimes parents can try to impose their desires, and then the result will be exactly the opposite of what is expected. The coach believes that it is important to maintain support and understanding for the child's interests, as this directly affects his or her development and achievements in sports.

"But it's important to remember one thing here. Sometimes we parents try to impose on our children what we want. Like when I was a kid, I dreamed of cars, so you, child, should dream of them. But you shouldn't drag a child who doesn't want to go into motorsport. The coach's task is to abstract from the parents' opinion and understand whether the child likes to do it or not. It is impossible to impose knowledge on a child who does not want it now. But it is easy to break the psyche. I have worked with the children's team for a long time and have seen such cases. I know for sure that when parents hear their child and support his or her interests, it is a completely different quality of development and a completely different result," the coach said.

Vasyl Kobenko also spoke about his experience working with adult athletes. He noted that motorsports can be done at any age, the main thing is health and desire. For example, one of his students, Ihor Bilousov, became a five-time champion of Ukraine when he started his training at the age of 45. Another of his students, Oleksandr Kuznetsov, came to motorsport at the age of 38 and became the Ukrainian champion in 2019.

Kobenko added that every athlete has their own path to success, and it is important to approach each one individually. Some need to adjust habits that hinder development, while others need to find the most effective training methods. In his coaching experience, Kobenko emphasizes that the key is not only technical training but also the cultivation of strength of mind, the ability to self-development, and a constructive approach.

In the final part of the interview, Vasyl Kobenko shared the experience of his first coach, Valerii Hrubalskyi, who taught him not to stop and look for someone to blame, but to take responsibility for his results. These lessons he now passes on to his students, emphasizing the importance of inner strength and the ability to continuously improve.

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