Yumping.- Despite your young age, you've been involved in karting for quite some time. How did you get started in this world?
Sandro García.- My father read an advertisement in a motorsport magazine about the 1st Repsol Gas Karting Challenger and quickly signed me up. I was selected along with twenty-one other children.
Y.- More than half your life spent on karting circuits. When did you start competing?
S.G.- Although I've been driving for a long time, I didn't start competing until three years ago, in 2007.
Y.- The Repsol Gas Karting Challenge opened doors for you in this sport. What did this opportunity mean to you?
S.G.- Repsol and the people running this project, Mr Jesús Salmón and Mrs Teresa Paraja, gave me the opportunity to get into a competition kart for the first time and begin this wonderful sport that I didn't know before, competing against twenty-one children from different regions.
Y.- What's the competition world like? Is there much rivalry in karting?
S.G.- For me, it's the most important thing in my life. As for rivalry on the track - yes, absolutely, but once the chequered flag drops and the race ends, we only think about playing together and we don't usually talk about what happened on the track.
Y.- Moving from the Cadet to Junior category is an important point in your career, as it means not only that you're growing up but also gaining more experience...
S.G.- As with everything in life, it's experience that helps you correct mistakes and thus improve your level. The category change is another challenge in my learning process, aside from the fact we use more powerful engines which is an added incentive.
Y.- Your father is very familiar with this world, as he was a rally driver in his day and has now become your manager. What's it like working with your father?
S.G.- My father is passionate about motorsport. He particularly likes me to stay focused during races. He explains all the adjustments he makes to the kart so I can learn about its reactions. He's always motivating me and his only goal is for me to enjoy competing.
Y.- You're already preparing for the new season - in fact you've just done a test. How did you feel on the new circuit?
S.G.- The test we did in Campillos with Geruco Motor Sport under the direction of Canarian technician Mr Juan Nieves was a very positive and exciting experience, and I'd like my future to be linked with them. Regarding the 2011 season, I want to compete in the Spanish Championship, the Canarian Regional Championship and another autonomous community's championship. It all depends on finding a sponsor to make this project possible - right now it's just a big dream.
Y.- How do you balance school with the world of competition?
S.G.- So far I'm managing very well. If I weren't, my parents wouldn't let me compete.
Y.- Who's your biggest idol?
S.G.- Fernando Alonso, Jaime Alguersuari, Pedro de la Rosa, Dani Clos and many other young drivers who are making their mark in other categories.
Y.- What hobbies do you have besides driving?
S.G.- I really like tennis, football and video games.
Y.- You must be the envy of your friends off the track. Has karting brought you new friendships?
S.G.- Sometimes they come to watch me at the track where I train, and afterwards we rent some karts and have a few races. The friendships I've made through karting include other drivers, their parents, mechanics, technicians from the Canarian Motorsport Federation, and people who work at the circuits where I compete and train.
Y.- Where do you see yourself in ten years?
S.G.- I don't know where I'll be but I do know how I'd like to be - competing at the highest level.
Y.- Your next objective?
S.G.- My immediate goal is to try to finish as high as possible in the Canarian Regional Championship (I'm currently in third place with one race remaining), and then try to find a sponsor to help me face my ambitious 2011 sports project with guarantees, so I can continue developing in my young sporting career.
