Forster teen Sam Tattersall has spent 2019 steadily making a name for himself in go kart racing circles.
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The 13-year-old capped off an already impressive year earlier this month by winning the junior performance class of the Manning Valley Kart Club's annual Dave Hamnett Memorial at Wingham.
Not only was it his biggest win yet - with the youngster moving up for the first time from the junior light class - it also held personal significance.
"It was a good thing for Sam when he picked up that because his mother was friends with Dave and the Hamnetts," his father Gary said.
Following the win, Sam was awarded junior driver of the year and club driver of the year at Manning Valley Kart Club's annual presentation.
Competing for just two years, the Year 7 student at Great Lakes College has shown a natural affinity for the sport, taking to it with a mix of skill and bravado.
"He has no fear," Gary said.
"It's all he wants to do."
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In 2020 he's got a number of races in his sights, starting with the first round of the Northern Zone competition in February.
With the State championships possibly being held at Port Macquarie next year, he'll also be getting in plenty of practice up there, with a win high on his agenda.
"He'd love to win the State," Gary said.
"He's determined to win."
A couple of crashes haven't set him back either, with the youngster going through a tyre wall at a race meet earlier this year.
But ultimately he's shown great control for a young driver, which is important considering he's often clocking up speeds of around 100km/h.
"It takes a lot of skill," Gary said.
"It's not easy."
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