KARTER MILO TAYLOR FROM HORSHAM

Ten-year-old Milo Taylor of Horsham first took to a go-kart track just two years ago. Having demonstrated natural talent, he is now preparing for a full season of national championship racing. But his ultimate ambition is to reach Formula One and emulate his hero, Max Verstappen.

PARTY TIME

Milo’s introduction to motorsport came late, at least in karting terms. When he was eight, he attended a friend’s go-karting party at TeamSport Crawley. Most of his friends were a year or two older, yet Milo led the way, setting a series of searing lap times.

Dad Mark said: ‘Milo went to the party with friends of ours. When they called me to say how rapid he was, I thought it was a wind up. It was only when I saw the timing sheets that I realised it wasn’t. I took Milo back to the same track to race with him, and although he was in a slower child’s cart, I could see he had ability. We were encouraged to sign him up to TeamSport’s Race Academy, where he could compete against other fast young drivers.’

PODIUM STEP

The Academy helps children aged 8-15 to develop their skills, with a progression pathway from beginner to advanced levels. Milo started racing on Monday nights, and while it was mostly older drivers with more experience that claimed victories, he showed promise and twice finished on the podium.

Milo said: ‘That was my grounding in karting. As well as races, the instructors would show you the best lines and also demonstrate good techniques for braking. But mostly, it’s down to skill. I just knew when to come off the throttle and when to brake, without really thinking about it. I think you either have that skill or you don’t.’

HARSH PENALTY

British Indoor Karting Championships are held at TeamSport venues across the country. A top six finish in his final race at Crawley in September 2024 would have secured Milo a place in the Regional final, with the top drivers from there going on to qualify for a National final. He crossed the line in 5th, but a five-second time penalty meant he missed out by the narrowest of margins.

Mark said: ‘I saw the penalty come up on screen, but on track, Milo was unaware of it. We had to tell him that he hadn’t quite made it to the Regional final, and he was heart-broken. Although he plays football, he has struggled to fully engage in sports, and it was only at this moment that we realised how passionate he was about karting. The TeamSport instructors were great and the first to suggest that we take Milo to an outdoor track. My cousin used to compete in karting, so I was aware of how expensive it can be. Despite my reluctance, we felt Milo deserved that chance.’

GO OUTDOORS

Mark bought an old kart for £500, which could squeeze into the back of Milo’s grandma’s Nissan Cube, and they travelled to the outdoor track at Bayford Meadows, Sittingbourne. The kart was quick, when it was working – which unfortunately wasn’t very often! While doing his best and learning on the job, Mark was not a mechanical engineer, meaning Milo’s kart lacked balance.

Milo said: ‘It didn’t even have a starter button, so you had to fire up the engine with a pull cord. The chassis was bent out of shape too! It kept breaking down, so we bought another second-hand kart with a new Honda GX200 engine. Unfortunately, that kart was 10-years-old, which we later found out was too old to pass regulations for Honda cadet racing. It was fine for track days though, so we went to Bayford Meadows a lot during the winter. Because it was always raining, I learned how to drive in the wet and that really helped me to improve my car control too.’

FLIPPING HECK!

Eventually, mum Sara insisted on no more second-hand karts! They consulted with Project One Racing in Sittingbourne and Milo began competing in a new kart in the Honda Cadet 200 Series in April 2025.

Any doubts as to the competitive nature of karting were quashed when they spotted another parent measuring Milo’s chassis, after he qualified on the front row for his very first race at Buckmore Park. While attempting to take the lead, Milo suffered a costly spin, but still recovered to finish fourth. Having shown promise in Club Championship races, it wasn’t long before Milo joined MJR Racing, a professional team which provided driver coaching and race day support. He soon turned his attention to National Championships, but early hopes were thwarted by a huge crash.

Mark said: ‘Milo went to his first National karting race last summer, at Clay Pigeon Raceway in Dorset. Saturday had gone well, with Milo finishing an impressive 7th out of 24 karts. However, during Sunday’s race, another driver went off on to the grass and – as they recovered – clipped Milo’s kart, flipping it over. Milo was thrown out on to the track and the kart landed partially on top of him. The race was red-flagged and I ran across the track, while Sara somehow leapt over the tyre barrier too! Fortunately, Milo emerged without a scratch.’

SMASHING IT!

Since then, Milo has enjoyed success in Club Championships at Bayford Meadows, Lydd in Kent, and Buckmore Park, where he dropped his first winner’s trophy – a glass plaque which smashed to pieces!  Despite this victory, his most impressive display came in a National Championship race at Whilton Mill, where he battled from 18th on the grid to finish second. This year, he hopes to complete a full season in the MicroMAX series, run by Cadet Kart Championship (CKC), and the same class in a separate series run by Ultimate Karting Championship (UKC). His ambition is to move up to the Junior classes from the age of 12, following in the footsteps of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.

Milo said: ‘Max is my favourite driver as he always tries to overtake, and he’s quick in the wet. I think because I practiced so much in the rain, I’m fast on a wet track too. I would love to one day race in Formula One. Last year, we had lots of bad luck, but this year I have a good kart and the support of a team, so it’s not just dad fixing my kart. I hope to win a Club Championship and finish in the top 10 of the CKC or UKC Championships too.’

DEARY ME

Milo has also switched from a four-stroke to a two-stroke engine class, with the backing of a new team, BFM. He has received great support from All Saints CE Primary School too. After an ADHD diagnosis, the school has worked out a flexible timetable, allowing Milo to travel to tracks on a Friday, prior to race weekends. However, if he is to progress through the karting ranks, he will need the support of not just his family, but sponsors.

Mark said: ‘Motorsport is all-consuming, and requires a big commitment from all of us. We often travel together, and there’s a close-knit community, with Milo’s sister Luna making many friends in the paddock. But racing is expensive and even on a tight budget, an average weekend costs about £1500 because of entry fees, team fees and tyres – which we must buy from one supplier to ensure fairness. Then there’s fuel, food and accommodation costs. If Milo damages his kart, it can be even more expensive, and kids are going to have accidents! Some families perhaps don’t face the same financial challenges. Once, Milo collided with the son of Toto Wolff (Principal of Mercedes F1 team). At the moment, Milo is able to compete, but the more he progresses, the greater the costs. So, if anyone can support Milo’s dream, we’d love to hear from them.’

Further information: To discuss sponsorship opportunities, please call Mark on 07368 623007 or email miloracing2015@outlook.com

Originally published in AAH (All About Horsham) Magazine on 1st April 2026. Words by Ben Morris. Photography by Alan Wright.