CEBUANO karter William John Riley Go goes full speed ahead as he continues to pursue his Formula 1 dream at a young age of 14.
After winning three karting crowns in 2019, the 14-year-old prodigy became the first Filipino to bag a podium finish in three competitions in Europe he highlighted with the 2022 ROK Super Finals championship in Lonato, Italy, last October 18 to 22.
Go finished the 20-lap competition with a time of 16 minutes and 12.687 seconds, beating 36 racers from more than 10 countries in the Super ROK category.
He was also awarded the Pole Position and Fastest Lap trophies in the process.
“There was a surreal amount of joy from myself and everyone who supported me. This one-of-a-kind milestone would not have been possible without my family, my team…” Go said. “The experience that motivates me to keep moving forward to reach my dreams despite how ambitious it may seem.”
Go was also the first Filipino to make the podium in second place at the 2022 FIA Karting Academy in Genk, Belgium, and at the WSK Euro Series in Lombardia, Italy, where he finished in third place.
Go has been competing locally and in Asia since he was seven years old. He described racing Europe as “the home of the best of the best in karting” and one that ranks high in his bucket list.
“I knew becoming victorious in the continent was extremely challenging due to the amount of talent and experience in the grid,” he said. “Nevertheless, I decided to keep dreaming of that championship win since there was no harm in doing so anyways.”
Born and raised in Cebu, Go’s love for racing began after a family friend brought him to local races.
“I was finally able to join a karting clinic when I was six,” he said. “I have been begging my parents to try karting since I was a little boy and I was happy that I was finally able to do it.”
He added: “My dad’s friend influenced me as he would invite me to tag along and watch karting and car races in Cebu. It was then that I realized I enjoyed watching the races and wanted to follow in their footsteps and become a racer, too.”
He turned professional in September 2015.
“Back then, my parents and I only knew so little about racing. With some helping hands and hard work during only a few days of practice, I still managed to come home with a trophy,” he said. “Although it was not the best outcome, I was delighted and grateful, considering it was my first race. From then on, I was already hoping to join more races in the future.”
After winning his first national competition in 2017, he has competed in various competitions in Asia.
In 2019, he became the first Filipino to win three overall Karting Championships in one season—IAME Asia, ROK Cup Singapore and Asian Open Karting Championship.
Last December 29, Go received a plaque of appreciation during the 19th and 20th Golden Wheel Awards in Manila for his “Invaluable support to the development of Motor Sport in the Philippines.”
The annual awards are organized by The Golden Wheel Award Foundation and recognizes top motorsport talents in the Philippines.
“The past seven months changed me tremendously and it molded me into who I am today,” said the son of Wendell and Virna Go. “It made me realize that not every race could be ours, the importance of my overall health [through proper exercise and nutrition], keeping a balance between racing and school, how days off the track can be made fun with the right company, and that I have the best support system—my family who stands by my side every step of the way.”
Go’s 2023 calendar is hectic but prestigious—FIA European World Championship, WSK Euroseries and Super Master Series, all set in Europe.
“For 2023, I want to capitalize on what I did last year. From the win in the Rok Cup Superfinal race, to the WSK and FIA academy podiums, I want to do better so I can hopefully bring pride to the Philippines in the world of motorsports,” he said.
His main goal is to transition to Formula 1, the pinnacle of motorsport which entails honing his skills in karting and proceeding to the next level—Formula 4, Formula 3, Formula 2 and, finally, Formula 1.