13-Year-Old Nick Terlecki To Represent USA in International Racing Competition

13-Year-Old Nick Terlecki To Represent USA in International Racing Competition

Kane County’s very own Nick Terlecki, already an international racing champion, is set to represent the USA next week at the IAME International Final 2018 in LeMans, France.

Nick Terlecki

“This is the most prestigious kart race in the world, and Nick will be racing against the best in this sport,” said Nick’s mom, Tanja. “We are overwhelmed with joy and cannot wait to see his performance!”

The official track practice will start Tuesday, Oct. 9, and heat racing starts Thursday, Oct. 11. Finals are on Sunday, Oct. 14.

All events will be on live feed on IAME website, and Nick’s family will be posting pictures and updates throughout the week on Nick’s facebook page.

How Nick Terlecki Got Started in Racing

Nick Terlecki got into racing at around age 10.

“We have always moved Nick up into the older-age classes for tougher and greater competition classes,” Tanja said. “It’s sink or swim, and amazingly he has swum in every level.”

This year has gone at breakneck speed, and not only on the racetrack.

In January, when Nick was still 12, he moved up to the X30Jr class, which generally consists of 13- to 15-year-olds.

In July, he won his first national championship in the X30Jr class level in the United States Pro Kart series.

With the win, Nick earned a ticket to the IAME World Finals in Le Mans, where he will be one of the few Americans to represent Team USA.

More Than Just Racing

Nick is not only excelling at racing, but at school.

He’s a member of the Beta Club at Hampshire Middle School and has been on the honor roll every semester since beginning at HMS in sixth grade.

“Nick does miss a lot of school days for his racing, but takes his studies and education very seriously, too,” Tanja said. “He has done an incredible job prioritizing his school work and his racing, showing that it takes hard work and dedication to be successful.”

Kane County Board member Kurt Kojzarek, whose district includes a northern section of the county including parts of Gilberts and Elgin, says he’s just amazed by Nick’s accomplishments.

“What can I say but the 19th District breeds champions,” he said via email. “We have some amazing young people in our community who are not only excelling in academics but also in extra-curricular activities.”

About IAME

The IAME International Series is organized by Victory Concept, the well known Karting events organizer, responsible for all past editions of the IAME International Final and IAME International Open and now engaged with the IAME International Series 2018.

Victory Concept is also the organizer of the IAME Series France, the IAME Series Benelux and other important IAME events.