14-year-old becomes Denmark’s youngest Formula 4 champion

Fourteen-year-old Matteis Stigsen has become the youngest Danish Formula 4 champion ever, DR reports, after winning the title in his first season driving a formula car.

Stigsen, from Langeskov, drives at speeds of up to nearly 200 kilometres per hour. He said he was nervous before the final race because he was close behind the championship leader, but felt the pressure disappear once the race began.

“It was a really great feeling,” he said.

Stigsen first began karting at the age of six. When he turned 14 in March and was allowed to do so, he switched from a go-kart to a racing car.

His ambition is to become the world’s best racing driver and compete in Formula 1. If that dream does not come true, he said he would still like to make a living from motorsport.

Family sacrifices for the racing dream

Stigsen’s ambitions require significant sacrifices from the whole family. He spends many weeks away from home and has limited time to see school friends because of training and races.

“It is my dream, and I will do everything I can to make it come true,” he said. “It is about training as much as possible to stay ahead of the competition.”

His father, Jonas Stigsen, said the family often turns down events involving relatives, friends and work so they can travel to races with Matteis.

Matteis’s eight-year-old brother, Theodor, has also started racing and now uses his older brother’s former go-kart.

Grandparents travel to races

His grandparents also play a central role. During race weeks, his grandmother and grandfather travel with him in their motorhome so he can take part in as many races as possible, while his parents and younger brother remain at home on Funen.

They have spent about six months together in the motorhome. On the few days off during race weeks, his grandmother, Rikke Stigsen, home-schools him so he can concentrate on racing for the rest of the week.

Rikke Stigsen said she had given up her job to follow her grandson, even though Formula 1 itself does not interest her. She said the family had chosen the arrangement because they would never get the same time with Matteis and the family back.

Stigsen’s next race will take place at Padborg Park soon. Whether he will eventually achieve his Formula 1 dream remains unknown, but his family continues to support his ambitions.