YOUNG GUN: HUGH BARTER

Young Gun: Hugh Barter

Hugh Barter’s motorsport journey doesn’t follow the typical father-son route, rather he started at an early age in a simulator at a Supercars event.

By HEATH McALPINE

In fact, father Chris was more enthusiastic about his son taking up a racket rather than a steering wheel, but he failed in that regard.

“No, his interest is in tennis,” Barter told Auto Action. “He tried to get me into that, but I was more interested in motorsport.

“I think if he knew about the budget costs beforehand, he would have tried a bit harder!”

About to turn 15, Barter has already racked up an enviable resume that he hopes will take him overseas as he pursues the ultimate dream of Formula 1.

That first taste in a simulator led to a Playstation, then a kart by the age of five.

Barter began his race career in 2012, but by 2016 he was racing in the Rotax Pro Tour Championship Mini Max Class, where he finished third before heading to Italy to contest the World Grand Final.

His first overseas event was a learning experience, of which Barter gained a lot and relayed it back to his racing in Australia.

“I’ve been over to Italy to compete in the world titles twice now,” Barter explained.

“In 2016 I contested the Mini Max category and in 2019 racing the Junior Max class. The first one, I was extremely quick in the wet and dry, so that was good, but my lack of experience in such a high level of competition put me down the order in qualifying when the nerves got to me.

”I felt the pressure and someone told me beforehand that I shouldn’t over drive the kart, but I did the exact opposite and under drove.”

Going back to Italy three years later, Barter drew on his previous experience and garnered impressive results, but there was further disappointment in the final.

“When I went back there for the second time, I qualified third before winning a heat race, scoring two seconds and in the final added ninth, but my kart was hampered by engine problems,” Barter recounted. “It hurt us as many drivers took risks where I couldn’t.”

Although the result was compromised, Barter came back to Australia full of confidence, which was delivered upon by winning the opening round of the Australian Kart Championship KA2 Junior Elite class.

“Coming back to Australia with the results we got in Italy has been a huge boost in confidence,” said Barter.

“I came back to Australia and won the first race in nationals before everything got shut down due to COVID. That was probably one of the first meetings I’ve come into where I was extremely confident and felt like it was my race to win.

“I think definitely going to the world titles for a second time and the fact I was able to learn from my mistakes, it just made me feel a lot more confident when I returned to Australia.”

Barter’s next aim is very clear and that is to return overseas for a full-time racing program.

“Formula 4 is our next move over in Europe, that’s the more direct route to Formula 1,” he said. “From there, more exposure to the European teams can lead onto maybe Ferrari or Mercedes so that’s our next major move.”

A regular watcher of the four Australians currently competing in the FIA Formula 3 Championship, Barter discusses with his family the pathways each went down to arrive at world motor sport’s third-tier.

Currently in lockdown, Barter is keeping race fit by using his sim using the iRacing platform as well as completing his Year 9 studies at Ashwood High School. The teaching staff have been flexible in terms of Barter’s studies, which he is thankful for.

“My teachers and the school are a huge help to me, plus the community supports my career path,” praised Barter. “The teachers give me work ahead of the rest of the class and give me time to finish my work before karting so I can focus 100 percent at the track.”

This web edition of Young Guns aims to highlight some of the talent from within the junior ranks. If, like Hugh, you fit the criteria please email [email protected] with a blurb about yourself, the categories you’ve competed in, some imagery to go with the story and contact details.

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