NESTLED in the list of competitors at Sunday’s Jamaica Karting Association’s first meet for the year at Palisadoes International Raceway was Spencer Whittingham.

He is normally found behind the wheel of a rally car charging down gravel stages at top speed.

“Christopher Issa gave me a call and offered me a drive in one of his karts,” Whittingham told Auto.

While he has long made the transition to a rally and sprint winner, Whittingham is no stranger to the land of karting. He started the sport early in his career around 2004.

“I did it on and off for about two years,” he said.

On the surface of it, the two genres couldn’t be more different as karting sticks to perfect tarmac on a set path, while rallying features constantly changing conditions over multiple course layouts. However, Whittingham attributes a huge chunk of his skills to his karting days.

“Apart from the basics of car control, it taught me how to feel and anticipate how much traction is available when I’m driving, which is key,” he said.

While Whittingham has been inactive since the summer of 2013 awaiting a new ride, he encourages other drivers to come out and flex their skills in karting whenever possible.

— Rory Daley