TOM HAYES
MOTORSPORT
By TOM HAYES MANY people would naturally be against a 12-year-old getting behind the wheel, but for Korumburra’s Ryan Wyhoon, it is encouraged. Ryan races go-karts at the Gippsland Go-Kart Club in Morwell, where he has already raced in six seasons. This year will be his seventh season, and he will be chasing a coveted fourth Morwell Go Kart Championship. Not only does Ryan have those three championships, but also a number of high-level podiums under his belt too. Ryan was born into motorsport, as his father used to race but now currently owns Image Racing. Image Racing was a wildcard entry in the 2022 Repco Supercars Championship last year, working with the Erebus Academy. In 2023, Ryan will compete in the KA3 Junior Heavy Class, where he is excited to be working alongside the Erebus Academy. While Ryan joins the Erebus Academy, in doing so, he becomes the youngest ever member of the academy, which is a massive achievement in itself. Also in the academy is Jay Hanson and Jobe Stewart, the pair currently race in the Dunlop Super2 series, the championship beneath the Repco Supercars. Hanson raced for Image Racing last season, while 2023 will be Stewart’s first season in the competition. The final academy driver is James Wharton, who has moved to Italy to pursue a Formula One career. Wharton claimed global recognition when he claimed the top position in the Ferrari Driver Academy’s Scouting World Finals. Wharton currently drives in the Formula 4 UAE competition, which he began doing last year, placing fifth in his first season, claiming four wins. They’re three examples of what Ryan can achieve while in the hands of Erebus, who have proved to take drivers to the next step. During the week, Ryan did an interview with ABC Gippsland, conversing about what is next for the driving prodigy. “Erebus will be helping me with a bunch of things in my career, like showing me data, showing me where I have to be on certain weekends, or doing some media stuff like this,” he told ABC Gippsland. “After karting I’m looking to get into some Toyota 86’s, I’m not too sure after that whether I want to go into V8 Supercars or tour America.” The last club day of 2022 was in late-November, so Ryan won’t have to wait much longer to get behind the wheel in 2023.
