At SVN Capital, we’re passionate about fostering talent and encouraging career growth, both within our team and in the broader community. This commitment shines through in our sponsorship of Daniel Callaghan, a remarkable 15-year-old karting prodigy from the UK.
Daniel’s enthusiasm and dedication to racing are genuinely inspiring.
Thanks to our support, he now has access to essential resources that allow him to focus entirely on his passion: racing. In this Spotlight article, we’re excited to share Daniel’s story and show how SVN Capital is helping him reach new milestones in his racing career.
From a very young age, Daniel was captivated by cars. While other toddlers climbed frames and played with toys, Daniel’s eyes would light up at the sight of electric karts at the local play centres. His first love was a Scalextric set, which he played with so much that it once caught fire from overuse! Recognising his passion, his parents bought him a battery-powered ride-on Ferrari. It became evident early on that speed and driving had captured his heart.
Daniel first stepped into a kart at five and a half. Enrolled in the Bambino class, designed for children aged six to eight, his initial excitement was soon overshadowed by the intimidating roar of the engines. Although he enjoyed the experience, he decided not to continue, thinking karting wasn’t for him. However, life had other plans. Years later, he joined his school’s karting team and began racing in NatSKA (The National Schools Karting Championship), an organisation formed to get “Kids in Karts.” NatSKA has been nurturing karting careers and helping kids take their first steps into karting. With over 49 championships, they have helped over 8,000 racers start their careers. This experience reignited his passion for racing, and he rediscovered a desire for karting he hadn’t felt since he was six. Despite the break and starting later than many of his peers, this marked the beginning of his exciting journey.
As Daniel grew older (and taller!), it became clear that he would need to move to a higher-power racing class to have a fighting chance. After some back-to-back testing in an X30 and Rotax Max kart, where Daniel was nearly a second quicker than other first-timers, his father knew they had to make the move. A new kart and engine were purchased, and Daniel entered the Junior Rotax Max class at the world-famous Whilton Mill Karting circuit. Known as one of the most iconic tracks in the UK, Whilton Mill hosts the FastR Championship, attracting some of the best drivers in the world.
The leap from NatSKA to the Whilton Mill championship was significant. Daniel now had to compete with drivers who had raced at the top of their class with significantly better budgets for most of their lives. Undeterred, Daniel transitioned from being a novice in NatSKA to obtaining an official MS UK Karting license in August 2023. Determined to race and make himself known, Daniel achieved this milestone just over a year after stepping back into a kart.
The past year has been a whirlwind of rapid growth and invaluable experiences for Daniel. He balanced racing for his school at the national championships with intensive winter testing to prepare for the 2024 season. It quickly became clear that determination and commitment alone were not enough; without significant financial support, Daniel’s fledgling career would struggle to take off. Recognising this need, Daniel’s father reached out to the COO of SVN Capital, a lifelong friend, to explain their situation and seek any possible assistance. The decision was easy for us; seeing the alignment between fostering our clients’ growth and supporting Daniel’s promising career, we knew we had to step in.
SVN Capital’s sponsorship has been instrumental in Daniel’s racing journey. Kart racing can be incredibly expensive, and our support ensures Daniel has the essential resources to compete and excel. With our sponsorship, Daniel now benefits from the expertise of a dedicated mechanic, personalised driver coaching, exclusive awning space and new tyres at the events. Our branded awning helps to keep Daniel and his team dry and provides maximum exposure across both NATska and the FastR Championship series for the 2024 season. The SVN Capital branding on his kart, race suit, and helmet raises awareness for our firm. It aligns perfectly with our dedication to career growth and mentorship and showcases our commitment to supporting emerging talent in the racing world.
At the start of the 2024 season, Daniel began racing with Precision Racing, the official team of Silverstone UTC, known for their significant aspirations and high expectations. Their ambitious vision has already attracted the attention of several industry giants, who, though still under wraps, are eager to help the team become a dominant force in karting.
Currently the fastest driver in his NatSKA cohort, Daniel has made remarkable strides and learned a great deal from Precision Racing. His exceptional speed and skill on the track have caught the eyes of many. This talent also attracted the attention of the formidable X-Kart racing team. Following Daniel’s impressive performance at their Scholarship event in October 2023 – where he set the second-fastest lap and recorded the fastest times in all three sectors of the track – X-Kart and Daniel have maintained a strong relationship throughout the season.
Daniel is a level-headed individual who sets achievable goals. His most recent aim was to make it into the A final at the Whilton Mill FastR Championship — a small but significant step. Typically, drivers must win the B final or place in the top four to advance to the A final. However, in round three, Daniel’s excellent heat results allowed him to skip straight into the A final, bringing smiles to the faces of Team Callaghan.
In the final, Daniel raced closely with several members of the X-Kart team, competing fiercely (yet respectfully). After the race, all the drivers were excited to discuss the events and how much fun they had. Matty Street, the visionary and driving force behind X-Kart, had always been supportive of Daniel since they first met. During a discussion about the race and Daniel’s innovative new kart cleaner (more on that shortly), the conversation turned to Daniel potentially joining X-Kart.
The X-Kart team is a tight-knit family, and Matty’s ethos of nurturing young drivers perfectly aligns with SVN Capital’s values. With this shared vision, Daniel is thrilled to announce that starting from round five of the Whilton Mill Karting Championship, he will be racing with X-Kart – a significant step forward in his motorsport career.
Thanks to Daniel’s passion for the sport, racing has become a true family affair for the Callaghans. His father drives him to every race and assists with anything mechanical (which has been a huge learning curve). Meanwhile, his mother and twin sister often take on the roles of race marshals and scrutineers, helping fund Daniel’s career.
But their dedication to Daniel’s dream extends beyond the track. After noticing the mess chain lubricant left on the karts, Daniel and his family developed DJAC’s Kart Cleaner, an innovative product designed to remove oil and grease from engines and karts. KKC Kart Shop tested this new cleaner at the prestigious Whilton Mill race track, and after receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback, it is now stocked in their stores. Daniel hopes the sales of the kart cleaner will go towards funding his racing career, with early users praising its effectiveness and high quality, providing a promising boost to his racing ambitions.
Success in karting requires a perfect blend of physical fitness and mental toughness. Imagine racing at 70 miles per hour, just an inch and a half off the ground – it takes incredible core strength to handle that intensity. That’s why Daniel’s training regimen is so rigorous. Every Tuesday evening, he has a fitness session via Zoom with Lee Capps from Driving Force Performance Fitness. He also trains with a personal trainer every Sunday, and when he’s not racing, he competes in athletics with his school. To stay sharp, he hones his skills on a cutting-edge motion platform karting simulator at home. This dedication keeps him in peak physical condition while sharpening his mental focus, ensuring he’s always at the top of his game.
Maintaining focus and motivation during intense races can be challenging, but Daniel thrives on his drive to win and his desire to advance through the motorsport ranks. His journey is not without setbacks, but these moments serve as valuable learning experiences. Daniel recalls one particular race as a lesson in resilience; poised for a second-place finish, he encountered an issue on the final corner when his throttle cable snapped. Typically, this would end the race, but Daniel’s quick thinking saved the day. He grabbed the snapped throttle cable with one hand and steered with the other, finishing the race in eighth place instead of a DNF (Did Not Finish). Although disappointed, this experience became a platform for growth and reflection, highlighting the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.
Teamwork and collaboration are also critical to Daniel’s success. The continuous exchange of feedback between him and his team is essential for refining the kart and improving performance. Facing challenges head-on, Daniel pushes himself beyond his limits to overcome obstacles and regain his rhythm, always with the ultimate goal of achieving victory.
As part of Daniel’s school curriculum, he is required to undertake work experience. So, when he expressed his passion for aerodynamics and eagerness for practical learning, his father called in a huge favour and sought guidance from Trevor Foster. With an impressive career of his own, Trevor oversees Jordan F1 alongside the charismatic team owner Eddie Jordan. He also manages the F3 team at Fortec Motorsport (where Daniel’s father and Trevor initially met). Jordan F1 has undergone substantial changes over the years and now operates as the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team.
Leveraging his extensive network, Trevor secured an exceptional and rare work experience opportunity for Daniel at the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team. So, in June, Daniel immersed himself in the cutting-edge world of Formula One, exploring the fascinating intricacies of aerodynamics and learning from one of the top teams in the sport. This outstanding opportunity perfectly aligned with Daniel’s aspirations, paving the way for his future endeavours in the racing industry. Daniel is under no illusions about how fortunate he was to have this opportunity and made the most of this brief glimpse into the pinnacle of the racing world.
Karting runs through Daniel’s veins; it’s his passion and purpose. While his ultimate goal is to reach Formula One, he remains humble, focusing on small victories and continuous growth. His next step is to secure a Junior racing Scholarship, a crucial milestone that will provide him with more experience and alleviate the financial burden of racing.
SVN Capital’s support has been pivotal in Daniel’s development, allowing him to fully dedicate himself to his passion. His inspiring journey perfectly illustrates the synergy between his ambitions and our commitment to nurturing potential. By supporting Daniel, we are not only investing in the future of a remarkable young talent but also showcasing our dedication to fostering excellence both on and off the track. This partnership demonstrates how collaboration and a shared vision can lead to extraordinary achievements. We are proud to be part of Daniel’s journey and look forward to sharing future updates and celebrating his continued success.
If you want to support Daniel, you can donate through his website: https://www.djackarting.com/support
Stay connected and follow Daniel’s progress on Instagram: @djac_karting
