Teenage Latvian Karting World Champion Dreams of F1, but Funding Remains a Hurdle

In December 2021, in Bahrain, the then 14-year-old Stolzermanis became the world champion in karting in the junior class. In July 2022, he was given the opportunity to participate in the young talent camp of the F-1 team “Ferrari” at the Maranello circuit in Italy.

Jānis Naglis, vice president of the Latvian Automobile Federation (LAF), called Štolcermans an amazing talent, emphasizing that it is impossible to achieve such success without family support and love for motorsport. Thomas’ mom, Nellie Stolzerman, also praised the family’s contribution to her son’s success.

“The husband has put in two years of his life,” Stolzerman said. “In 2022 and 2021, he has not been to Latvia at all, and he [Tomasu] has prepared for the independent life of an adult. He has a Spanish mechanic.”

Tomas Stolzerman’s father, Marek, is a former racing driver, just like his uncle, Haralds Schlägelmilch, who was the closest Latvian to entering the F-1 circuit.

16-year-old Tomas Stolcermanis lives in Italy every day and competes in Europe’s top karting competitions. The first step in the formula class would be for him in the F-4 series.

“We need at least half a million euros for the F-4 season,” Štolzermane highlighted the unattainable costs for the family. “Right now, with the support of our friends, my husband working 24/7 and all his projects, my projects, it’s unreal.”

Stolcermanis is a member of the Latvian Olympic Team (LOV). As a representative of a non-Olympic sport, he does not receive LOV financial support, but Tomas has access to medical coverage.

LAF promises to direct almost a third of state funding to young talents, as it has been done before.

“We have to make a program – that’s the very first thing,” LAF Vice President Naglis outlined the possible way to securing funding. “I don’t want to say this figure out loud today, because the program needs to be arranged anyway, we need to go to the Ministry of Education and Science. Then there will be the first screen – to see if it will be approved. But in any case, 30% of this amount will be distributed to young talents. Currently, Stolcermanis for us is number one, Grencis is number two.”

So far, Stolcermanis has received support from LAF for partial travel expenses. It is significant that the minutes of the April 19 general meeting of the Automobile Federation state that the LAF has more than half a million euros in its reserve fund. At the beginning of 2022, it has even exceeded 800 thousand euros, however, the federation does not plan to divert large investments in one athlete.

A number of Latvia’s most profitable companies have been approached to support the young racing driver, but so far without much success.

The Stolzerman family allows the idea that Thomas could also represent another country in the future, if it is necessary for career advancement.

His uncle Harald Schlegelmilch did not take advantage of such an opportunity.

“If there is such an opportunity and it opens up very wide opportunities for Thomas, then, learning from the mistakes of Thomas’ godfather, my brother, it will definitely be used,” said Nellie Stolzerman. “Also, he will be a Latvian who was born in Latvia. If that opportunity is because he has German citizenship, for example, or Italian citizenship, then it will not be missed. It really will not be missed.”

Long-time F-1 commentator Jānis Janšević pointed out that not only talent is important in motorsport, but also the ability of pilots to attract sponsors to the team. For pilots from small countries, it is significantly more difficult to reach the royal class of motorsport.

“It matters whether you come from a country of 1.7 million people or come from a country of 1.4 billion people and everything in between,” Janšević said.

Janševics considers the chances of Stolzerman to reach F-1 cautiously, but does not rule them out completely. The success achieved in karting raises expectations, however

Achieving F-1 will require not only substantial funding, but also excellence in every subsequent class of motorsport.

“It is absolutely clear – no matter how many competitions there are, similar to boxing, wherever you drive, you have to be ahead. You have to win those competitions,” emphasized Janšević.

Nellie Stolzerman said that international companies and teams are interested in Thomas.

“Tomas is visible, he is in sight. There are no concrete talks with someone about the F-4 season and support in the amount of half a million,” Stolzermane explained. “There are talks about tests that will cost us less money than other people, other drivers.”

Among the Baltics, the Estonian pilot Jurī Vips has been the closest to the F-1 start. Last year, he had already reached the status of a test pilot for the F-1 champions “Red Bull”, but due to racist statements, cooperation with him was terminated. However, Vipa’s example confirms that it is not impossible for Baltics to enter the F-1 circuit either.

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