Meet Diego
Diego Berendzen
Diego is in his 4th season of competitive karting, racing in the Junior X30 category. As the only American on the Panama Karting Team, he represents both countries with pride and determination.
A Passion That Started Early
Diego’s love for racing started young. At just 9 years old, after learning that Formula 1 drivers often begin in karting, he started calling local tracks himself—asking about pricing, training, and how to get started. For more than a year, he showed up just to watch and study—learning everything he could from the sidelines until the day he could finally join in.
When the time came, his family bought a used kart with money they had saved. Without a team or mechanic, Diego’s dad, Cory, learned the ropes on his own—getting advice from a few generous trackside dads and doing whatever it took to keep Diego on track. There was no trailer, no extras—just commitment.
Training Like a Champion
Today, Diego trains year-round with the Panama Karting Team, led by a coach who races professionally at Autódromo Internacional de Panamá. He supplements his on-track sessions with CrossFit and weekly work with a sim coach, sharpening his skills off-track and reinforcing his racing IQ. The dedication is already there—what’s missing is the funding to match his potential.
