Meet Diego
Diego Berendzen
Diego completed his 4th season of competitive karting, taking 2nd place for Tillitson Jr. in the Central American Series & Panama National Series. 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.
