Nine-year-old Daniel Stangereani from Leicestershire is defying the odds by competing in the prestigious SuperOne Go Karting Series—despite undergoing three open-heart surgeries at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
SuperOne is one of the UK’s leading karting championships and a proven pathway to Formula One, producing stars like Daniel’s hero, Lewis Hamilton. For Daniel, who’s been karting since the age of five, the road to the track hasn’t been easy.
Picture: Daniel Stangereani
He was born with a hole in his heart and required life-saving surgery just six days after birth. At six months, a second surgery was needed to fix a narrowing in his aorta, using a valve from his lung. Monitored closely by the hospital’s specialist Cardiology team, Daniel thrived—until complications arose last year. At age eight, while ranked fifth in the UK in his karting class, he was told he needed a third open-heart surgery to replace the now undersized valve.
“Daniel was devastated,” said his dad, Krisztian Pintea. “Racing is his passion, and having to stop was heartbreaking. But he took it in his stride, just like he always does.”
Daniel underwent successful surgery in September 2023 and spent over six months recovering before returning to the karting circuit. His comeback season saw him complete a full year in the cadet category, placing in the top ten—an incredible feat given the circumstances.
“After everything he’s faced, to see him back in the kart and thriving is beyond inspiring,” said Krisztian. “This year, we’re aiming even closer to the podium.”
Daniel’s dream is to become a professional racing driver, and he has the full support of his Consultant, Dr Chetan Mehta, who’s cared for him since infancy. “Daniel has been incredibly brave,” said Dr Mehta. “He never lets his condition hold him back. In fact, he even inspired me to try go-karting myself!”
Now gearing up for the 2025 SuperOne season, Daniel and his family are hoping to secure a sponsor to help with the high costs of competitive racing.
“Racing at this level is expensive,” said Krisztian. “A sponsor would mean the world to us and allow Daniel to keep chasing his dream—one he’s held onto despite every challenge.”
Daniel continues to prove that no pit stop, no matter how serious, can hold back a determined heart.
