Bio

Tamás Gender Junior was born in 2010 in Budapest, Hungary, and from a very young age he felt at home in the world of motorsport. The atmosphere of workshops and racetracks quickly became part of his everyday life: he spent long hours around race cars, sat in the cockpit, observed the work in the pit lane, and enthusiastically helped the mechanics. Even at this early stage, it was clear that motorsport was not just an interest for him, but the path he was destined to follow.

In 2014, at the age of 4, he received his first Parolin kart. The goal of his family was simply to help him fall in love with the sport. Karting soon became a constant companion during formula racing weekends: whenever he had the opportunity to get on track for practice, his father would ride ahead of him on a scooter, guiding him step by step and showing him the ideal racing lines through each corner.

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Tomi began competitive karting in 2017, gaining his first experience under the guidance of Péter Kálmán. At that stage, the primary focus was on building mileage and developing his driving fundamentals. Just a year later, he was already competing in races with KMS Motorsport, followed by two seasons in the Rotax Micromax category, where he took part in both Hungarian and Central European events.

In the second half of 2019, he joined VPD Racing and completed his first full season in the Hungarian National Karting Championship in the Micromax category. One of the most memorable moments of his early career came during the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend, where he had the opportunity to stand on the starting grid as a “Grid Kid,” experiencing the atmosphere alongside the drivers during the national anthem.

A major breakthrough came in 2020, when he began his international career with Team Driver. As the only Hungarian in his age group, he progressed through the entire international karting ladder: starting in the Mini category, then moving up to OK Junior and later the OK category, competing in numerous high-level championships. He also participated in several FIA European and World Championship events, and in his first race in the OK category. At the Trofeo delle Industrie he finished an impressive 5th in the final. His spectacular overtakes and confident pace quickly caught the attention of the international karting scene.

His development has remained consistent ever since. Alongside his on-track preparation, he complements his training with physical and mental conditioning at the 321 Perform training center, often alongside drivers such as Esteban Ocon. With over 100 race weekends and extensive international experience behind him, he is now fully prepared to take the next step.

In 2026, at the age of 15, he moves into single-seater racing, continuing his career in the Formula 4 category with R-ace GP.

His first challenge comes in one of the world’s most competitive winter championships, the Formula Middle East UAE4 series, where he competes on Formula 1 circuits, continuing to build his career step by step toward his ultimate goal.

Milestones

2026

First full Formula 4 season completed in the F4 UAE Championship.

2025

WSK Super Master Series szereplés, Lonatóban időmérőn 3. hely. The Step from Karting to Formula Racing: First tests in F4 with R-ace GP: Monza, Mugello, Imola, Misano.

2024

Debut in the European Championship. First Senior category race with VictoryLane. 5th place in the Trofeo delle Industrie final.

2023

Participation in the FIA Karting World Championship (OK-Junior) with Forza Racing, as well as finals in the WSK Euro Series and the WSK Final Cup.

2022

Transfer to Parolin factory team in February 2022. HUMDA Academy membership in June. Testing in the OKJ category in September. First WSK race in OK Junior category in October.

2021

First comple racing season in Italy with Team Driver. 7th place in IAME Series Italy Mini category and 7th place Campionato Italiano ACI Karting. WSK debut in September 2021.

2020

Hungarian National Go-Kart Championship and FIA CEZ races. 1st place in Kecsekemét, 2nd place in Belgrade. Testing with the Italian Team Driver racing team.

2019

First complete racing season in the Hungarian National Go-Kart Chmpionship, 5th place at the end of the season in the Micromax category.

2018

Preparing for racing, first races in the colors of KMS Motorsport. Grid Kid at the Formula 1 Hungarian Grand Prix weekend.

2017

Testing in race conditions.

2014

First Parolin go-kart.

Management

Tamas Gender manager, father

Tamas Gender

manager, father

Morgan Caron

manager

Thibaut de Merindol

Team Principal of R-ace GP

Xavier Feuillee

Founder and Director of 321 Perform

Series of competitions

F4 UAE Series
The most prestigious Formula 4 winter championships, featuring the fastest young drivers from the international field. The races are held at top-tier circuits in the Middle East, including iconic Formula 1 venues such as the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, which also hosts the season finale of the Formula 1 World Championship. The series is closely monitored by several Formula 1 junior programs, making it a true stepping stone to the next level.
WSK logo
WSK is an international karting championship series that organizes multiple competitions throughout a season, including the Champions Cup, Super Master Series, Euro Series, and Final Cup. The main categories in the field are KZ2, OK, OKJ, and 60 Mini, often featuring grids of over 100 drivers per race weekend. The series has previously seen success from world-class drivers such as Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, and Álex Palou.
FIA Karting Championship Junior logo
The format of the series has evolved several times over the decades. From 2011, it operated as a multi-round championship across multiple countries, before returning in 2014 to a single-event World Championship weekend format. The OK and OK Junior World Championships are held during the same weekend, while the KZ World Championship takes place separately, on a different weekend and at another venue. Continental championships also play a key role in the sport, including the CIK-FIA European Championship and the Asia-Pacific Championship.
FIA Karting World Championship
The FIA Karting World Championship has been held annually since 1964 and is one of the pinnacle events of karting. The championship is organized by the CIK-FIA, a commission established by the FIA in 1962. In 1968, the Junior World Championship was also introduced. Today, the World Championship is held across separate weekends for the OK and OK Junior categories, as well as for the KZ category. The program is complemented by several major international events. Within the sport, the CIK-FIA European Championship and the Asia-Pacific Championship are also considered highly prestigious series.
Champions of the Future
The series was launched in 2020 by RGMMC and has since become one of the key milestones in international karting. It regularly attracts the top teams and drivers, with several winners later progressing to careers in the Formula categories. Race weekends are built around the OK and OK Junior categories, while the calendar is closely aligned with the FIA’s major championships, including the European and World Championships.
Trofeo Delle Industrie
The Trofeo delle Industrie is the oldest and one of the most prestigious karting events in the world, held in Parma since 1971. Organized by Parma Motorsport, it has been a key fixture in international karting for decades. The status of the event is reflected in the number of drivers who have competed - and won - here before progressing to the highest levels of motorsport, including Formula 1. The Parma circuit itself is one of the sport’s most iconic venues, playing a vital role in driver development and regularly hosting high-profile international competitions.

Partners

Zele-Bau logo
R-ace GP Logo
Purple Agency
321 Perform