A nine-year-old Leander boy is quickly making a name for himself in the world of kart racing.

Kart racing is a variation of motor sport using a smaller, open, four-wheeled vehicle known as a kart, go-kart, or gearbox/shifter kart based on the design of the vehicle. They are generally raced on a scaled-down circuit track, making it a good stepping stone to the higher ranks of motorsports.

Ethan Arndt has been racing karts since he was 5 years old. His dad, Jeff Arndt, said he first encouraged his young son to try out the sport. Ethan loved it and at age six, he finished fifth at the Kid Kart Nationals race in St. Louis, Mo.

Kart racing has now become a year-round hobby, with Ethan training an average of two weekends per month with his coach Charlie Swayne of Iron Rock Raceway and competing one weekend per month.

Now nine, Ethan recently won a ticket to compete in the Rotax Micro Max Invitational — the world championship of kart racing — last weekend in New Orleans.

The Grand Finals is the largest karting event in the world with over 356 drivers representing 55 countries.

Ethan’s weekend at the Grand Finals was highlighted by a top-five pace in the open practice and a 16th place finish overall in the final.

“He suffered a technical issue with the cart,” Ethan’s dad Jeff said. That technical issue dropped him back to the last position to start the prefinal race.

Still, in that prefinal race, Ethan moved up from 36th to 20th, and he ran as high as 13th in the final.

“We are happy with the results and enjoyed racing with the top drivers in the world,” Jeff said.

“Receiving a ticket and competing in this race means Ethan is one of the top drivers in the world for his division,” he added.

Only 36 tickets were allocated to drivers from the US, Canada and Mexico for the Micro Max class. In order to secure a ticket, a driver must finish in the top three of the USA Grand Nationals or win a regional series. Ethan won his ticket from the Texas Pro Kart Challenge.

Ethan said his dream is to one day be a Formula 1 driver. While the karts are small, they can reach top speeds of 70 mph.

“I love racing because it is intense and extremely competitive,” Ethan said. “The high speeds and pushing it to the limit is awesome. Every track and competitor is different and conditions can vary by the hour. That includes my driving. My dad and I have to be on top of our game at all times if we are going to win.”

Jeff Ardnt said the sport has taught his son valuable skills such as responsibility and how to communicate.

“The thought process they have to go through is pretty intense,” Jeff said. “He has to be able to communicate back with the adults as to what’s going on in the car.”

The Grand Finals event wrapped up Ethan’s racing season for 2013.

Plans for next year’s schedule are underway. He will race in the Challenge of the Americas series that kicks off in January at Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Az.

The Lone Start Grand Prix in Lockhart in March will be his first race in Texas for 2014. Ethan has his own Facebook page dedicated to his races at www.facebook.com/EthanArndtMotorsports.