Toyota boss’ appeal over stolen kart

Toyota New Zealand’s chief executive, Neeraj Lala, is appealing for the return of his son’s stolen go-kart as the youngster prepares to take to the track at a major event over the Easter weekend.

He says Aryan Lala, 12, is “shattered” by the theft, especially as he was expected to be among the frontrunners at the KartSport New Zealand 2023 National Sprint Championships in Manawatu, reports Stuff.

The youngster had spent two years preparing for the event at the KartSport Manawatu track but was left reeling on Wednesday, April 5, when the family discovered the kart and Aryan’s gear bag had been taken from outside their Palmerston North home.

Neeraj Lala explains he had finished packing their kart trailer about 11pm the day before, but overnight it had been pried open and the items stolen.

He was offering a $2,000 reward for the return of the “distinctive” kart and adds anyone trying to sell it will draw suspicion, noting each kart has a unique registration number.

Aryan received offers of replacement karts after news of the theft broke. “But it’s a tough ask to put a boy who is shattered in a kart he hasn’t driven before and expect him to compete at this level,” Lala tells Stuff.

Lala told Autofile Online on the morning of Thursday, April 6, that the missing kart had not turned up but he had been blown away by the support of the karting community. He says Hilary Barry had also bolstered the appeal for the return of the vehicle, giving it a mention on TVNZ’s Seven Sharp programme.

He adds Aryan will be using an older kart they managed to pull together with some spare parts in time for official practice at the championship on April 6. “The whole situation is awful for him. He’s just had his first practice run but his head’s down because the kart’s not as quick as the other one.”

Racing at the event runs from Good Friday until Sunday.