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Nationals Preview - State By State

AKA press release

Next weekend’s 46th National Sprint Kart Championships sponsored by Yamaha to be held in Launceston, Tasmania has attracted 292 entries from all parts of the country.

The last time Tasmania hosted this event was in 2002 where current V8 Supercar drivers Shane Price, Andrew Thompson and Michael Patrizi (who will make his V8 debut this weekend) were all victorious.

The host state of Tasmania will have 84 representatives at this year's championships while the largest contingent of drivers will come from Victoria with 101 entrants making the trip across Bass Strait for the Easter event.

Official practice for the championships begins next Wednesday (March 19) followed by qualifying on Friday, heat races on Saturday and the championship finals on Sunday.

HOST STATE: TASMANIA – 84 entries
As the host state Tasmania boasts 84 entries for the 46th National Sprint Kart Championships sponsored by Yamaha. From these 84 entries a number of these drivers could consider themselves a shot at claiming a championship on the Apple Isle.

When the titles were last held in Tasmania during 2002 a pair of local drivers were successful – Marcus Burford (Junior National Heavy) and Garry Joel (Senior National Light). Incidentally this was the last time a Tasmanian has won a National Karting Title. Burford will again be competing next weekend on his home track in the Senior National Heavy division.

One of the local favourites will be Zane Wyatt, who is the reigning state champion in Leopard Heavy. He will be joined at the event by fellow Launceston drivers Sam Crack, Brodie Maher, Nathan Zuj, Jamie Bricknell and Aiden Shelton, just to name a few.

From the Southern part of the island Ben Walter and Jason White are expected to figure prominently. The Hobart pair are two of the most experienced drivers in Tasmania and should take the challenge to the ‘mainlanders’ during the event.

LAUNCESTON, Tasmania
Sam Crack – Clubman Heavy, Leopard Light
Launceston driver Sam Crack has been one of the pacesetters across the state since gradating into the senior ranks to compete in both the Clubman Heavy and Leopard Light categories. The 16-year-old has enjoyed a superb preparation for the national championships and won his last race by a considerable margin at Smithon.

Brodie Maher – Junior National Heavy
Year 9 student at Launceston Grammar
Since starting his karting career 18 months ago 14-year-old Brodie Maher has continually improved and is now one of the state’s top junior drivers. He finished second at an event in Hobart recently before winning last time out at Smithton.

Zane Wyatt – Clubman Heavy, Leopard Heavy
Second generation racer
When your Dad races karts for 30 years it is inevitable that you will one day end up behind the wheel as well. This is exactly what happened with Zane Wyatt. At the age of nine he got his first taste behind the wheel and hasn’t looked back since. Over the past 13 years the small engine mechanic has developed into one of the state’s top line drivers. Last year was the best of his career with wins in the statewide series along with the state championship. Wyatt will enter the Nationals as one of the local favourites.

Nathan Zuj – Clubman Light
Apprentice Electrician
19-year-old Launceston driver Nathan Zuj started racing ten years ago and has developed into one of the states top young drivers. After finishing second in the statewide series in 2007 Zuj will take on the best drivers in the country while contesting the elite Clubman Light category. When the Nationals were last held in Launceston Zuj finished 15th in Junior National Light.

Wade Bone – Junior National Light, Junior Clubman
Finished second in his last race at Smithton
Four years ago Wade Bone attended a ‘come n try’ day at the Launceston kart track and he hasn’t looked back since. The year nine student at Launceston Grammar has been one of the front runners in the statewide series over the past few years in the Midgets, Rookies and now Junior ranks. In the final warm up meeting at Smithton last month he finished second in Junior Clubman.

Jamie Bricknell – Clubman Light, Leopard Light
Second generation racer
High on confidence after finishing second in Clubman Light at last year’s state championships Jamie Bricknell will be one to look out for at the National Championships. The second-generation Launceston driver has been competing on karting circuits across the state for the past ten years with various success in the state wide series and closed state titles. Last summer he also made his debut in a 700hp Sprintcar on the dirt track speedway.

Aiden Shelton – Senior National Heavy, Leopard Light
First drove a kart at the age of four on the family farm
Launceston’s Aiden Shelton first drove a kart at the age of four on the family farm before starting his racing career at the age of eight. Last year he won the Rotax Heavy state championship and is hopeful of adding a national championship to his list of achievements over Easter. Shelton finished fifth when the Nationals were last held in Launceston.

HOBART, Tasmania
Ben Walter – Leopard Heavy
Races in the National Formula Ford Championship
At 22 years of age Ben Walter is one of Tasmania’s most experienced karters . In 2008 he is contesting the National Formula Ford Championship under the Britek Scholarship program. This event could be Walter’s last crack at claiming the prestigious National Championship to add to the pair of state titles he already has in his trophy cabinet.

Jake Sale – Junior National Heavy
Year 10 student at Sacred Heart College
When the National Championships were last held in Launceston nine-year-old Jake Sale was an interested spectator. Shortly after, he started racing and hasn’t looked back since. The now 15-year-old has won the Closed State Championship in both the Rookie and Junior National Light category.

Jason White – Leopard Heavy
2006 Targa Tasmania Champion
Hobart driver Jason White is a former winner of the Targa Tasmania. At the National Karting Championships he will trade his Lamborghini for a 125cc go-kart to compete in the Leopard Heavy category. During his karting career, which has spanned a total of 25 years, White has claimed three national championships and 13 state crowns.

Mitchel Evans – Junior Heavy, Junior Clubman
Hasn’t been off the podium in 2008
In the three events he has contested this year Mitchel Evans hasn’t been off the podium. He is the reigning Tasmanian Closed Champion in the Junior National Heavy category. With 2008 being his last year in juniors Evans could certainly be one to watch in the battle for the junior titles.

VICTORIA – 101 entries
Of the 292 entries received for the 46th National Sprint Kart Championships sponsored by Yamaha to be held in Launceston, Tasmania over the Easter weekend, 101 entries will be from Victoria.

Leading the charge for the Victorian drivers will be the Sera cousins of David and James. David is a multiple Australian Champion and after numerous runner-up placings James, the older of the pair, broke through for his maiden Australian Championship last year at Sydney's Eastern Creek.

Sunbury resident Matthew Wall is considered one of Australia's best kart racers of all time, the 29-year-old has won six Australian championships during his career but would love to add the 2007 crown to his achievements.

NEW SOUTH WALES – 48 entries
North Shore driver Troy Hunt is the reigning Australian Clubman Heavy Champion. Hunt has won seven Australian championships throughout his time in the sport and is considered the favourite for the 2008 crown.

However, Hunt will face tough opposition from Woy Woy’s Peter Lawler in the chase for the title as Lawler won both the South Australian and New South Wales State Tiles during 2007. He is also a former National Champion.

Daniel Stein is the defending champion in the Senior National Heavy category.

Newcastle will be well represented at the championships Simon Roberts, Simon Meyer and Daniel Oosthuizen among the contingent of Novocastrians heading to the Apple Isle

QUEENSLAND – 36 entries
Toowoomba’s Matt Greenbury and the Gold Coast’s Scott Simpson are the defending champions in the Leopard Heavy and the Clubman Super Heavy categories.

The pair will be joined by 34 fellow drivers from the sunshine state in the 46th National Sprint Kart Championships sponsored by Yamaha in Launceston over Easter.

Amongst the Queensland contingent is third-generation racer Matthew Brabham, Chris Hays – who is a part of Vodafone’s junior development program and Barclay Holden.

Holden, a second-generation racer from the Gold Coast, is a four-time Australian champion. He won his first Australian crown in 2001 at Newcastle.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA – 10 entries
Adelaide driver Paul Pittam upstaged many of his more fancied rivals in the Victorian Championships earlier this year in Geelong by qualifying fastest and finishing a close second to veteran karter Matthew Wall. Pittam will be one of the darkhorses in the elite Clubman Heavy category aboard the South Australian made Omega chassis.

Pittam will be joined in the South Australian contingent by Newton’s Matthew Panella, Michael Cross and female driver Gemma Deakin.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – 7 entries
Perth driver Steven Scoble is one of the top line drivers in the country and is a two-time runner-up in the National Championships. After breaking through for his maiden senior state championship in South Australia last November Scoble is one of the favourites for the prestigious Clubman Light category at next weekend’s National Championships.

Scoble will be joined in the Western Australian contingent by Michael Goss, who represented Australia in the World Leopard Final in Spain last year, and the Kandola brothers, Amrit and Deepal.

ABOUT YAMAHA MOTOR AUSTRALIA
Yamaha Motor Australia was incorporated in June 1983, becoming part of a large international corporation with subsidiaries all over the world.

Yamaha has continued over the years to successfully introduce new products into the marketplace. It has always met market demand by offering better quality, higher performance products that fully utilize Yamaha's advanced technology. These products have become part of a wide range of recreational items and industrial products, such as motorcycles, scooters, four-wheelers, snowmobiles, outboards, water vehicles, boats, golf cars, go kart engines, power generators, water and sludge pumps, industrial engines and accessories.

Yamaha is a proud sponsor of the 46th National Sprint Kart Championships at the Southern Cross Archerville Kartway in Launceston, Tasmania on March 21-23.

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	Nationals Preview - State By State AKA press release Next weekend’s 46th National Sprint Kart Championships sponsored by Yamaha to be held in Launceston, Tasmania has attracted 292 entries from all parts of the country. The last time Tasmania hosted this event was in 2002 where current V8 Supercar drivers Shane Price, Andrew Thompson and Michael Patrizi (who will make his V8 debut this weekend) were all victorious. The host state of Tasmania will have 84 representatives at this year's championships while the largest contingent of drivers will come from Victoria with 101 entrants making the trip across Bass Strait for the Easter event. Official practice for the championships begins next Wednesday (March 19) followed by qualifying on Friday, heat races on Saturday and the championship finals on Sunday. HOST STATE: TASMANIA – 84 entries As the host state Tasmania boasts 84 entries for the 46th National Sprint Kart Championships sponsored by Yamaha. From these 84 entries a number of these drivers could consider themselves a shot at claiming a championship on the Apple Isle. When the titles were last held in Tasmania during 2002 a pair of local drivers were successful – Marcus Burford (Junior National Heavy) and Garry Joel (Senior National Light). Incidentally this was the last time a Tasmanian has won a National Karting Title. Burford will again be competing next weekend on his home track in the Senior National Heavy division. One of the local favourites will be Zane Wyatt, who is the reigning state champion in Leopard Heavy. He will be joined at the event by fellow Launceston drivers Sam Crack, Brodie Maher, Nathan Zuj, Jamie Bricknell and Aiden Shelton, just to name a few. From the Southern part of the island Ben Walter and Jason White are expected to figure prominently. The Hobart pair are two of the most experienced drivers in Tasmania and should take the challenge to the ‘mainlanders’ during the event. LAUNCESTON, Tasmania Sam Crack – Clubman Heavy, Leopard Light Launceston driver Sam Crack has been one of the pacesetters across the state since gradating into the senior ranks to compete in both the Clubman Heavy and Leopard Light categories. The 16-year-old has enjoyed a superb preparation for the national championships and won his last race by a considerable margin at Smithon. Brodie Maher – Junior National Heavy Year 9 student at Launceston Grammar Since starting his karting career 18 months ago 14-year-old Brodie Maher has continually improved and is now one of the state’s top junior drivers. He finished second at an event in Hobart recently before winning last time out at Smithton. Zane Wyatt – Clubman Heavy, Leopard Heavy Second generation racer When your Dad races karts for 30 years it is inevitable that you will one day end up behind the wheel as well. This is exactly what happened with Zane Wyatt. At the age of nine he got his first taste behind the wheel and hasn’t looked back since. Over the past 13 years the small engine mechanic has developed into one of the state’s top line drivers. Last year was the best of his career with wins in the statewide series along with the state championship. Wyatt will enter the Nationals as one of the local favourites. Nathan Zuj – Clubman Light Apprentice Electrician 19-year-old Launceston driver Nathan Zuj started racing ten years ago and has developed into one of the states top young drivers. After finishing second in the statewide series in 2007 Zuj will take on the best drivers in the country while contesting the elite Clubman Light category. When the Nationals were last held in Launceston Zuj finished 15th in Junior National Light. Wade Bone – Junior National Light, Junior Clubman Finished second in his last race at Smithton Four years ago Wade Bone attended a ‘come n try’ day at the Launceston kart track and he hasn’t looked back since. The year nine student at Launceston Grammar has been one of the front runners in the statewide series over the past few years in the Midgets, Rookies and now Junior ranks. In the final warm up meeting at Smithton last month he finished second in Junior Clubman. Jamie Bricknell – Clubman Light, Leopard Light Second generation racer High on confidence after finishing second in Clubman Light at last year’s state championships Jamie Bricknell will be one to look out for at the National Championships. The second-generation Launceston driver has been competing on karting circuits across the state for the past ten years with various success in the state wide series and closed state titles. Last summer he also made his debut in a 700hp Sprintcar on the dirt track speedway. Aiden Shelton – Senior National Heavy, Leopard Light First drove a kart at the age of four on the family farm Launceston’s Aiden Shelton first drove a kart at the age of four on the family farm before starting his racing career at the age of eight. Last year he won the Rotax Heavy state championship and is hopeful of adding a national championship to his list of achievements over Easter. Shelton finished fifth when the Nationals were last held in Launceston. HOBART, Tasmania Ben Walter – Leopard Heavy Races in the National Formula Ford Championship At 22 years of age Ben Walter is one of Tasmania’s most experienced karters . In 2008 he is contesting the National Formula Ford Championship under the Britek Scholarship program. This event could be Walter’s last crack at claiming the prestigious National Championship to add to the pair of state titles he already has in his trophy cabinet. Jake Sale – Junior National Heavy Year 10 student at Sacred Heart College When the National Championships were last held in Launceston nine-year-old Jake Sale was an interested spectator. Shortly after, he started racing and hasn’t looked back since. The now 15-year-old has won the Closed State Championship in both the Rookie and Junior National Light category. Jason White – Leopard Heavy 2006 Targa Tasmania Champion Hobart driver Jason White is a former winner of the Targa Tasmania. At the National Karting Championships he will trade his Lamborghini for a 125cc go-kart to compete in the Leopard Heavy category. During his karting career, which has spanned a total of 25 years, White has claimed three national championships and 13 state crowns. Mitchel Evans – Junior Heavy, Junior Clubman Hasn’t been off the podium in 2008 In the three events he has contested this year Mitchel Evans hasn’t been off the podium. He is the reigning Tasmanian Closed Champion in the Junior National Heavy category. With 2008 being his last year in juniors Evans could certainly be one to watch in the battle for the junior titles. VICTORIA – 101 entries Of the 292 entries received for the 46th National Sprint Kart Championships sponsored by Yamaha to be held in Launceston, Tasmania over the Easter weekend, 101 entries will be from Victoria. Leading the charge for the Victorian drivers will be the Sera cousins of David and James. David is a multiple Australian Champion and after numerous runner-up placings James, the older of the pair, broke through for his maiden Australian Championship last year at Sydney's Eastern Creek. Sunbury resident Matthew Wall is considered one of Australia's best kart racers of all time, the 29-year-old has won six Australian championships during his career but would love to add the 2007 crown to his achievements. NEW SOUTH WALES – 48 entries North Shore driver Troy Hunt is the reigning Australian Clubman Heavy Champion. Hunt has won seven Australian championships throughout his time in the sport and is considered the favourite for the 2008 crown. However, Hunt will face tough opposition from Woy Woy’s Peter Lawler in the chase for the title as Lawler won both the South Australian and New South Wales State Tiles during 2007. He is also a former National Champion. Daniel Stein is the defending champion in the Senior National Heavy category. Newcastle will be well represented at the championships Simon Roberts, Simon Meyer and Daniel Oosthuizen among the contingent of Novocastrians heading to the Apple Isle QUEENSLAND – 36 entries Toowoomba’s Matt Greenbury and the Gold Coast’s Scott Simpson are the defending champions in the Leopard Heavy and the Clubman Super Heavy categories. The pair will be joined by 34 fellow drivers from the sunshine state in the 46th National Sprint Kart Championships sponsored by Yamaha in Launceston over Easter. Amongst the Queensland contingent is third-generation racer Matthew Brabham, Chris Hays – who is a part of Vodafone’s junior development program and Barclay Holden. Holden, a second-generation racer from the Gold Coast, is a four-time Australian champion. He won his first Australian crown in 2001 at Newcastle. SOUTH AUSTRALIA – 10 entries Adelaide driver Paul Pittam upstaged many of his more fancied rivals in the Victorian Championships earlier this year in Geelong by qualifying fastest and finishing a close second to veteran karter Matthew Wall. Pittam will be one of the darkhorses in the elite Clubman Heavy category aboard the South Australian made Omega chassis. Pittam will be joined in the South Australian contingent by Newton’s Matthew Panella, Michael Cross and female driver Gemma Deakin. WESTERN AUSTRALIA – 7 entries Perth driver Steven Scoble is one of the top line drivers in the country and is a two-time runner-up in the National Championships. After breaking through for his maiden senior state championship in South Australia last November Scoble is one of the favourites for the prestigious Clubman Light category at next weekend’s National Championships. Scoble will be joined in the Western Australian contingent by Michael Goss, who represented Australia in the World Leopard Final in Spain last year, and the Kandola brothers, Amrit and Deepal. ABOUT YAMAHA MOTOR AUSTRALIA Yamaha Motor Australia was incorporated in June 1983, becoming part of a large international corporation with subsidiaries all over the world. Yamaha has continued over the years to successfully introduce new products into the marketplace. It has always met market demand by offering better quality, higher performance products that fully utilize Yamaha's advanced technology. These products have become part of a wide range of recreational items and industrial products, such as motorcycles, scooters, four-wheelers, snowmobiles, outboards, water vehicles, boats, golf cars, go kart engines, power generators, water and sludge pumps, industrial engines and accessories. Yamaha is a proud sponsor of the 46th National Sprint Kart Championships at the Southern Cross Archerville Kartway in Launceston, Tasmania on March 21-23. Home
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