Australia's Finest Set For Karting Nationals

AKA press release

Australia’s finest karting drivers and teams are set for the 46th National Sprint Kart Championships sponsored by Yamaha near Launceston in Tasmania this weekend.

Drivers began arriving at the circuit as early as Monday to begin practicing for the event with all competitors taking to the circuit for final practice today.


Above: Busy out grid at Launceston as karters practiced today
pic - Ash Budd, photowagon.com

With 292 entries received for the championships across 10 divisions the equipment that is assembled in the pit area at the Southern Cross Archerville Kartway is valued in excess of $2,000,000.

It’s not just the drivers that are working hard this weekend, with crews putting in long hours in preparing karts, tuning engines and fitting tyres. One team effort of note came overnight, when the crew of Amanda Richardson in the Senior National Light class put in a massive effort overnight. Richardson was involved in a practice accident in Turn One on Wednesday afternoon, with the former Launceston driver attended to by on-track ambulance officials and after some hard work overnight, Richardson was back in action for final practice today.

The serious business of racing starts tomorrow with qualifying in the morning followed by the opening heat races in the afternoon. Saturday’s action will consist of the remaining heat races and pre-final while the championship finals will be held on Sunday.


Above: V8 Supercar driver Shane Price (left) and Formula Forder Adam Graham are both kart mechanics this weekend.
pic - Ash Budd, photowagon.com

Five out of the 10 Australian champions from 2007 are looking to defend their title this weekend. These drivers are James Sera (Clubman Light), Troy Hunt (Clubman Heavy), Daniel Stein (Senior National Heavy), Scott Simpson (Clubman Super Heavy) and Matt Greenbury (Leopard Heavy). You can vote for who you think is most likely to successfully defend their crown by going to the AKA's website HERE.

In recent times drivers to successfully defend an Australian title in the same class include David Sera in Junior National Light (2002-03) and Jason Hryniuk in Clubman Light (2002-03).

Winning two coveted green plates in the same Nationals is a feat that is as rare as it is significant. Matthew Wall did it in 2006, Brad Fitch in 2005 and at Launceston this weekend drivers like Wall, David and James Sera, Hryniuk, Bart Price and Stein are in contention for two Australian titles.


Above: The stop watches are out...
pic - Ash Budd, photowagon.com

In 2003 Ashley Walsh achieved the even rarer feat of winning two classes as a junior by taking two national titles in Junior Clubman and Junior Piston Port.

Chris Hays, Matt Brabham, Liam Sager and Tyler Greenbury are all drivers pushing hard to try and emulate Walsh’s effort.

Three junior drivers, James Kovacic, Nathan Morcom and Daniel Oosthuizen, have the opportunity to repeat an incredible feat achieved by Daniel Elliott in 1999 – three national titles as a junior at the Nationals at Easter.

To check out the list of Australian Champions from 2001 to present, visit the Champion's page on the AKA website, karting.net.au, HERE.

Home

© kartsportnews.com