Preview: 2008 Sparco Rotax Nationals

AKA press release

With five trips to Italy to compete at the World Rotax Challenge and two National Championships on the line, the action at this weekend’s Sparco Rotax Nationals in Melbourne is set to be nothing short of spectacular.

Pic: photowagon.com.au

The leader in the National Rotax Standings for both the Rotax Light and Heavy categories, as well as the top two in Formula JMA, and the winner of Rotax Light in this weekend’s event at VACC Park will form the Australian team in La Conca next month.

New South Wales driver, Tom Williamson, has been dominant in the Rotax Light category so far in 2008 and as a result holds a commanding lead at the top of the National rankings, however, his trip to Italy is far from secure.

With 4100 points on offer at the Nationals, Williamson can drop out of the lead should he finish outside the top ten in the 41-kart field this weekend but the standings are something that Williamson is trying not to think about too much.

“I’m trying to put the points to the back of my mind and do the same thing I have been doing all year, which is being competitive near the front of the field,” said Wiliamson, who recently moved to a Gillard chassis.

“I’ve just got to make sure I finish up near the pointy end and the points will take care of themselves.

“I had some good pace at the recent City of Melbourne Titles but just got caught up in a couple of incidents, if I can stay out of trouble I think I’ll be fine.”

Above: David Sera (#96), Jordie Lindstrom (#49) and Matt Wall (#15) are expected to figure prominently in Rotax Light. Pic: photowagon.com.au

Williamson will face some tough opposition this weekend with the local contingent of drivers including the defending champion David Sera, the Lindstrom brothers – Jace and Jordie, Bart Price, James Sera and 2006 champion Hayden McBride being among the favourites for the crown.

In the chase for the top spot in Rotax Heavy, the winner is likely to come from the top six in the National Rotax rankings.

Newcastle’s Andrew Torville currently leads ahead of CRG drivers Rick Pringle and Simon Meyer. Toowoomba’s Matt Greenbury is in fourth place with Luc Price, who won the recent City of Melbourne Titles, and William Yarwood currently fifth and sixth in the standings.

Yarwood, a four-time winner of the Heavy crown, has only raced sparingly over the past 12 months, as has defending champion Kel Treseder, however, it is expected this pair will figure prominently near the front of the field.

Above: Luc Price crossing the line for victory at the recent City of Melbourne Titles in Rotax Heavy. Pic: photowagon.com.au

Support categories over the weekend will be Formula JMA, the two-speed Rotax DD2 class, Rotax Over 35’s and Junior National Light.

The official welcome dinner for the event, which will feature boast entertainment, an array of prizes and visits from V8 Supercar stars Steven Johnson, Will Davison and Cameron McConville will be held tomorrow (Friday) night. Qualifying and heat races held on Saturday and the finals contested on Sunday.

VACC Park is located on the corner of Todd Road and Cook Street, Port Melbourne, Victoria

Former winners of the Sparco Rotax Karting National Titles
Rotax Light
2001 – Matthew Wall (Vic)
2002 – Josh Arandt (Vic)
2003 – Bart Price (Vic)
2004 – Scott Auld (Qld)
2005 – David Sera (Vic)
2006 – Hayden McBride (NSW)
2007 – David Sera (Vic)

Rotax Heavy
2001 – Damien Meyer (NSW)
2002 – Brett Davidson (Vic)
2003 – William Yarwood (Qld)
2004 – William Yarwood (Qld)
2005 – William Yarwood (Qld)
2006 – William Yarwood (Qld)
2007 – Kel Treseder (Qld)

Previous Venues
2001 – Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway, Sydney, NSW
2002 – VACC Park, Melbourne, Vic
2003 – Mt Sugarloaf Raceway, Newcastle, NSW
2004 – Ipswich Raceway, Ipswich, QLD
2005 – Beckley Park Raceway, Geelong, Vic
2006 – Mt Sugarloaf Raceway, Newcastle, NSW
2007 – Ipswich Raceway, Ipswich, QLD

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