Australia's Best Get Set For Shootout In Dubbo

AKA press release

Dubbo’s Western Plains Zoo, located in Central New South Wales, is home to over 1000 different animals from five continents in an open range design.

However, the Leopards coming to Dubbo next weekend will not be heading to the zoo.

Over 50 of Australia’s best kart racers will converge on the region to compete in the Toyota IAME Leopard Final Shootout aboard go-karts powered by the Italian-made 125cc IAME Leopard engine.

Above: The Leopards will be clawing each other at Dubbo
pic - photowagon.com.au

At next weekend's Event two drivers will walk away with the keys to a brand new Toyota Yaris while others will share in a variety of prizes – including a pair of overseas trips to compete at the 2009 IAME 125 International Challenge and four brand new engines. The total prize pool for the Event is valued in excess of $100,000.

The kart racers, who have qualified through a series of events held in their home state, will battle for the victory while racing at speeds in excess of 120 km/h on the Lincoln County Raceway.

The entry list, split into a Light and Heavy division, includes the current Australian Champion in each division, James Sera and Justin Schneider.

Such is the standard of competition the Leopard Light category includes no less than 12 current or former State Champions.

Last year’s Event was won by Victorian David Sera (Leopard Light) and Hayden Stephensen (Leopard Heavy). Sera will face tough competition from the likes of his cousin James Sera, John Grother, Lloyd Billick, Thomas Phillips, Brad Fitch and Cian Fothergill in the chase for the three successive victories in Leopard Light.

Also competing in the Leopard Light category will be local driver Phil King. The former Australian Champion has shown some impressive speed at the recent major events across New South Wales and should also figure prominently at next weekend’s event in his Kosmic Kart.

Above: Local Dubbo ace Phillip King
pic - Cooper's Photography

“It’s always good to take on the best drivers in the country on your home track and I’m really looking forward to next weekend’s event,” said King.

“At the recent State Championships in Port Macquarie I had some good speed and was able to match it with the guys up the front of the pack but luck just didn’t go my way on a few occasions.

“The field has got a lot of talent in it, guys like David and James Sera are going to be tough to beat as will Thomas Phillips who won the NSW Leopard Series. I think that the Western Australian guys, Lloyd Billick and Brad Fitch, could also throw a spanner in the works.”

In the chase for the victory in the Leopard Heavy division Stephensen and his Queensland counterparts Kel Treseder, Matt Greenbury and Nathan Mills will start as four of the favourites. Mills has some happy memories of the Dubbo circuit, capturing his first State Title at the venue in 2006.

Above: Current Leopard Heavy National Champion Justin Schneider will be aiming to win a Toyota.
pic - photowagon.com.au

Event Promoter Remo Luciani believes the calibre of driver’s entered for the Event is equal to, if not better than, any of the previous Toyota IAME Leopard Final Shootouts.

“This is the fourth running of the Toyota IAME Leopard Final Shootout and every year the calibre of drivers this Event attracts continually improves, which is very pleasing from my point of view,” said Luciani.

“The Lincoln County Raceway is one of the best circuits in Australia, it was chosen by the competitors to host the Shootout Final and I’m sure the racing will be fast and furious next weekend.”

The Lincoln County Raceway is located on the Newell Highway, 10 minutes North of Dubbo.

The Event will be broadcast on two one-hour shows on Fox Sports 2. It will screen on Monday November 3 at 10:00pm (AEDST) and will be replayed in full the following morning at 9:00am.

 

Toyota IAME Leopard Final Shootout Honour Role
LEOPARD LIGHT
2005 – James Sera
2006 – David Sera
2007 – David Sera

LEOPARD HEAVY
2005 – Mark Cowley
2006 – Kel Treseder
2007 – Hayden Stephensen

2008 TOYOTA IAME LEOPARD FINAL SHOOTOUT - Entry List

LEOPARD LIGHT
1 JAMES SERA
2 LUKE LANE
3 DAMIEN RADASEVIC
4 NICHOLAS TANTI
5 JOHN MCSPEDDEN
8 CLINTON MARCON
9 SCOTT HILL
10 BEN EDWARDS
14 LEIGH GALLACE
17 MATHEW HARRIS
18 PHILLIP KING
20 CIAN FOTHERGILL
21 GIOVANNI FASONE
25 JOHN GROTHER
26 ADAM GARNAUT
27 LLOYD BILICK
28 MATTHEW BERRIDGE
29 JOSH TYNAN
30 JEDD STOJAKOVIC
33 BRAD FITCH
35 GAVEN WHITMORE
41 GEOFFREY URHANE
42 MARK GALLAGHER
44 GARRY ALGIE
45 SCOTT CONNOLE
64 ADAM HUGHES
70 BRENDAN NELSON
75 MAXWELL THORNHILL
81 FERGUS SYMES
89 DAVID SULTANA
92 THOMAS PHILLIPS
96 DAVID SERA

LEOPARD HEAVY
1 JUSTIN SCHNEIDER
2 NATHAN MILLS
3 JOSH BROOKER
6 DENIS BUTLER
9 MATTHEW HALL
14 MARK COWLEY
17 KEKE FALLAND
28 HAYDEN STEPHENSON
31 MIKE POWE
33 MATT GREENBURY
38 IAN ALLEN
46 MICHAEL GRIFFITHS
47 ZANE WYATT
63 PETER GALVIN
73 BLAKE MOONEY
75 KEL TRESEDER
77 DANIEL BAKER
78 SIMON ROBERTS
85 STEVEN EDMUNDS
88 DANIEL STEIN
91 CRAIG STAUNER
99 ROWAN BOOTH

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