Phillpott Aiming for Home Track Success
AKA press release
Murray Bridge teenager Michael Phillpott is gearing up for the biggest meeting of his karting career, the Dunlop South Australian Championships, to be held at the Monarto karting complex next weekend (November 26-28).
Since starting his karting career four years ago Phillpott has developed into one of the state’s top young drivers having won several major events across South Australia. However, he’s yet to win a state championship – something the 16 year-old Unity College student is aiming to change in the very near future.
Above: Michael Phillpott will be one of the local drivers to watch at next weekend's SA championships
pic -
photowagon.com.au
After a successful career in the junior ranks Phillpott recently graduated to the senior level that will see him campaign an Australian-made Benson kart powered by a 125cc Rotax engine next weekend.
“Over the past few years I’ve won quite a few events in the Junior Clubman category, including this year’s Festival State Cup series, but never a state championship – hopefully this will change next weekend,” said Phillpott.
“In my first race as a senior (the River City Titles held at Monarto) I qualified fastest and won my heats races but had a mechanical issue which dropped me to the back of the field for the start of the final. I was able to race back through the field to finish second which gave me a lot of confidence.”
Phillpott is supported in his quest to become state champion by local businesses Adelaide Kart Supplies, Murray Bridge Backpackers, Farm Fresh Market, Thanks 'Maynard' and fellow Mount Barker karter Michael Yeo.
If Phillpott is going to be successful in his goal of becoming the state champion in the 125cc Rotax Light division he will have to overcome the driver who won the River City Title – Western Australian Nathan Davis, along with New South Wales stars David Whitmore and Trent Grubel. Victorians Josh deMaio and Adam Lindstrom will also be ones to watch.
Also competing in the Rotax Light division will be Macualey Jones, son of former V8 Supercar driver Brad Jones, who like Phillpott recently moved up from the junior ranks.
This is the first time that the Monarto Karting Complex, through the Dublin go-kart Club, has played host to the State Championships with close to 250 competitors set to line up across the 14 categories.
Practice for the championships will begin next Wednesday (November 24) ahead of qualifying on Friday November 26 followed by the heat races on Saturday November 27 and the championship finals on Sunday November 28.
The Monarto Karting Complex is located on the Old Princess Highway, Monarto.
