Preview: NZ Prokart Series, Round 5 (Final)
press release
Defending KZ2 class title-holder Daniel Bray remains the favourite heading into the final round of this year's Mi Sedaap Pro Kart Series in Hamilton this weekend.
But with just six points between Bray, former series champ Ryan Grant and multi-time New Zealand sprint kart champion Ryan Urban, the final series results are still way too close to call.
Above: Daniel Bray
With a bonus point for pole position and series points up for grabs in the heats as well as the Pre Finals and Finals the Mi Sedaap series has always produced close finishes - as Steve Brown, the President of the club behind the series says; ' you have to drive every heat as if it is the Final.'
This year is no exception with Auckland international Bray - who has won two of the four previous rounds this year - just three points ahead of Grant and six in front of third placed Urban, the latter pair being the only other drivers to win a round of the series this year.
It's not just at the front that it is close either. Just 46 points separate the top nine in the KZ2 class, with three teenagers fresh to the class from the KF3 feeder category this season - Bradley Hicks, Aaron Wilson and Mitchell Brown - sixth, eighth and ninth respectively.
The points situation is just as close in the KF3 class with Mitchell Turner from the Hawke's Bay heading the points standings by just six points from Auckland's Luke Dobbs with another impressive young Aucklander, Joel Herbert, a further two points back in third.
Above: Mitchell Turner leads the pack
The only class where the points leader has a decent buffer heading into the final is KZ2 Masters where Hawke's Bay driver Tom Curran has dominated proceedings all season. He will go into qualifying and the first heat/s on Saturday with 440 points, 15 more than Aucklander Mark Lane with another Aucklander, Brett Hollander third, a further five points back.
There will be action at KartSport Hamilton's track from Friday with qualifying and at least one of the heats on Saturday and the final heats, Pre-Finals and Finals on Sunday.
Above: Tom Curran leads KZ2 Masters
With 18+ fields in each class this weekend's meeting will again have full grids, something Brown - who continues to compete himself and currently lies seventh in the KZ2 class, two places ahead of teenage son Mitchell - attributes to the 'bang-for-your-buck' from the purpose-built 125cc engined racing karts and the time and energy put into the series by the drivers, supporters and sponsor Mi Sedaap.
"It's a partnership and speaking on behalf of the drivers I'd like to say a very big thank you to Mi Sedaap, " he said today. "We couldn't wish for a better sponsor and our series certainly wouldn't be the same without their active and enthusiastic involvement."
2011 Mi Sedaap Pro Kart Series
KZ2 - 1. Daniel Bray 428 points, 2. Ryan Grant 425; 3. Ryan Urban 422; 4. Graeme Smyth 416; 5. Richard Moore 410; 6. Bradley Hicks 396
KZ2 Masters - 1. Tom Curran 440 points; 2. Mark Lane 425; 3. Brett Hollander 420; 4. Todd Wheeler 414; 5. Mark Wheeler 407; 6. Warren Parris 398
KF3 - 1. Mitchell Turner 435 points; 2. Luke Dobbs 429; 3. Joel Herbert 427; 4. Emilee Wright 415; 5. Mitchell Sanders 408; 6. Connor Westbury 407
