Defending Champ Heads Up NZ Superkart GP Lineup
Tweetpress release
Defending New Zealand champion and Grand Prix title-holder Karl Wilson heads a strong International class lineup preparing for the Racetech-backed 2012 New Zealand SuperKart and Grand Prix championship meeting at Manfeild on Saturday January 7.
Above: Defending New Zealand Superkart champion and Grand Prix winner Karl Wilson on his way to victory at the 2011 NZ SuperKart Championships and GP meeting at Manfeild
Wellingtonian Wilson, 28, was unbeaten on his way to his first New Zealand SuperKart title at this year's event but this time around will face strong competition from 2007 Open Grand Prix winner Ryan Urban from Auckland and 2007 New Zealand SuperKart champion Paul Dunlop from Clydevale (near Balclutha).
International class SuperKarts differ from Sprint karts in that they are designed and built to run on all-purpose motor racing circuits rather than dedicated kart ones.
The 6-speed gearbox-equipped 250cc Superkarts are also equipped with fairings, sidepods and rear wings to make them go faster and four wheel disc brakes to slow them down, resulting in speeds of up to 260km/h and lap times at Manfeild significantly quicker than those of 1.6 litre engined Formula Ford racing cars.
There are two main classes, International (for purpose-built Superkarts) and National (for modified 250cc-engined sprint karts) with Wilson, Ryan, Dunlop and former National class champion Robin Wooldridge from Whangarei running in International and Wellingtonian Greg Galway leading the way in National.
These two classes are supported by two 125cc Rotax classes with defending class title holder Gareth Playle from Palmerston North the favourite in 125cc Rotax Max Light and this year's Right Karts KartStars Rotax Max Challenge class winner Aarron Cunningham from Auckland the likely pace-setter in 125cc Rotax Max Heavy.
Above: Defending class champion Gareth Playle leading a gaggle of 125cc Rotax Max Light karts
This week KartSport Wellington and KartSport New Zealand confirmed Racetech New Zealand as the main sponsor of the event with additional support from MG Tyres, Wynns New Zealand and Go Pro Cameras.
"We are delighted to welcome Racetech as our premier sponsor for this Superkart event in 2012," said KartSport Wellington president Gary Wilson. "We also appreciate the support of MG Tires, Go Pro Camera and Wynns NZ. Having all these sponsors on board means this will be the biggest and best SuperKart event so far and we encourage the KartSport community to support sponsors that support our sport."
