Conner Looking For Another Rotax Win
Tweetpress release
With a breakthrough win at the second round of this year's Right Karts KartStars Rotax Max Challenge series at Tokoroa last month Auckland karter Daniel Connor is after another at the third round of the 2012 series at KartSport Hamilton's Agrisea New Zealand Raceway on Sunday.
Just one point separates Connor and round one winner (and defending Right Karts 125cc Rotax Max Light class champion) Daniel Kinsman heading into this weekend's round with a further 16 points back to Kinsman's older brother Mathew who is currently third and 18 back to Palmerston North driver Fraser Hart who is fourth.
Above: Daniel Connor (#2) leading the field at KartSport Tokoroa's Pinex Raceway last month
pic - Fast Company/Greg Henderson
It's also still very close at the top of the points table in the Arai Helmets-backed Formula Junior class though the pace round two winner and current points leader Scott Manson showed at Tokoroa means the Christchurch youngster remains odds-on favourite to win again at Hamilton this weekend.
Second in that class after two rounds in which he has collected third and second placings in class is Palmerston North's Josh Drysdale, third one of the other Christchurch karters contesting this year's Rotax Max Challenge, Jordan McDonnell.
The Arai Formula Junior category is again the best supported with 25 entries, including that of the country's top female Junior driver Chelsea Herbert from Auckland who joins the Challenge series this weekend.
Hawke's Bay driver Zac Zaloum is so far the only two-time class winner this season, meaning he has a healthy 17 point lead in the Strata Networks 125cc Rotax Max Heavy class.
Behind him though it is as close as it is in the Lights and Junior classes with second placed Aarron Cunningham just two points clear of third placed Shane Hodgson (both from Auckland) with Masters sub-category leader Steven Currie, also from Auckland, another four points back in fourth.
Competition in the Masters (35+) is just as tight with Currie just three points head of fellow Aucklander Andrew Grant and seven clear of third placed Daryl Crighton from Christchurch.
And ready to take that trio on this weekend is former New Zealand representative Niki Urwin, the Tauranga-based paraplegic driver fresh from making a big impression - ending up sixth in the Final - in the DD2 Masters class at last weekend's inaugural Jason Richards Memorial meeting in Australia.
The weekend's round of the 2012 Right Karts Kart Stars Rotax Max Challenge series is the third of six with the next to be hosted by the KartSport Bay of Plenty club at its Fagan's Valley Raceway at the end of July.
2012 Right Karts KartStars Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand
Points after Rnd 2 of 6
Right Karts 125cc Rotax Max Light
1. Daniel Kinsman 174 points
2. Daniel Connor 173
3. Mathew Kinsman 157
4. Fraser Hart 155
5. Stan Tangaroa-Green 151
6. James Penrose 150
Arai Formula Junior
1. Scott Manson 178 points
2. Josh Drysdale 170
3. Jordan McDonnell
4. CJ Sinclair 161
5. James Munro 156
6. Olivia Yardley 143
Strata Networks 125cc Rotax Max Heavy
1. Zac Zaloum 178 points
2. Aarron Cunningham 161
3. Shane Hodgson 159
4. Steven Currie 155
5. Andrew Grant 152
6. Daryl Crighton 148