Excitement Builds For Darwin

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Race order and Schedule for the Nationals announced

The excitement in the Top End is building ahead of the Northern Territory and National Championships to be held in Darwin, Northern Territory across the coming two weekends.

This weekend’s Northern Territory Championships has attracted no less than 250 entries across 13 categories while the Nationals will see 228 competitors across the nine championship categories on offer. (Schedule for both events below)

In an effort to allow more of an enjoyable time at the 2012 National Sprint Kart Championships, the 50th running of the prestigious event, the nine categories that will be competing at the event will be split into two groups – afternoon and evening.

“Darwin is a unique venue and with this being the first time that the National Championships have been held in the ‘Top End’ we’ve been looking at ways of trying to making it a memorable event for everyone attending,” said National Events Co-ordinator Pam Arnett.

“For a lot of our competitors, the event will be the first time they have visited Darwin, so we want to make sure they not only get to enjoy some great racing but also the great sights that Darwin has to offer.”

The split of the groups means that for the first time in the history of the event some of the sport’s National Champions will be crowned under lights.

Three-time Australian Champion James Sera is one driver who’s excited about the opportunity to race for a National Championship under lights.

“I’m looking forward to racing under lights, it’s always a fantastic spectacle when you race under lights – everything seems even faster,” said Sera.

“I really can’t wait to get up to Darwin, I’ve heard all of these good things about the track up there and everything that the city has to offer.

“On my way there from my Melbourne base I’ll get to see some of the sights that I’ve always wanted to experience – it’s going to be a long trip but I think it will be a very enjoyable one.”

Competing in both the 125cc Leopard Light and 100cc Clubman Light categories, Sera believes the racing in both of his classes will be intense.

“In both the Leopard and Clubman categories it’s always tough,” said Sera.

“I’ve won both of them before but I think Cian Fothergill will be strong and Ben Stewart is a tough competitor as well, those two are always fast. It will also be interesting to see how Pierce Lehane goes in his first Nationals as a senior competitor.

“I’m sure there will also be a couple of local competitors who will be certain to surprise us as well. Whenever these events go to a track for the first time, there’s always a local driver who pops up in qualifying.”

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50th Australian National Sprint Kart Championships

Event Schedule

Thursday July 5
8:00am – 11:40am Official Practice (Afternoon classes)
1. Leopard Light
2. Clubman Super Heavy
3. Junior National Heavy
4. Clubman Heavy

12:00pm – 4:30pm Official Practice (Evening classes)
1. Senior National
2. Junior National Light
3. Leopard Heavy
4. Clubman Light
5. Junior Clubman

5:30pm – 7:00pm Chief Ministers Welcome (Parliament House)

Friday July 6
12:00pm – 3:40pm Official Practice (Afternoon classes)
1. Leopard Light
2. Clubman Super Heavy
3. Junior National Heavy
4. Clubman Heavy

4:00pm – 8:30pm Official Practice (Evening classes)
1. Senior National
2. Junior National Light
3. Leopard Heavy
4. Clubman Light
5. Junior Clubman

Saturday July 7
Afternoon classes (1. Leopard Light, 2. Clubman Super Heavy, 3. Junior National Heavy, 4. Clubman Heavy)
12:00pm Drivers Briefing
12:30pm Warm-up
1:00pm Qualifying
2:00pm Heat Races commence

Evening classes (1. Senior National, 2. Junior National Light, 3. Leopard Heavy, 4. Clubman Light, 5. Junior Clubman)
4:00pm Drivers Briefing
4:30pm Warm-Up
5:10pm Qualifying
6:45pm Heat Races commence

Sunday July 8
Afternoon classes (1. Leopard Light, 2. Clubman Super Heavy, 3. Junior National Heavy, 4. Clubman Heavy)
12:00pm Drivers Briefing
12:30pm Warm-up
1:00pm Pre-Finals
2:00pm Finals

Evening classes (1. Senior National, 2. Junior National Light, 3. Leopard Heavy, 4. Clubman Light, 5. Junior Clubman)
4:00pm Drivers Briefing
4:30pm Warm-Up
5:10pm Pre-Finals
6:30pm Finals

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2012 Northern Territory Championships

Event Schedule

Thursday June 28
9:00am – 5:00pm Unofficial Practice (All Classes)

Friday June 29
9:00am – 5:00pm Official Practice (All Classes)

Saturday June 30
8:00am – Carburation Session
Drivers Briefing
Qualifying
Racing Commences at the completion of Qualifying

Sunday July 1
8:00am – Carburation Session
Drivers Briefing
Remaining races
6:00pm Presentation Dinner

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