Wellington Hosts NZ Schools' Championships This Weekend
Tweetpress release
It's National Schools' Championship time again for the country's karters, the KartSport Wellington club and Hutt International Boys School hosting the 10th annual event at Kaitoke's CRC Raceway this weekend.
Drivers compete for school honours in two categories, Secondary and Primary/Intermediate, this year's event attracting 100 entries from karters representing schools from Auckland in the north to Dunedin in the south.
Last year, when the event was held in Hamilton, Paul Blomqvist and Arthur Gabb won the Secondary Schools title for Auckland Grammar School for the first time while Jordan McDonnell and Jacob Mitchell won the Primary/Intermediate category on behalf of Christchurch's Chisnall Wood Intermediate and Windsor Primary Schools.
Above: Last year's winning Secondary Schools' pair, Arthur Gabb (left) and Paul Blomqvist
pic - Fast Company/Graham Hughes
Since the inaugural event in Auckand in 2003 the Secondary Schools' title has been held by six schools, Auckland's Rangitoto College (2003), St Kentigern College (2004 and 2007) and Auckland Grammar School (2011), Christchurch's St Andrews College (2008 & 2009), Palmerston North Boys High School (2005 and 2010) and Nelson's Waimea College (2006).
A special feature of the popular annual Schools' event are the Bruce McLaren KartSport Awards presented in association with the Bruce McLaren Trust and Formula Challenge.
Two are offered each year and this year they will go to the winners of the best supported Junior and Senior classes.
Above: Paul Blomqvist on his way to victory in the 125cc Rotax Max Light class at the 2011 event in Hamilton
pic - Fast Company/Graham Hughes
The prize is the opportunity to drive a Formula Challenge racing car - but before either can take it up each winning driver has to produce and present a project at his or her school on the career, achievements and values demonstrated by the driver the award honours, New Zealand racing great Bruce McLaren.
Gates at CRC Raceway open at 7.30am each morning this weekend with three classes contested each day; Junior Restricted 100cc Yamaha, Junior 100cc Yamaha and Senior 100cc Yamaha Light on Saturday, and Cadet, Formula Junior and 125cc Rotax Max Light on Sunday.