Sprintkart Endurance Title Looms
Tweetpress release
Its just under two week until the opening of entries to the longest running two stroke endurance event in Australia, the 2012 Australian Sprintkart Endurance Titles, held at the highly regarded and internationally known Raleigh Raceway on the North Coast of NSW on the weekend 11/12 November.
The event will again attract some of the best endurance racers in the country, many of which have raced overseas with outstanding success, even a world Karting Champion amongst them. For over a decade the event has seen some of Australia's best drivers tackle this track and format as it offers so much more than the regular sprint format can ever offer.
300 laps (315km) around the ideal 1050m of Raleigh Raceway proves a mighty challenge for all drivers, with stints of 90 laps or about 1 hr 15 minutes behind the wheel doing near qualifying pace certainly tests the drivers stamina and concentration. The event is a real endurance event in every sense of the word in that it adopts a “live” pit lane - that is, there are NO time-outs, everything is live - pit stops are done under green flag conditions, meaning pit crews have to effect refuelling and driver changes whilst the clock is running.
Above: Paul Morandini is a multiple winner of the event
Safety Karts are also employed and usually impact on the race strategies and unpredictable times. This adds something to the event a sprint race just cannot; the ability to apply a strategy and be ready to alter at a moments notice. It's never a boring pedestrian event, lap times are usually within a second of qualifying so the pace is always on.
The venue is ideal for this type of racing with a long pit lane that allows teams to set-up alongside allowing for drive to and from pit bays ala V8 style. The long flowing straights, combination fast and slow corners provides drivers with constant challenges demanding full attention. Being an enduro the on track racing has been tough and hard but also very clean, as any “dumb” move could risk contact and possible damage and a costly return to the pits. In fact in the 14 years of the event there have been very few on track incidents that have required penalties being issued.
The event as usual will allow all 125cc engines eligible, in 2 weight divisions (Heavy and Light) running on the MOJO tyre. All senior drivers [ 16y/o +] are eligible - AKA licence holders, CAMS, Prokart, Auskart licence are also recognised and accepted. Teams of two or three drivers are required, max fuel tank of 10 litres, two sets of tyres, Timed qualifying session to determine starting grid.
Entries open 1st October, cost of entry is $300 per team and the first 25 paid teams will be accepted.
Links to event rules and entry form are on the KartSportNews Race Calendar page.
