Urban The NZ Superkart King
| press release | 28 September 2016 |
| Tweet | |
Ryan Urban is New Zealand's new SuperKart king, the Aucklander making light of streaming wet weather and track conditions to claim the premier International class crown at the 2016 KartSport NZ National Superkart Championship and Grand Prix meeting at Hampton Downs on Sunday.
Above: Ryan Urban dominated aboard his new machine
pic -
Fast Company/Matt Smith
For the past five years the annual SuperKart championship meeting has been dominated by Wellington driver Karl Wilson. But with Wilson taking a break from the sport this year the way was left open for someone else to step up.
Coincidentally, Urban - an internationally successful multi-time New Zealand sprint kart champion - recently upgraded his SuperKart gear, and proved unbeatable behind the wheel of the new FPE-engined Anderson Maverick he sunk all his spare cash into.
Though he only managed one practice session on a wet track on Saturday before Sunday's downpour conditions he qualified over three seconds a lap quicker than top National class entrant Nick Isaac who set the second fastest time, then won all four combined International/National heats as well as the standalone 2016 New Zealand SuperKart Grand Prix race.
Above: Logan Boyde won the Grand Prix title in Rotax
pic -
Fast Company/Matt Smith
The pouring rain which marred the meeting tested resolve as well as driving skill but Urban made light of it.
"Wet or dry, honestly, I don't mind either way," he said." It would have been nice if it had been dry because I would have liked to have a crack at the Super kart lap record, but racing's racing and because everyone, pretty much, was on the same wet tyre the conditions were the same for everyone."
Capping off a perfect day in trying conditions Urban was also awarded the Pommie Trophy for the most outstanding performance in the International/National field.
Tony Gestro from Wellington was the second quickest qualifier in the International class and ended up second in class. Second behind Urban in the standalone Grand Prix race though was International class young gun Alex Geary from New Plymouth with Aucklander Martijn Weiss third.
Above: MAX Heavy winner Teddy Bassick
pic -
Fast Company/Matt Smith
Unfortunately long-time SuperKart supporter and four-time NZ #1 Paul Dunlop made the long trip to Hampton Downs from Clydevale in South Otago in vain, gearbox issues plaguing him throughout the weekend.
Nick Isaac went on to claim the 2016 New Zealand National class title with three class heat wins out of four. Fellow Taranaki driver Logan Boyde was the big winner in the Rotax Max Light class, claiming both the class title and class Grand Prix crown - while Taupo veteran Teddy Bassick won the Heavy class title, and was second Heavy class entrant home in the Rotax Grand Prix.
It was a big weekend for Bassick, who also competed in a leased SuperKart in the International/National class races with a best finish of third.
Above: National class winner Nick Isaac
pic -
Fast Company/Matt Smith
RESULTS - 2016 KartSport New Zealand National SuperKart Championship and Grand Prix Waikato Challenge car/superkart meeting, Hampton Downs Northern Waikato, Sun Sept 25
Int/Nat Grand Prix
1. 90. Ryan Urban (I); 2. 37. Alex Geary (I); 3. 8. Martijn Weiss (I); 4. 11. Steve Wilton (N); 5. 6. Cameron Dance (N); 6. 67. Warwick Dunn (I)
Rotax Max Light/Heavy Grand Prix
1. 3. Logan Boyde (L); 2. 7. Keith Wilkinson (L); 3. 81. Tony Kinsman (L) ; 4. 94. Caleb Hartley (H); 5. 93. Jason Butterworth (L); 6. 96. Teddy Bassick (H)
International
1. Ryan Urban; 2. Tony Gestro; 3. Wayne Sproston; 4. Warwick Dunn; 5. Martijn Weiss; 6. Teddy Bassick.
National
1. Nick Isaac; 2. Steve Wilton; 3. Daryl Currie; 4. Cameron Dance; 5. Chris Simmonds; 6. Matt Wallace.
Rotax Max Light
1. Logan Boyde; 2. Tony Kinsman; 3. Keith Wilkinson; 4. Lee Sefton; 5. Jason Butterworth; 6. Brendon White.
Rotax Max Heavy
1. Teddy Bassick; 2. Thomas Batt; 3. Caleb Hartley; 4. David Odering; 5. Mark Ongley; 6. Sharn Connor.
