Grother Pumped For CIK Return

AKA press release

Queenslander John Grother has been one of the country’s top line kart racers for a number of years and will next weekend (August 7-9) make his return to Australia’s elite karting series, the Australian CIK Championship.

The Gladstone pilot, who has secured a number of State Championships throughout his illustrious career, is ‘super pumped’ about racing in the third round of the rejuvenated series at one of Australia’s most spectacular circuits – Raleigh.

pic - photowagon.com.au

Located 20 minutes south of Coffs Harbour in New South Wales, the Raleigh International Raceway has been the scene of many National and International events over the years and is a favourite of drivers from all across the world.

Some of the world’s drivers to have competed at the Raleigh circuit in CIK-specification karts include the likes of Formula One driver Jarno Trulli, IndyCar Series driver Ryan Briscoe and World Karting Champions Alessandro Manetti and James Courtney.

During the late 90s and earlier this decade Grother spent four years competing in the Australian CIK Championship, one of these years was spent with current V8 Supercar star Mark Winterbottom as his team-mate.

“In my eyes the CIK Championship has always been the pinnacle of the sport in this country and I’m delighted to see it making a return to Australian circuits,” said Grother.

“Work commitments limit the amount of racing that I can do these days so to be able to go to a track like Raleigh as a part of the CIK Championships is something that I’m 'super pumped' about.

“If you ask anyone who has ever raced at Raleigh, especially in a CIK-style event, they will all want to go back there and race again – the place is just amazing.”

Grother will be competing aboard a Gillard kart support by GJ Karts at the event that will see all drivers use the IAME Parilla KF2 (formerly Intercontinental A) specification engine, that produces an impressive 40hp, on the chassis of the driver’s choice fitted with Dunlop tyres.

Entering the third round of the Championship South Australian Tyson Pearce holds a slender lead at the top of the points standings over the Newcastle pair of Hayden McBride and Simon Roberts.

The Australian CIK Championship is being run alongside the Rotax Pro Tour where over 100 drivers are expected to assemble for the five 125cc categories that cater for a variety of ages and weight divisions.

Some of the drivers expected to figure prominently in the Rotax Pro Tour include Jordie Lindstrom, Daniel Rochford and David Sera, who has won both of the opening two events in Rotax Light, Paul Rodgers, William Yarwood and the Pringle brothers – Jason and Rick – in Rotax Heavy along with Josh DeMaio, Chris Hays and Luke Rochford in the Formula JMA category.

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