CIK Championship Down To The Wire In Ipswich This Weekend

AKA press release

Three of Australia’s most decorated karting stars will be vying for the 2009 Australian CIK Karting Championship crown in Ipswich, Queensland this weekend.

Newcastle duo Hayden McBride and Simon Roberts and Adelaide veteran Tyson Pearce are all going flat-out to bring home the premier title in Australian karting in the fourth and final event of this season.

Above: Newcastle driver Hayden McBride holds a slender lead going into this weekend's final round. (Pic: photowagon.com.au)

McBride holds a slender lead entering this weekend’s event over Pearce, however, the Gillard pilot doesn’t feel any extra pressure as he heads to the most northern event on the schedule.

But a swag of wildcard entries could spoil the party for the championship challengers as they come into the fray for the championship finale.

Toowoomba flyer Brendan Nelson, Sydney’s Jason Varley and Matthew Waters along with Victorian James Mills will all be making their CIK debut at this weekend’s event.

“While it is good to be holding the lead entering this weekend’s final round, I won’t be changing anything but more so triple checking things to make sure everything goes smoothly,” said McBride.

“I’ve been to Ipswich a few times, and really enjoy racing up there – it’s a great track. It has been resurfaced since I last raced there, so that is something that we will need to get on top of early in the weekend.

“It has been great to see the CIK Series grow over the year, especially with the new guys coming to the final round. I think that next year the series will continue to grow and really look forward to being a part of it.”

This weekend’s final round of the Australian CIK Championship will be run in conjunction with the final event on the Rotax Pro Tour schedule.

The Australian CIK Championship has been the springboard for many of Australia’s modern day motorsport stars including Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom, Ryan Briscoe, Michael Caruso and Tim Slade in the 13 Series’ held between 1993 and 2005.

During their karting careers Whincup and Winterbottom would regularly go head-to-head in the Australian CIK Championship – a rivalry that has continued into the V8 Supercar Championship as their careers have progressed over the years.

Whincup won a CIK Championship in both 1998 and 1999 while Winterbottom secured the top crown during 2001.

This rejuvenated Championship has all drivers using 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.

Courtesy of Defence Industries, manufacturers of high quality security roller shutters, and St George Kart Centre there will be no less than $6,500 cash and prizes to be split among the competitors at this weekend’s event.

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