V8 Drivers Chase Victory In Kart Enduro
A number of V8 Supercar drivers will be chasing victory in this weekend's TaG 125 Enduro at Gladstone. Tony D'Alberto, Tim Slade and Jack Perkins will compete against established karters John Grother, Cian Fothergill, Kel Treseder and many more. (Further article at the Gladstone Oberserver)
Above: Tim Slade, 2001 CIK Stars of Karting Series Champion, will be competing in the Australasian TAG 125 Kart Enduro this weekend
AKA press release
This weekend’s Australasian TAG 125 Kart Enduro in Gladstone will see no less than three V8 Supercar drivers heading back to the form of motorsport where they began their careers – karting.
The inaugural four hour enduro, running as a part of the MotorMania Central Queensland Festival – a huge 10 day event between July 16-25, will see the trio join many regular competitors from the region to battle for the winner’s trophy.
Tony D’Alberto, Tim Slade and Jack Perkins will be the three V8 Supercars representatives, while V8 Utes driver Ryal Harris will also compete against the likes of Kel Treseder, Cian Fothergill, John Grother, Matt Dicinoski and Gaven Whitmore.
Above: Centaur Racing's Tony D'Alberto will be back in a kart this weekend in Gladstone
Centaur Racing’s D’Alberto, who will partner Dicinoski in the four-hour race, is a former karter and is generally the first to put his hand up for events of this caliber.
It is the second time in the past few years that D’Alberto has competed in a karting endurance race in Central Queensland and during this time he has developed a strong following in the region.
D’Alberto’s Commodore was adorned last weekend in Townsville by Rockhampton business Smart City Vocational College and while his V8 races didn’t pan out so good for the 24 year-old, he is aiming to turn the tables this weekend when he climbs back into a kart.
“These days, karting is a fun exercise for me, but I’m going up there to win,” he said.
“I’ve got a fast team-mate, the kart will be good so I reckon we should be in with a chance.
“There’ll be a lot of local drivers in the race, so they’ll be hard to beat, but it shouldn’t take long for me to get my head around the track. I’ve done my research and looked at the track on YouTube – it seems like a fun track. I can’t wait for it.”
While the kart race is one of the focal points of the MotorMania festival, a special ‘Legends Dinner’ will be held at Champions Brock Experience.
The guest of honour will be Kevin Barlett, Australian former open wheel and touring car racing driver. The dinner will celebrate the outstanding achievements and contributions to regional motorsport clubs of all types by local club members. Five local legends will be inducted into the Camco Group MotorMania CQ Hall of Fame.
The event celebrates all things motoring, with events taking place throughout Gladstone, Rockhampton and the Capricorn Coast including karting, motocross, rallying, off-roads, drags, burn outs, a trade display and a bitumen sprint.
Australasian TAG 125 Karts Enduro provisional entry list
Matt Dicinoski/Tony D’Alberto
Gerard Battye/Jason Faint
Mick Doherty/Mitch Else
Benny Bennedeto/Norm Trost/A Meyers
Grant Rowley/D Butler/C Palmer
Mark Edwards/Tim Slade
Scott Dagan/Jack Perkins
Gavin Whitmore/Ryal Harris
Craig Butle/Brenton Simonds
Kel Treseder/Klinton Hancey
Richard Litzow/TBC
John Grother/Matt Rayment
Darren Ey/Tim Samson
Travis Martin/Ryan Fulcher
Cian Fothergill/Andrew Scott
Luke Brill/Andrew Rankin
Shane Mundey/Gavin Mazzoni
Brock Ten Bensel/Brendan Beaumont
