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Superkarters Arrive At Morgan Park

from Mark Jones

Teams started arriving at Morgan Park Raceway in Warwick yesterday (Thursday), for the championship finale of the Rockpress Australian Superkart Championship.

Making a splash, the Victorian teams arrived en masse, unloading their crated-up Superkarts and equipment from their semi-trailer mounted delivery system. The South Australian teams were also in camp early. Many of the New South Wales teams are in place, Stockman Superkarts filling up their corner of pitlane. Only a few of the Queensland teams have arrived, with the remainder climbing over the Great Dividing Range early Friday morning.

After the semi's departure all eyes were drawn towards Warwick District Sporting Car Clubs new baby. The 2.9 kilometre layout has everyone enthused, with many taking as close a look as they could, joined by the rest of the paddock as Round 7 of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships assembled at the Darling Downs circuit.

The new sweepers have the drivers of all categories fascinated. With three of the countries fastest five categories present, with Formula 3 and Sports Sedans joining the program, while the technical parts of the circuit should favour the nimble Superkarts.

"Regardless of the extension, we'll still have a form of home track advantage," said Brian Wild. Wild was last start round winner of the Queensland Superkart Club Series in the Iguana Signs & Concepts/N & G Motor Repairs Stockman MR2 Honda. Wild, a 125cc competitor, has hit the best form of his career, winning the class weighted pointscore held at the 2.1 km version of Morgan Park a month ago. Phillip Island did not go that well for the Queenslander but by the end of the weekend he was keeping class pointscore leader Darren Dunn in sight.

"The new section won't be that technical, just fast. We just have to learn the new track and work out the right final cog. We won't really know until qualifying who has the big guns. If anyone's brought a shotgun we'll see Saturday."

"It could be another twelve seconds to race the new section," Wild assessed. Wild's Stockman has some history at Morgan Park, a former state championship winning kart in the hands of Anthony Zulian. "The kart's the same its been for the last month. If I can maintain my recent form, hopefully I can get behind Darren and give him a hard time, maybe even show him the rear of the number 50 kart."

The weather has turned. Early week rain has faded and been replaced with a blasting wind that will shake up many of the larger cars. Temperature has plunged this week in a manner only a rural circuit can. Many of the interstate racer may find Winton has moved north with forecasts of sleet, frost, and even the threat of snow at nearby Stanthorpe.

Friday morning forecast has suggested drizzle after a cold start across the Downs, with isolated early frost. The first practice session of the day will be one to take cautiously with a cold track to make tyres slippery and cold air to make tuning the engines that much more delicate. Cold and early frosts are forecast for Saturday as well, while the possibility remains that drizzle may return for Sunday

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