48 Superkarts For Phillip Island Finale
from Mark Jones
Superkarts Australia have announced their entry list for the Australian Superkart Championship finale at Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in November with 48 competitors set to gather at the famous Victorian circuit.
The season final of the Shannons National Motor Racing Championships will play host to the championship finale over the November 4-6 weekend. The circuit is a traditional favourite for Superkarters and have once again entered in large numbers. But it is quality as much as quantity that is impressive in 2011.
"I thought the enthusiasm levels were high last year, but this year they are as high as I have ever been," said Superkarts Australia Chairman Clint Brown.
"There has been a substantial investment in new equipment this year, certainly several hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of new karts and engines from Europe, particularly in the 250 International and 250 National classes."
"This new investment is highlighted by the Queensland Coach Design team who invested in a whole new Anderson-DEA package for Russell Jamieson." The Jamieson team were rewarded with the first race win in the top class for Russell as well as claiming the long standing Eastern Creek lap record.
Six-time champion Warren McIlveen (Mac's Marine Stockman Superkarts team) leads the 250 International class by three points over Darren Hossack. This New South Wales/Victoria rivalry has dominated Superkart racing for several seasons since Hossack first emerged as a front runner in the 2008 season in the Scott Ellis run Safe Evolutions team. The pair finished on equal points after the 2010 season with Hossack winning on countback. The pair hold a over ten point break on a tight group of rivals should they both falter which includes Victorians Anton Stevens and Steven Tamasi, South Australians Yiani Harpas and Brett Purdie and Queenslanders Russell Jamieson, Vince Livaditis and Jason Smith.
The entry also includes newcomer Stuart Kostera. The recently crowned 2011 Australian Production Car Champion will take to the circuit in the Zip Eagle usually driven by fellow Western Australian racer Mark Hanson.
Brown also hightlighted the growth of 250 National class.
"In 2009 the class had too few to run for an independent championship but almost half a dozen new Andersons have arrived in the country since then with Luke May and Martin Latta running brand new karts fresh from the UK this year."
May holds a commanding 14 point lead over emerging young New South Welshman Dalton Rowell in the 250 National division. Rowell is racing the Australian designed Stockman MR2, a chassis design run by many including McIlveen.
Veteran Jeff Reed, also Stockman mounted, holds a ten point lead over Paul Campbell in the 125 cc class. Campbell races another Australian design, the Avoig Elise. The pair hold a gap over third with five different drivers in striking distance of the final podium position.
The round will be telecast on Speedweek on a to be determined date thanks to the support of telecast sponsor Rockpress and Superkarts Australia, with assistance from STR Truck Bodies, Zip BDH and the Queensland Superkart Club.
"Rockpress is pleased to again assist as a major sponsor in bringing the promotion of Championship Superkart Racing to a wider audience," said Rockpress director Phil Silcock.
In addition to the television coverage there will also be live internet television coverage via website ITV Live. ITV takes the direct feed from Shannon's Nationals footage as it is recorded at the circuit and those away from the circuit can watch the racing live at:
http://www.itvlive.com.au/
Practice will begin on Friday November 6 at the final round of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championship, with qualifying and racing to begin on Saturday November 7.
