Challenge Chance At Todd Rd
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More than 70 racing laps in a professional series, and it will be shown on tv
This month’s final round of the 2012 CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE will provide the only opportunity this year for Victorian karters to race in Australia’s most professional karting series in their own ‘back yard’.
With the event to be hosted by the Go-Kart Club of Victoria, there will be Australia’s elite drivers competing in the Pro Classes – Pro Light (KF1), Pro Gearbox (KZ2) and Pro Junior (KF3) – while the Challenge categories cater for karters of all levels.
It will also be the only karting event in 2012 that will be broadcast on television across the country with a 30-minute program to be dedicated to the Challenge categories.
Competitors in the Challenge categories will enjoy 71 racing laps, plus qualifying, across the two days of competition, the series provides competitors with a huge amount of track time.
For James Greenwood, who has been simply dominant in the Yamaha Clubman Challenge in 2012, he believes that the series has helped him become a better racer every time he takes to the circuit.
“I’ve been a part of the Yamaha Challenge for a couple of years now and it’s been a fantastic thing to be a part of,” said Greenwood.
“You know exactly when you’re on the track, you get more racing laps than any other event in the country in a race weekend and learn so much every time you take to the track.
“Competing in the series to get the longer races has certainly helped my racing when I come back and race at State Championships or other events, as the long races are far from daunting and you’re a lot smarter about your set-up and racecraft.”
The Australian Leopard Challenge, where Light and Heavy competitors, compete in the same field but for different trophies and prizes has been a big hit with Leopard competitors in the opening four rounds.
Queenslander Steve Lintott has travelled to each of the rounds this year to compete in the Leopard Heavy category. He says that he’s never enjoyed his racing more than he has in the past few months.
“The series is absolutely awesome, the amount of practice and racing laps that you get is unlike anything else in Australian karting, it’s fantastic,” said Lintott.
“The atmosphere at the track really makes you feel like you’re a part of a proper professional race meeting, not just another kart meeting.
“It offers great value for money, you can’t compare it to anything else. Being able to race on your class tyre as well is very good.
“Even though we’re on the track at the same time as the Light guys, we’re racing ourselves and it’s a better spectacle for the spectators having more karts on the track.
“I’d suggest the Leopard drivers get their act together and support their class on the biggest stage in Australian karting.”
The series has this year introduced a new format for the Junior National Challenge with enormous success. There are two weight divisions, Light (120kg) and Heavy (140kg), competing on the circuit at the same time. However, at the end of the weekend there is a presentation for both the Light and Heavy categories.
With the CIK Stars of Karting Series continually looking at ways to improve the karting ‘experience’ for competitors, the Junior National category doesn’t form part of the Friday practice day (entry fee is reduced compared to Clubman and Leopard). The junior driver will instead have two warm-up sessions on the Saturday morning ahead of qualifying and three heat races. Sunday’s format will consist of a pre-final and final.
The next round of the 2012 CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE will be held in Melbourne on September 22/23. The Supplementary Regulations for the event are available by clicking here.
