ROK Cup Too Close To Call
| press release | 9 June 2016 |
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All eyes on the 2016 ROK Cup New Zealand are on the final round in just over a month's time with the points situation after the split North/South round over Queen's Birthday still too close to call.
The 2016 ROK Cup New Zealand, is a multi-round series for young drivers contesting either Vortex ROK-engined class, Cadet ROK (for 6-11 year-olds) or Vortex Mini ROK (for those 9 to 12). The overall series winner of the Vortex Mini ROK class earns entry to the annual ROK Cup International Finals meeting in Italy later this year, (joining 2016 National Champion Breanna Morris who has already qualified for ROK Cup International Finals) while the overall series winner in the Cadet ROK class gets a brand new Vortex Mini ROK engine.
Above: Vortex Mini ROK class points leader William Exton (#SI) and title rival Jackson Rooney (#30)
pic - Fast Company/Graham Hughes
Heading into the split third - of four - rounds of this year's ROK Cup New Zealand series William Exton from Picton had a two point lead in the Vortex Mini ROK class standings over Jackson Rooney from Palmerston North with Thomas Boniface and Louis Redshaw tied for third a further nine points back.
In Cadet ROK, meanwhile, Ryan Bell from the Bay of Plenty had a one point lead over Auckland driver Mason Potter with Christchurch's Louis Sharp in a three-way tie for third with Auckland's Logan Manson and Nelson's Bo Hill just four points further back.
For the third series round competitors had the option of competing at one of two meetings, the Bayleys 2016 WPKA Championships meeting at Waitara in Taranaki in the North Island, and at the annual Sunbelts series meeting at Blenheim and Nelson in the South.
Both meetings saw bumper entries in each ROK class.
In Vortex Mini ROK Jackson Rooney just edged out local ace (the difference was a single point after five heat races) Thomas Boniface to claim the top spot at the North Island meeting while William Exton swept all before him (winning all eight heat races he started) to claim class honours at the South Island one.
The result - in terms of overall series points - is that Exton retains his lead over Rooney with the gap still just two points, with Boniface third, 12 points back.
Points-wise it is also still close in Cadet ROK though by winning his class at the North Island meeting, reigning class NZ Sprint champion Mason Potter has taken over the series lead from Ryan Bell who finished third at Waitara.
Above: New Cadet ROK class leader Mason Potter (#NZ)
pic - Fast Company/Vicky Jack
A dominant performance at the South Island meeting (winning eight of his nine heat races and finishing second in the other) reigning class South Island champion Louis Sharp has also edged ahead of Bo Hill from Nelson and Logan Manson from Auckland to consolidate third place in the series' points standings just two points adrift of Bell in second and four behind new leader Potter.
The focus of this year's ROK Cup New Zealand now turns to the final round to be held in conjunction with the annual Todd Energy supported KartSport New Zealand National Schools' Championship meeting at Waitara in Taranaki over the July 16-17 weekend.
Vortex Mini ROK
Points after Rnd 3 of 4
1. William Exton 147 points
2. Jackson Rooney 145
3. Thomas Boniface 133
4. Ryan Crombie 130
5. Louis Redshaw 128
6. Josh Richmond 122
Cadet ROK
Points after Rnd 3 of 4
1. Mason Potter 143 points
2. Ryan Bell 141
3. Louis Sharp 139
4. Bo Hill 136
5. Logan Manson 134
6. Liam Sceats 132
2016 ROK Cup New Zealand
Rnd 1: Sulphur City Sprint Rotorua Feb 13-14
Rnd 2: NZ Sprint Champs Hamilton Mar 25-27
Rnd 3 Option 1: WPKA Championships Taranaki June 04-05
Rnd 3 Option 2: Sunbelt Series Nelson/Blenheim June 04-05
Rnd 4 NZ Schools Champs Taranaki Jul 16-17
