NZ Rotax Series Wide Open
| press release | 14 August 2013 |
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STILL ANYONE'S GAME AS ROTAX SERIES HEADS TO HAWKE'S BAY THIS WEEKEND
It's still anyone's game in the three main classes as the 2013 YÖGG Rotax Max Challenge heads to the KartSport Hawke's Bay club's The Rock Raceway on the outskirts of Hastings this weekend for the penultimate series round.
Aucklander Daniel Kinsman and Palmerston North driver Dylan Drysdale are the points leaders in Platinum Glass 125cc Rotax Max and Arai Helmets Junior Max respectively but in each case it is by just one solitary point.
Above: Platinum Glass Rotax Max 125cc Lights class winner at Tokoroa was Daniel Connor (#2) seen here leading Mason Armstrong and defending title holder Daniel Kinsman.
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Fast Company/Graham Hughes
It's very much a family affair in the Lights class with Daniel's older brother Mathew second and long-time category rival Daniel Connor just five points further back after his breakthrough series win at Tokoroa in May.
Connor - who like Daniel Kinsman is also contesting Australia's Rotax Pro Tour series this year - was the big mover at Tokoroa, qualifying quickest and winning both Lights class heats as well as the Pre-Final and Final, the latter from Mathew Kinsman and young guns Reid Harker, Rhys Tinney and CJ Sinclair with Daniel Kinsman an uncharacteristic eighth.
Also impressive at Tokoroa was Auckland driver Mason Armstrong who qualified third quickest then finished second to Connor in the heats and Pre-Final before storming back up through the field from 20th to seventh in the Final after contact on the first lap.
Above: Ethan Anderson (#76) in Arai Helmets Junior Max
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Fast Company/Graham Hughes
The situation is similar in Arai Helmets Junior Max with Dylan Drysdale having claimed two class round wins but Christchurch driver Marcus Armstrong finishing second at the first two rounds then winning the class at the fourth.
Meanwhile, despite missing the opening round of this year's Challenge series, Aucklander Aarron Cunningham now leads the points standings in the Logitech 125cc Rotax Max Heavy class by nine points with early season pace-setter Brendon Hart from Palmerston North and Auckland driver Stuart Marshall locked in a battle for second in the Heavy class standings and first in the Masters (over 32 yrs) category which runs concurrently.
Series organizer Rights Karts is again helping add an extra buzz to this weekend's meeting by putting up $200 per class for the top qualifier in the Light, Heavy and Junior classes. There will be action on track both days with qualifying and the heats on Saturday and the Pre-Finals and Finals on Sunday.
This weekend's round is the fifth of six with the KartSport Auckland club to host the final at its Moselle Panel & Paint Raceway at Rosebank Domain over the September 21/22 weekend.
Above: Brendon Hart (#69) in Logitech 125cc Rotax Max Heavy
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Fast Company/Graham Hughes
2013 YÖGG Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand
Platinum Glass 125cc Rotax Max Light
Points after Rnd of 6
1. Daniel Kinsman 255 points; 2. Mathew Kinsman 254 3. Daniel Connor 249
Arai Helmets Junior Max
Points after Rnd 4 of 6
1. Dylan Drysdale 259 points; 2. Marcus Armstrong 258; 3. Campbell Joyes 252.
Logitech 125cc Rotax Max Heavy
Points after Rnd 4 of 6
1. Aarron Cunningham 259; 2. Brendon Hart 250; 3. Stuart Marshall 250.
Masters (over 32)
1. Brendon Hart 250 points; 2. Stuart Marshall 249; 3. Brendon Gridley 235
Rnd 1: Feb 16 KartSport Manawatu
Rnd 2: Mar 09-10 Kartsport Rotorua
Rnd 3: April 20-21 Kartsport Bay of Plenty
Rnd 4: May 25-26th Kartsport Tokoroa
Rnd 5: Aug 17-18 Kartsport Hawke's Bay
Rnd 6: Sept 21-22 Kartsport Auckland
