Late Charges Net Connor And Hunter Kart Titles

KARTSPORT NEW ZEALAND
Media Release
For immediate release

* 2011 Speedy Signs KartSport New Zealand National Sprint Championships
Macaulay Ford Kart Raceway
Sandy Point Domain
Invercargill
Southland
Easter weekend
April 22-24
2011

DAY 2 REPORT

23-04-10

Late Charges Net Connor And Hunter Kart Titles In Invercargill

Late charges in their respective Finals netted Christchurch's Simon Hunter and Auckland's Daniel Connor class titles on the first day of competition at the 2011 Speedy Signs KartSport New Zealand National Sprint Championships meeting in Invercargill today.

With three Senior 100cc Yamaha Heavy titles already to his name, Hunter was one of the favourites heading into this weekend's meeting at KartSport Invercargill's Macaulay Ford Kart Raceway newly extended track at Sandy point Domain.

With competition from the likes of defending class title-holder Michael Kiser from Taranaki, and Bradley Tyrrell from Tokoroa, however, title number four was certainly not handed to him on a plate.

Tyrrell won the first heat from Hawke's Bay's Zack Zaloum and Wellington's Karl Wilson with Hunter fourth, then Wilson won the second from Tyrrell, Zaloum and Michael Kiser with Hunter back in ninth.

Tyrrell also won the Pre-Final - from Hunter, Zaloum and Kiser - and led all but one lap early on and the last three laps of the Final.

Early on in the Final Hunter had his hands full fending off Zaloum then Kiser, but Tyrrell was never more than a couple of karts lengths ahead and Hunter made a successful pass for the lead - and fourth class title in six years - on the 21st lap.

Kiser also passed Tyrrell on the same lap, though there was little in it when the chequered flag came out, Hunter, Kiser, Tyrrell and fastest qualifier Shaun Reay crossing the finishing line less than half a second apart.

Daniel Connor performed a similar feat in the 125cc Rotax Max Light class, though in his audacious case he left his assault on the lead until the last corner of the last lap.

For 23 of the 24 laps of the Final the order was Daniel Kinsman, Daniel Connor and Andrew Hoare. But on the last lap four-time former class champion Matthew Hamilton passed Andrew Hoare for third and Daniel Connor managed to muscle his way past KartSport Mt Wellington clubmate Daniel Kinsman for the lead - and 2011 New Zealand title!

In the other three classes contested today, Rangiora's James Penrose successfully defended his New Zealand Junior 100cc Yamaha title, fast-rising young Christchurch driver Marcus Armstrong beat arch-rival and fellow second-generation racer Caleb Cross to the 2011 New Zealand Cadet class title, and fastest class qualifier Ryan Urban had to call on all his considerable skills to make the 2011 KZ2 class title his.

While the heat races in the morning were run in the rain, the Pre-Finals and all but the KZ2 class Final were run on a dry track.

The KZ2 Final started in the dry, with Urban leading eventual runner-up Mathew Kinsman and Wellington's Karl Wilson, but half way through the 24-lap race the heaven's opened and the 12-strong field was left skating around on a wet track on slick tyres.

Both Kinsman and eventual third place-getter Daniel Bray - who came off second best after contact on the first laps and spent the race working his way back into top three contention - were able to close on Urban but neither got the opportunity, despite the treacherous nature of the conditions, to challenge for the lead, Urban taking the chequered flag and 2011 title from Kinsman (older brother of 125cc Rotax Max Light runner-up Daniel Kinsman), Bray and Pukekohe's Jody Vincent.

Competition continues at Macaulay Ford Kart Raceway tomorrow (Sunday) with five more 2011 New Zealand Sprint National class titles up for grabs.

Over 170 karters plus family members and supporters have made the trip south for the 52nd National Sprint Championship meeting which is being televised by Southland TV channel Cue TV with two one hour shows (Sky digital channel 110 and Freeview satellite channel 23).

The first will air on Saturday May 7 at 8.00pm with repeats on Saturday May 14 at 3.30pm, Saturday May 21 at 3.30pm and Sunday May 29 at 2.30pm.

The 2011 Speedy Signs KartSport New Zealand National Sprint Championship meeting is being run with the assistance of class sponsors, Invercargill Oil Shop, Kiwi Karts, Macaulay Ford, Mainland Karting, SBS Bank, Southland Brakes and Driveline, The Southland Times, The Rock and Transport Engineering Southland.

Ends

CAPTION
Two of the five 2011 New Zealand National Sprint class champions crowned today, 2011 Senior Yamaha Heavy champion Simon Hunter (seen here crossing the finish line in front of 2010 champion Michael Kiser and Bradley Tyrrell), and 2011 125cc Rotax Max Light champion Daniel Connor, seen here leading eventual third place-getter Matthew Hamilton in one of the heat races this morning. Credit is: Fast Company/Ian Edwards

2011 Speedy Signs KartSport New Zealand National Sprint Championships Macaulay Ford Kart Raceway Sandy Point Domain Invercargill Southland Easter weekend April 22-24

KZ2
1. Ryan Urban 15:00.667
2. Mathew Kinsman +0.576
3. Daniel Bray +5.061
4. Jody Vincent +17.345
5. Daniel Picard +18.569
6. Andy Knight +21.815
7. Karl Wilson +37.347
8. Peter Dickson +46.873
9. Dyson Freeman +1 Lap
10. Sam Gillam 23 +1 lap
Fastest Lap: Daniel Bray 31.111

125cc Rotax Max Light
1. Daniel Connor 13:17.129
2. Daniel Kinsman +0.104
3. Matthew Hamilton +3.129
4. Andrew Hoare +3.175
5. Andy Schofield +3.227
6. David Meszaros +3.525
7. Matthew Straker +11.482
8. Matt Williams +17.254
9. Tom Alexander +17.925
10. Chris Cox +17.933
Fastest Lap: Mathew Hamilton 32.935

Senior 100cc Yamaha Heavy
1. Simon Hunter 14:11.157
2. Michael Kiser +0.087
3. Bradley Tyrrell 24 +0.289
4. Shaun Reay +0.682
5. Scott Waters +2.004
6. Tony Kinsman +4.629
7. Lane Moore +6.033
8. Aaron de Ridder +6.764
9. Daniel Harvey +8.638
10. Chris Dixon +11.552
Fastest Lap: Shaun Reay 34.940

Junior 100cc Yamaha
1. James Penrose 13:41.674
2. Rhys Tinney +3.849
3. Jordan McDonnell +6.065
4. Scott Manson +6.270
5. Brook Reeve +9.584
6. Josh Drysdale +11.179
7. Alexander Webb +11.605
8. Reid Harker +14.635 3
9. Shaun Grocock +15.691
10. Oliver Shearer +19.022
Fastest Lap: James Penrose 33.963

Cadet
1. Marcus Armstrong 15:08.969
2. Caleb Cross +18.405
3. Jack Oliver +18.560
4. Dylan Smith +20.889
5. Nicholas Wiltshire +26.242
6. Nicholas Third +26.537
7. Hamish Buchanan-Keast +29.464
8. Jacob Mitchell +33.098
9. Lewis Ball +35.058 +35.058
10. Sebastian Bainbridge +1 Lap
Fastest lap: Marcus Armstrong 37.341

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