Kiwi Karters Head Off-Shore in Greater Numbers

Kiwi Karters Head Off-Shore in Greater Numbers

Top New Zealand karters are heading overseas in unprecedented numbers this year, Auckland-based international Daniel Bray the first of ten set to leave the country over the next two weeks to compete.

Bray, 25, flies out today (Friday August 17) for Italy where he will begin preparations for the 2012 CIK-FIA World Cup meeting for KZ1 and KZ2 class karts being held at the Sarno track in Italy between Thursday August 30 and Sunday September 02.

After the fifth round of the Gen-i KartStars Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand in Auckland over the August 25-26 weekend, meanwhile, eight local Rotax class drivers will cross the Tasman to compete at the annual Australian Rotax National Championship event in Dubbo, inland New South Wales from Friday August 31 to Sunday September 02.

Finally, on Sunday September 02, two-time New Zealand SuperKart champion, Karl Wilson from Wellington, flies to the United States to prepare for the annual Stars of SuperKarts invitational event at the Laguna Seca circuit in northern California between September 07-09.

New Zealand karters have a proud record of achievement in Europe, the United States and Australia. What makes this year's exodus different, however, are the sheer numbers involved.

"It's certainly the biggest group we've had going to one event," KartSport New Zealand's Development and Administration Manager Robert Hutton says of the Australian Rotax Max Nationals contingent. "We've had two, three and even four drivers before but never eight like this year."

The lineup is headed by defending Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand class winners Daniel Kinsman (125cc Rotax Max Light) and Aarron Cunningham (125cc Rotax Max Heavy) from Auckland and includes 2011 New Zealand 125cc Rotax Max Light class champion Daniel Connor from Helensville, 2011 North Island 125cc Rotax Max Heavy class champion Zach Zaloum from the Hawke's Bay, regular Senior class front-runners Fraser and Brendon Hart, and current Junior class star Josh Drysdale, from Palmerston North, and 2010 New Zealand Challenge Masters class runner-up and Rotax Max Grand Final representative Niki Urwin from Tauranga.

Last year was one of the best at the annual Australian Rotax category event for drivers from New Zealand, former Palmerston North-based international Josh Hart finishing third overall in the 125cc Rotax Max Light class behind David Sera and Daniel Rochford.

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