Strong Entry for Easter Kart Nationals at Palmerston North

Strong Entry for Easter Kart Nationals at Palmerston North

The possibility of a 180-strong entry bodes well for this year's CB Norwood Distributors Ltd-backed KartSport New Zealand National Sprint championships meeting in Palmerston North over the Easter weekend.

When early entries officially closed this week the organising club, KartSport Manawatu, had received over 170 entries across 10 classes and events promotions manager Owen Greig says late entries could see 'at least 180' before the event starts on Friday April 03.

"It'll certainly be one of the biggest meetings we've run as a club for some time," says Greig, who says the sport is enjoying a real purple patch in the Manawatu at the moment.

"Things went a wee bit quiet there as the economy slowed down but they're coming back nicely now. We’ve got a good, strong group of kids coming up through the ranks as well as a core group of parents and club officials to keep everything running."

Over the Easter weekend there will be around 30 club and KartSport New Zealand officials running the meeting, one which Greig believes will contribute a significant amount of money to the local economy.

"You've only got to look at the numbers involved,' he says. "For each driver entered you've got probably three or four other support people, whether they are mums and dads and brothers and sisters, or people associated with supplying and servicing the karts, engines, tyres etc.

"There's only one National Sprint title meeting a year so we've got people coming from as far south as Invercargill and as far north as Whangarei. This year we've also got three or four coming over from Australia. They all need a place to stay and places to eat and drink while they are here. As far as bringing people to the region it'd be one of the biggest single events on the local motorsport calendar."

Coincidentally local drivers will also be amongst the favourites in several classes, where the likes of Juniors Dylan Drysdale, Jacob Cranston, Tom Greig, Riley Jack, Jackson Rooney and Jenson Bate will be challenging for national titles.

Set to defend 2014 titles, meanwhile, are Aucklanders Mathew Kinsman in both 125cc Rotax Max Light and 100cc Yamaha Light, and Ryan Urban in 125cc Rotax Max Heavy.

Expected to challenge Mathew Kinsman in 125cc Rotax Max Light are Kinsman's younger brother Daniel and namesake Daniel Connor also from Auckland, Andy Schofield from Cambridge and Campbell Joyes from Hamilton.

Schofield will also challenge Mathew Kinsman in the 100cc Yamaha Light class, where other title contenders include Aaron Marr from Wanganui, Rhys Tinney from Hamilton and Alex Geary and Brad Still from New Plymouth.

With 25 entries 125cc Rotax Max Light is the most popular Senior class with 100cc Yamaha Light second best subscribed with 21 entries followed by 125cc Rotax Max Heavy with 18.

The most popular Junior class is the new Vortex Mini ROK (9 to 13 yrs) in which 25 drivers will be vying to claim the inaugural New Zealand National Sprint title and the chance to represent New Zealand at the ROK Cup International Finals in Lonato, Italy during October.

Wellington driver Ryan Wood is the reigning NZ Schools' champion in the class, and Auckland Josh Parkinson is the 2014 North Island champion.

Both are entered for the Easter event where they will come up against the likes of Thomas Boniface from New Plymouth, William Exton from Blenheim and Tom Greig, Riley Jack and Jackson Rooney from Palmerston North.

There will be action at Manawatu Toyota Raceway on Shirriffs Rd on the outskirts of Palmerston North from Friday with Time Trials (qualifying) and repechages if necessary.

Five class titles will then be contested each day on Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday the classes are Vortex Mini ROK, Junior 100cc Yamaha, 125cc Rotax Max, 100cc Yamaha Heavy and KZ2 .

On Sunday they are Cadet ROK, 125cc Rotax Max Junior, Open, 125cc Rotax Max Heavy and 100cc Yamaha Light.

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