AUSTRALIA’S BEST KARTERS ON SHOW IN PUCKAPUNYAL

More than 250 entries have been received for Round Two of the Australian Kart Championship in Puckapunyal (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Following on from this weekend’s Formula One Grand Prix, the next generation of stars will continue Victoria’s motorsport theme at Round two of the Australian Kart Championship presented by Jayco and Castrol EDGE in Puckapunyal next weekend.

Hundreds of visitors from all across Australia and New Zealand are expected to converge on the Central Victorian region for the event.

With more than 250 entries having been received, the racing at the Hume International Raceway is set to be full of excitement.

Gold Coaster Chris Hays, who won the opening round in Dubbo, will start as one of the favourites for next weekend’s event in the elite KZ2 class alongside Victorians David Sera and Jason Pringle. Keen to continue their strong start to the year will also be South Australian Daniel Price and Kiwi Ryan Grant.

Round 1 winner in the KZ2 class Chris Hays leading reigning Champion Jason Pringle (Pic: Coopers Photographers)

Lining up against the top-line karting stars in the KZ2 class will also be Dunlop V8 Supercar Series drivers Macauley Jones and James Golding.

Keeping a close on proceedings throughout the weekend will be 2010 V8 Supercars Champion James Courtney. The dual World Karting Champion will be on hand to assist the Holden Kart team drivers and competitors aboard is JC Kart.

Courtney is expected to be joined trackside several of his Melbourne-based V8 Supercar colleagues, all of whom came through the karting ranks during their formative years, across the weekend.

A capacity field of 44 drivers will face the starter in the Cadet 12 class, for drivers aged between nine and 12 years of age. The Shamick Racing duo of Kai Allen and James Wharton set the pace in the opening round and will once again prove hard to beat on a circuit they know well. The KA4 Junior field will be close to capacity with Round one winner Travis Worton hoping to continue his great form on his home circuit.

For these drivers, they will reach speeds close to 100 km/h while racing centimetres apart and learning significant lessons about car control and driving techniques well before they are old enough to obtain their road licence.

The action in the top junior class – KA2 is expected to be intense with more than half of the 20-kart field having the credentials to earn a place on the podium at the end of the weekend.

Former junior stars Cory Arnett and Josh Denton will make their debut in the KA1 class alongside the likes of local driver Reece Sidebottom, reigning Champion Liam McLellan and Scott Sorenson.

A total of nine classes of drivers will be in action at the event from the youngest in the Cadet 9 at seven years of age through to the elite KZ2 gearbox class where the front running competitors will reach speeds in excess of 130 km/h around the 1064-metre circuit.

The Hume International Raceway is located on the Seymour-Tooborac Road, approximately 8km West of Seymour.

Admission for spectators is free.