Australia’s best ready to take on the world - From the Bundaberg News Mail

GREAT FINISH: Bundaberg's Troy Loeskow at the final round of the 2014 CIK Stars Of Karting series at Todd Rd in Melbourne, he will now fly the flag for Australia at the prestigious Winter Cup in Italy. Photo: Coopers Photography

WINNING the KF2 class in the CIK Stars Of Karting Series won Bundaberg’s Troy Loeskow acclaim from across the karting world and after proving his driving abilities last year he will go into the 2015 Australian series as one of the men to beat.

What winning the title also did was earned Loeskow the right to do what only Test match players do in sports like cricket, rugby league and rugby union.

Because in Italy on the famed Lonato track in South Garda Loeskow will proudly wear his country’s coat of arms on his race suite when he competes in the 20th CIK-FIA Winter Cup for Team Australia.

Driving a Ricciardo Kart, names after Aussie F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, Loeskow will race some of the best drivers in the world in the KF2 class and in a new chassis, with new tyres and on a new track Loeskow will be faced with the biggest challenge of his driving career.

“It’s a big honour because of the start up with the Ricciardo Kart, but its also the first time they have had a team that can put the coat of arm on its suite,” Loeskow said.

“That’s a pretty big honour. That’s pretty cool.”

Adding to the thrill will be having his parents, Allan and Joanne, trackside and Loeskow cannot wait to light his tyres up on the Lonato circuit.

Although conditions will be different to what he is used to.

The name, Winter Cup, should give an indication of what it will be like but just the word doesn’t do it justice. With an average low of one degree and high of seven, and after practicing in 40+ degrees in Ipswich recently, Loeskow will be challenged from all angles.

And to be at his best when he hits the track in his first practice session in a week’s time Loeskow said he had turned to the internet for a head start on the competition.

“I have looked on Google maps, heaps of different videos of people going around the track,” he said.

“I actually found a game on the internet that had the track on it – the graphics weren’t the best but it gave me a little feel for the track.”

Loeskow said the Lonato track suited his style because of the number of hairpin corners on it and his skill with using a hand-operated front brake would hopefully be an advantage.

His journey starts Friday night and the first practice session is Wednesday next week, the Winter Cup is raced on February 20-22.

When Loeskow gets back from Italy he will start preparations for the Australian Kart Championships (formerly known as the CIK Stars Of Karting Series) in the KZ2 class where Bundaberg’s Kel Treseder has made his name against some top class drivers.

He knows this will be another challenge but was looking forward to another test of his skills against the best in the world.

Loeskow is joined in Team Australia by Matthew Waters (Sydney) and Liam McLellan (Melbourne) in Italy