AUSTRALIA'S BEST SET FOR BIG TRIP TO BOLIVAR PRO TOUR ROUND 2

Local Driver Jonathon Mangos holds the hometown advantage in the ultra-competitive Rotax 125 Light category (Images Coopers Photography)

Following a big weekend of Motorsport in Adelaide with The Clipsal 500 Virgin Australia Supercars opener, a number of Australia’s best kart racers are set to converge on Bolivar Raceway this weekend for the National Rotax Pro Tour Series, with several locals in line for top gongs.

Of the seven categories up for grabs, Jonathon Mangos is one of the major local hopes in the Rotax 125 Light category. For the last few seasons, Mangos has been racing all over the country in the national championships, but is still yet to crack it for the big win on home soil. After testing at the track throughout last weekend, Mangos is in with one of the best chances he has had at home.

Joining him in Rotax 125 Light will be veteran South Australian karter, Troy Woodger. It is a return to national-level competition for Woodger who several years ago was a front-runner on the Australian scene.

In the Mini Max category, young Adelaide racer, James Piszcyk will have a tough assignment against a number of rapid youngsters from around Australia, including round one winner, James Wharton.

Competitors from every state of Australia will be taking part in the three day event on Summer Road Bolivar. Of the 140-plus entries for this weekend, four drivers will travel from New Zealand including the very fast Auckland sisters, Ashleigh and Madeline Stewart. In January’s opening round at Todd Road, Madeline finished second in Rotax 125 Light, which is the best result by a female driver for many years at national level in Australia.

In all, there are nine female racers lining up at Bolivar – this goes along with an increasing trend in Australian Kart Racing where more young girls and ladies are getting involved in the sport.

Team Australia’s Kris Walton returns for double duties aboard the Z Corse CompKart (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Other competitors to keep an eye on include Kris Walton – who is a former Australian and New Zealand V8 Utes Champion. Walton will be competing in two categories – DD2 Masters and Rotax 125 Heavy.

Meantime, 15-year-old Clayton Richards – the son of multiple Bathurst 1000 Champion, Steven and Grandson of Jim will return in the DD2 category. He suffered a nasty crash in the opening heat of the first round in Melbourne but bounced back and has since worked on his father’s BMW Team SRM Australian GT team at the Bathurst 12 Hour and last weekend’s Clipsal 500.

Round one winners joining the fray include multiple Australian Champion, Brad Jenner from Victoria (Rotax 125 Light), Queenslander, Chris Farkas (Rotax 125 Heavy), Jay Hanson (Junior Max), Harry Arnett (Micro Max), Daniel Richert (DD2 Masters) and Joshua Fife (DD2).

The Rotax 125 Heavy category will undergo a “Top Five Shootout” on Saturday to set the pole position – where the top five from qualifying will have a single chance against the clock to set the pole position.

14 competitors from the Rotax Pro Tour in season 2017 will represent ‘Team Australia’ internationally at the end of the year, with many of them going to the Rotax Max Grand Finals – this year to be held in Portimao, Portugal November 4-11.