Daniel Kinson on his way to victory in Rotax Light at the weekend. Pic: Fast Company/Greg Henderson
Auckland’s Kinsman brothers, Daniel and Mathew, made it a family one-two in the Motorex Rotax Max Light class at the second round of this year’s Right Karts Kartstars Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand in Tokoroa over the weekend.
Helensville’s Daniel Connor managed to split the pair in the second heat but that was it as far as anyone else was concerned, faster qualifier and heat race winner Daniel Kinsman also taking out the Pre-Final – from older brother Mathew, Kane Taylor and former class title holder Ryan Urban – and the Final from Mathew, Daniel Connor, Taylor and Round One class winner Andy Schofield.
After beating Daniel Kinsman to the line in both the Pre-Final and the Final at the opening round of this year’s Challenge series at Palmerston North a month ago it was Andy Schofield who went into the second round favourite.
However not even a local track advantage could help the Cambridge driver, who had to drive from the back of the grid to salvage fifth place in the Final after failing to finish the Pre-Final thanks to a brake problem.
Another top driver to strike problems was Ryan Urban who lost a nose cone in the Final and only got to complete 15 of the 27 laps.
In the other two Rotax Max Challenge classes, Auckland’s Steven Currie came back from exactly the same scenario (losing a nosecone) at the first round to win the Strata Networks Rotax Max Heavy Final, while young Christchurch driver Scott Manson made a clean-sweep of Arai Formula Junior.
Second in the Strata Networks Rotax Max Heavy Final was Shane Hodgson, third Aarron Cunningham and fourth Arryn Hill with Aucklander Scott Fountain unlucky to cross the finish line back in sixth place after running with Currie, Hodgson and Cunningham until a spin.
In Arai Formula Junior Scott Manson was very much in a class of his own, though fellow South Islander James Munro worked his way forward to eventually cross the finish line in second place in the Final in front of Hamilton’s Rhys Tinney, Hawke’s Bay’s Maddie Wise, Aucklander Shane Grocock and Palmerston North’s Josh Drysdale.
The weekend’s round was the second of six which make up the 2011 Right Karts Kartstars Rotax Max Challenge with subsequent events to be held at Te Puke, Auckland, Hamilton and KartSport Rotorua’s new track in the Mamaku Ranges.
Ends
Right Karts Kartstars 2011 Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand
Motorex Rotax Max Light
Final
1. Daniel Kinsman; 2. Mathew Kinsman; 3. Daniel Connor; 4. Kane Taylor; 5. Andy Schofield; 6. Mason Armstrong.
Points after Rnd 2 of 6
1. Daniel Kinsman 174; 2. Mathew Kinsman 163; 3. Kane Taylor 154; 4. Mason Armstrong 152; 5. Andy Schofield 150; 6. Ryan Urban 144.
Strata Networks Rotax Max Heavy
Final
1. Steven Currie; 2. Shane Hodgson; 3. Aarron Cunningham; 4. Arryn Hill; 5. Garry Claxton; 6. Scott Fountain
Points after Rnd 2 of 6
1. Aarron Cunningham 168; 2. Shane Hodgson 161; 3. Scott Fountain 155; 4. Steven Currie 154; 5. Arryn Hill 152; 6. Brendon Hart 146.
Arai Helmets Formula Junior
Final
1. Scott Manson; 2. James Munro; 3. Rhys Tinney; 4. Maddie Wise; 5. Shaun Grocock; 6. Josh Drysdale
Points after Rnd 2 of 6
1. Scott Manson 166; 2. Rhys Tinney 164; 3. Shaun Grocock 159; 4. Reid Harker 158; 5. Josh Drysdale 156; 6. Maddison Wise 156
CALENDAR
Rnd 1 Feb 19 Manawatu Toyota Raceway Palmerston North
Rnd 2 March 12/13 Pinex Raceway Tokoroa
Rnd 3 March 26/27 Fagan’s Valley Raceway Te Puke
Rnd 4 July 30/31 Moselle Panel & Paint Raceway Auckland
Rnd 5 August 27/28 KartSport Hamilton Raceway Hamilton
Rnd 6 September 24/25 KartSport Rotorua Raceway Mamaku
