KIWI STARS HEADLINE IPSWICH PRO TOUR THIS WEEKEND

Daniel Bray represented New Zealand in DD2 at the 2015 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals in Portugal (Photo by Emilee Jane Photography)

Two high powered Kiwi karting exports will headline this weekend’s Rotax Pro Tour event at Willowbank’s Ipswich Kartway with Daniel Bray and Joshua Hart lining up.

In 2012, after arriving in Europe as a relative unknown, Bray stunned the establishment during the early part of the World Cup weekend in Italy by being the leading driver heading into the Finals. He was sensationally eliminated from the lead of the Final by Red Bull Racing F1 prodigy, Max Verstappen, who won the Final at the age of 15.Bray will be tough competition for the Australian contingent in the DD2 category.

Local drivers Troy Morrissey (Pacific Kartsport Kosmic) and Marc Tulloch (Vrooam Lubricants Ricciardo Kart) are expected to feature heavily in the Rotax 125 Light category that boasts 30 competitors from around Australia and three Kiwis, Morrissey having finished runner up at the most recent round of the Series in South Australia.

Junior Max competitor Broc Feeney (PFG/Penrite) will be looking for a solid result in his own backyard, with the Queenslander currently sitting 5th in the Series Points leading into this weekend.

Meantime Hart will join Team CRG Australia for the heavily stacked Rotax 125 Light category.Hart has tasted success not only on the track, but off it taking several elite drivers to the top step of the Rotax World Finals as a mechanic. It is his return to big time kart racing in Australia after doing much of his junior racing in the elite categories here.

Some of Hart’s toughest competition may come from a fellow Kiwi in last round winner, Madeline Stewart. The XERO-backed Tom Williamson Motorsport driver, Stewart created history by being the first female racer to have won a major Australian karting event in over 10 years.

Can Ryan Kennedy repeat his 2015 clean sweep of DD2 at Ipswich this weekend? (Photo by Coopers Photography)

In DD2, whilst there will be attention on Bray, a number of Queenslanders will be right towards the front. Australian World Finalist Ryan Kennedy will head the Queensland charge along with Tristan Ellery – son of former Bathurst Podium placegetter, Steve Ellery. He will drive a JC (James Courtney) Kart. Meantime, New South Wales-based CompKart racer, Joshua Car is looking for two wins on the trot and to close the points gap to runaway leader, Joshua Fife from Canberra.

In the DD2 Masters category – which is for drivers over 32, Gold Coaster Scott Howard starts as a heavy favourite on home soil. He took the last round victory in inclement conditions which saw the category’s Final stopped due to torrential rain. Former V8 Utes road racing Champion, Kris Walton will be keeping him honest as will local Troy Bretherton, and Victorians Troy Woolston and Daniel Richert – who sits on Howard’s tail in the points chase.

Chris Farkas will be defending his QLD Blue Plate in the Rotax 125 Heavy category (Photo by Coopers Photography)

Walton will do double duty throughout the weekend racing Rotax 125 Heavy as well. He leads the points coming into Ipswich and is expected to be difficult to beat, however Tony Kart racer, Chris Farkas is always strong on the Willowbank layout and his Tony Kart will be at the pointy end along with a host of fellow Queenslanders, including Joshua Davey and Regan Payne who returns to the category for this weekend’s event.

Micro Max sees the Rotax Pro Tour debut of Jaxson and Jenson Burns – who have a strong family pedigree in the sport. For competitors between seven and nine years of age, Micro Max produces entertaining racing. It is tightly bunched in the points chase between Sydney-sider Jake Rutkowski and a pair of Victorians in Harry Arnett and Kristian Janev.

Victorian Shamick Racing driver, James Wharton heads the Mini Max points heading north to Ipswich, however the growing category will feature many drivers that will keep him looking over his shoulder. Victorians have led the way in the category with Will Harper and Hugo Simpson sitting right behind Wharton on the points standings.

Junior Max Trophy – the single make entry level Junior category has had its numbers bolstered heading into the Ipswich round. Russell Mayo took the last round win in South Australia, which allowed him to close down on points leader and round one winner, Jonathon Marcusson. Jacinta Hoey – whose brother Harrison is regularly at the front of Junior Max – joins the field for this weekend’s Junior Max Trophy battle.

In all, competitors are vying for no less than 16 trips overseas with 14 drivers to form Team Australia at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, November 4-11 in Portimao, Portugal and a further two heading to the Rotax US Open in Las Vegas at the end of the year.

This event also crowns the 2017 Queensland Rotax State Champions, with the prestigious blue Number 1 plates on offer to the winners of each Final.

To follow the event online throughout the weekend, like Rotax Pro Tour on Facebook, follow Rotax Pro Tour on Twitter and tune into the live audio commentary via Ustream at www.rotax.com.au/streaming.html