RACE OF STARS SET TO SIZZLE ON THE GOLD COAST NEXT MONTH

Five-time World Champion Davidè Fore (centre) on top of the podium alongside New Zealander Dan Bray (right) and Italian Lorenzo Camplese (left) at the 2014 Race of Stars. (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Queensland’s iconic Gold Coast will come alive in October with the third annual Race of Stars event to be held on October 16/17.

As a part of SuperFest, the Race of Stars event will see 200 of the top kart racers from Australia, New Zealand, Italy, America and Mexico invited to compete at the prestigious event.

SuperFest – an initiative of the Queensland Government, City of Gold Coast and V8 Supercars Australia – is a community events program that provides support to organisations and groups wishing to host events and projects that contribute to the festival surrounding the Castrol Gold Coast 600.

To be held at the Xtreme Karting venue in Pimpama, the Race of Stars will see the young drivers from ten years of age through to the most experienced in the international-standard KZ2 class in action at speeds close to 150 km/h. In total there will be six classes – KA12, KA Junior, KF3, KA1 (incorporating KA Masters), KA TaG and KZ2.

“Over the past three years the Race of Stars has been developed into the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Australian karting and we are looking forward to another fantastic event in October,” said Karting Australia CEO Kelvin O’Reilly.

“The Race of Stars is one of the most unique karting events in the world and provides a karting event that the Gold Coast community can proudly call their own.

“The involvement and support of V8 Supercars through SuperFest is tremendous for the sport of karting.”

Several of the international competitors experiencing some of the sights of the Gold Coast surrounding the 2014 event (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Event Co-ordinator Lee Hanatschek believes that the 2015 event will once again attract many of the world’s top drivers.

“Last year World Champions Davidè Fore and Jonathan Thonon were among the international drivers who were in attendance and they thoroughly enjoyed not only the event but also everything the Gold Coast had to offer,” said Hanatschek.

“This year it is anticipated that we will have a significant number of drivers coming from New Zealand along with Italy, America, Mexico and the best from all around Australia.

“The Race of Stars has been designed to allow people who travel to attend the event but also take in some of the great sights of South East Queensland.”

Ian Holm, owner and operator of Xtreme Karting, welcomed the announcement of the event returning in 2015.

“It is events like the Race of Stars that help make sure that the Gold Coast as a destination for motorsport drivers and fans from all across the world,” said Holm.

“All year round we have people coming to our venue talking about the Race of Stars and we’re delighted to be able to say it’s on again in 2015.”