STATE HONOURS ON THE LINE IN MONARTO

David Sera leading the X30 Light field at Monarto during the 2013 National Championships (Pic: AF/Budd)

The Monarto Karting Complex will come alive to the sounds of high-revving kart engines this weekend with the 2014 Dunlop South Australian Sprint Kart Championships being contested at the venue.

This weekend’s championships will be the fourth blue ribbon event contested at the venue located just South of the City of Murray Bridge since it opened in 2008.

More than 200 competitors across 13 classes will line up on the grid for the prestigious event that will see drivers as young as seven compete in the Cadets category at speeds in excess of 80 km/h around the 1040-metre circuit.

It is in the Cadets class where the likes of Victorians Jay Hanson, Sean Larkin, Hugh Barter and George Gower are expected to figure prominently. Adelaide’s Blake Purdie will start as one of the favourites for the home state drivers.

Fresh from a pair of victories in last weekend’s Northern Territory State Championships, Wollongong driver John Iafolla will line up in both the Junior National Light and Heavy classes where he will face some tough opposition. Included on the entry lists across the two classes are more than a dozen of the country’s top junior drivers.

In the senior ranks, 17-time Australian Champion David Sera headlines a star-studded field in the X30 Light class. Sera was victorious in the National Championships during his previous visit to the Monarto venue last year, however, he will face some tough opposition from the likes of his cousin James, Queenslander Ben Stewart and Leigh Nicolaou if he’s going to take the win this weekend.

Official practice for the Championships will begin today ahead of qualifying and the opening round of heat races tomorrow. Racing will continue on Saturday ahead of the Championship finals on Sunday.

The Monarto Karting Complex is located at 3711 Old Princess Highway, approximately 1km past the Monarto Zoo.

To view the centry list please click here.

To view a timetable of the event, please click here.