V8 STARS IMPRESSED BY AUSTRALIAN KART CHAMPIONSHIP

Jamie Whincup trackside at the Australian Kart Championship in Ipswich (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Six-time V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup was trackside at the Australian Kart Championship presented by Jayco and Castrol EDGE on Sunday, and he was impressed by what he saw.

Whincup, who was a two-time National Karting Champion during his formative years, spent the day as a guest of the Ricciardo Kart team while taking in what he refers to as ‘pure racing’.

“Karting is pure racing, raw racing,” said Whincup.

“That’s not to say our game (V8 Supercars) isn’t but it we do have a lot of complications with more technical and commercial interests. It was quite nice to go out and just watch guys and girls battling it out in a pure form.

“It was also great to catch up with some old faces and enjoy a day out at the track just hanging out.”

Whincup was impressed by the professionalism of the event and teams.

“The presentation of the whole event and the teams was impressive, everything seems to have stepped up,” said Whincup.

Joining Whincup trackside was Will Davison, the pair are two of several V8 Supercar drivers who are regularly behind the wheel of karts to ensure they stay in racefit in between events.

“Karting is extremely physical and you don’t realise that until you have been out of the seat of a kart for a little while. To see the pace that the guys in KZ2 were setting for 25 laps was impressive when you consider the physical strain that they are under driving those things,” said Whincup.

“They’re doing 25 laps flat out, in a kart, most of us V8 guys have got 10 good laps in us and we’re done. With limited testing in the V8s getting back behind the wheel of a kart is the best thing we can do to stay sharp behind the wheel. It’s fast but still very affordable.”

DJR Team Penske driver Scott Pye with Holden Racing Team's James Courtney (Pic: Coopers Photography)

DJR Team Penske driver Scott Pye was also an interested spectator across the weekend while Volvo Polestar Racing’s Scott McLaughlin was getting his hands dirty as a mechanic and James Courtney was overseeing the Holden Kart Team operation.

“I love these weekends and have a great time being a part of the karting scene. It’s a great way to enjoy my weekend with a top bunch of guys,” said McLaughlin.

“Karting is where I started my career and where I learnt all of my skills. After a couple of years away from the sport while focusing on developing my career I’ve been back involved for the past 12 months or so and it has been fantastic.”

Also trackside were former Bathurst Champions Steve Richards and Jason Bargwanna along with Eddie Mostert, father of Prodrive Racing Australia’s Chaz Mostert and Scott McLaughlin’s father Wayne.