Top karters dart in Te Puke

The nation’s top karters are dodging each other and the weather at Fagan’s Valley Raceway between Te Puke and Papamoa today.

The karters, in town to contest the third round of this year’s Mi Sedaap series for KZ2 and KF3 karts and the fourth round of the Gen-i Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand for 125cc Rotax-powered karts, didn’t disappoint in front of a reasonable crowd in overcast conditions.

The kart racing is tight at Fagan’s Valley Raceway today.

A total of 82 competitors have turned out for action in six categories, with the fastest karts reaching speeds of 130kmph down the back straight.

Convenor Phil Green is happy with the turn-out, but was fairly circumspect about the chances of a dry afternoon’s racing.

Drivers from Auckland, Wellington, Taranaki and Wellington are in attendance, with some locals, like young Josh Adlam from Papamoa, flying the flag for the Bay of Plenty.

Series organiser Tony Chambers says the series is really “hotting up”, and is especially pleased to see the largest field to date in the Junior Max class.

Phil says current national champion Daniel Bray is the man to beat in the KZ2 class after just returning from the United States, while his competitor, Matthew Hamilton, praised the design of the track.

Racing is due to finish at about 3pm, but the results will not be available until after 5pm due to the technical inspections that need to be performed on all of the karts.

Previous rounds of each series have been held at separate meetings, but from this weekend on each series will share top billing at the same meetings.

Photos by Daniel Hines