Entry boost for annual City of Sails kart race meeting

With a number of out-of-towners making the trip north for some early season competition this year’s Butch Pet Foods-sponsored City of Sails 2-Day Challenge kart race meeting at Giltrap Group Raceway on Avondale’s Rosebank Domain this weekend will see close to 80 of the country’s top karters battle it out for class and/or category honours.

The Rotax Max Junior class will see the largest field (17) with top local drivers Nathan Crang, Hayden Bakkerus, Breanna Morris and Luke Thompson set for some serious competition from the likes of Bo Hill from Nelson, Gemma Winters from the Bay of Plenty, and James van den Beck from Hawke’s Bay.

There could well be a surprise or two in stall in both the 125cc Rotax Light and 6-speed/125cc KZ2 classes with several talented young teenagers making their debut in the Senior ranks at the meeting.

In Rotax Light at least five competitors will be first time seniors; the opportunity to race against NZ #1 Daniel Kinsman and other established Senior drivers like Jason Butterworth too good to turn down.

The KZ2 class, meanwhile, sees a mix of youth, experience and everything in-between with the likes of top teen Josh Parkinson set to meet experienced category seniors like Kevan Storr and Regan Hall.

All up the meeting has attracted 77 entries over eight classes, including 11 in ClubSport 120, nine in Rotax DD2 and seven in the revived 125cc Rotax Max Heavy.

Numbers are lighter in the Vortex Mini ROK and Cadet ROK classes though the quality will be there for all to see. In Vortex Mini ROK visiting Nelson driver Ollie Workman is set to go up against Tauranga’s Jay Urwin, and Auckland’s Ashton Phipps.

In Cadet ROK local driver Maxim Kirwan is the definite favourite with competition expected to come from KartSport Auckland clubmates James MacDonald and Jamie Thompson, and Hamilton youngster Carson Daly.

KartSport Auckland would like to acknowledge the assistance of event sponsor Butch Pet Foods and the class sponsors Cosgrave Awards, Dayle ITM, Bellroy Construction, WRB Karting Supplies, Biz Safety and Westspeed Motorsport in putting together the annual City of Sails 2-Day Challenge meeting.