Record numbers for Giltrap Group Top Half Series opener in Hamilton

Record numbers of karters will descend on Hamilton this weekend for the opening round of the Giltrap Group Top Half Series.

There are 162 North Island karters entered for the opening round on Saturday and Sunday at KartSport Hamilton’s headquarters at Porter Group Park.

The previous highest entry was 142 last year, and with the 2020 year abandoned, and 2021 limited to one round with Covid, there is renewed enthusiasm for the series which provides a pathway from club level to higher levels.

There are four rounds to the championship, open for Tier 1 and Tier 2 rated drivers, with the opening round in Hamilton followed by Auckland (10-11 September), Bay of Plenty (8-9 October) and Tokoroa (12-13 November).

Racing will be contested over eight categories with 18 karters lining up for the KartZone Rotax Max Heavy, 33 for International Kart Supplies Rotax Max Junior, 26 in Urban Performance Rotax Max Light, 17 in TCB Motorsport Cadet ROK, 15 in Danny Gelb Employment Law Advocacy KZ2, 11 in Stainless Welding Rotax DD2, 34 in SD European Vortex Mini ROK, and eight in Veloce Karting Vortex DVS Junior.

While the series aims at pathway development, there are plenty of established champions competing this weekend.

The 125cc Rotax Max Light has an exceptional field including National Sprint Champions Tom Bewley (Hawkes Bay – ROK DVS Jnr) and local Hamilton club driver Clay Osborne (ROK DVS) along with CIK Trophy winner in Vortex ROK DVS, Ayrton Williams (Auckland).

Local club karter Campbell Joyes, the Rotax Max Light CIK Trophy champion, takes on a big field in the 125cc Rotax Max Heavy while Cadet ROK CIK Trophy winner, Tommy Hart (Manawatu) competes in the biggest field with 34 starters in Vortex Mini ROK.

Auckland’s Manson brothers, Marco and Sebastian (see main photo), both CIK Trophy champions, have a busy weekend ahead, Marco competes in the Vortex ROK DVS Junior while Sebastian lines up in Rotax Max Junior and Vortex ROK DVS Junior classes.

Racing starts at 1pm on Saturday with two heats over the afternoon, with the remaining two heats and final on Sunday from 10am. Drivers can drop their worst performance from the four heats and final.