Big fields turn out for karting series
Kartsport Wellington’s Kaitoke Raceway came alive with topquality racing on Sunday as the club hosted the TRC Toyota Goldstar series.
More than 70 karters from the lower North Island turned out for the second of four legs in the series, following New Plymouth and ahead of Hawke’s Bay and Palmerston North in May and June respectively.
The Goldstar racing was the biggest meeting of the year for the Wellington club which operates the only track in the region and holds club days on the third Sunday of the month.
‘‘The Goldstar is one of the oldest events in New Zealand karting with more than 50 years racing behind it,’’ spokesman Murray Dahm said.
‘‘We had a big day with more than 80 drivers taking part in the four age-categories and I’d say there were more than 300 people there including a good number of the public.
‘‘Our karting is always free entry and we very much encourage people coming. Often people simply spot us from the Incline Road and come have a look.’’
The top weekend weather also meant there were also a number of drivers registering on the day.
Most interest on a day where racing began soon after 9am and continued into the evening, was in the Senior (18 and over) racing where 24 drivers battled it out for the honours.
‘‘We had drivers from Auckland and even some from the South Island so it was top-class racing with plenty of action,’’ Dahm said.
Top spot went to Jacob Cranston from Palmerston North, ahead of New Plymouth’s Brendon Jury and another Palmer North driver, Quin Clark.
Visiting drivers also took the other honours. Palmerston North’s Jackson Rooney won the Junior (12-17 year) racing, Auckland’s Liam Sceats the miniRok (9-12 years) and Christchurch’s Louis Sharp the Cadet (6-10 years) competition.
The youngest driver on the track was seven-year-old Ethan Sayer who is following the path of his dad, Shane, who was also in action. Ethan has been karting for a year and Sunday was his first a big event at his home town track. He competed in five heats and finished with some personal bests.