Wilson Heads Kiwi Kartsport Contingent

16-06-04

Wilson Heads Kiwi Kartsport Contingent

Young Wellington driver Karl Wilson heads the four-strong Kiwi contingent crossing the Tasman this week to prepare for the third round of the Sparco Australian CIK Championship at Toowoomba in inland Queensland over the weekend.

Team JT Arrow ICC class driver Wilson, 19, has been the top-scoring New Zealander at the first two rounds of the 2004 Australian championship and he heads to Queensland looking to improve on the third place he scored at the second round at Bolivar in South Australia at the beginning of May.

Joining him on the plane this week is fellow Wellingtonian William Thomason, Wanganui's Earl Bamber and Aucklander Mitch Cunningham.

Works RedSpeed driver Thomason, 17, only recently returned to New Zealand from Italy, where he spent six months working and racing for engine manufacturer Italsistem, and he returns there after this weekend's Sparco series meeting in Australia to prepare for the World Championships.

At the second round of the Sparco series in May Thomason had a difficult run through qualifying and his Formula A heats but came right in the Final to finish a season-best fourth overall.

Fellow Formula A driver Cunningham (CRG), another young Kiwi karter who is also dividing his time between here, Australia and Italy, qualified fifth, but was forced out of the Final - which he started from sixth place on the grid - by a brake problem.

Recently crowned New Zealand Junior ICA champion Earl Bamber (Kosmic) goes into this weekend's meeting sixth overall in the points standings in the Junior ICA class and is looking to repeat the form which saw him finish a series-best third place in the Pre-Final at the second round.

Second-generation Australian Kart racer Bart Price (son of Arrow founder Drew Price) heads to Queensland with a healthy lead in the ICC class points standings with 128 points, 22 more than second placed Tom Williamson and 32 more than Kiwi teammate Wilson.

Bamber is next best Kiwi driver in sixth place in Junior ICA with Thomason and Cunningham eighth and tenth respectively in Formula A.

ENDS

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