Weather Plays its Part at Superkart Nationals

KARTSPORT NEW ZEALAND - Media Information
- For immediate release

* 2008 Farrington's Tavern KartSport New Zealand National SuperKart Championships
Powerbuilt Tools International Raceway
Ruapuna Park
Christchurch
Sunday
Feb 17
2008

19-02-08

EVENT REPORT

WEATHER PLAYS ITS PART AT SUPERKART NATIONALS

The weather looked set to the winner at this year's Farrington's Tavern KartSport New Zealand National SuperKart Championships at Christchurch's Powerbuilt Tools International Raceway on Saturday.

After over six weeks of hot weather and Canterbury close to extreme drought conditions and water restrictions, the sky opened up on Thursday night, leading to Saturday’s timetable being abandoned owing to the circuit being flooded.

The competitors applauded the decision and were happy with the proposed programme for Sunday - which in stark contrast turned up a beautiful day, which got hotter.

This year's event marked the first time the Christchurch Kart Club had used the car racing circuit (no dog leg) and there was much discussion on gearing with only a warm up and time trial to get it right.

125cc Rotax Max Light
Matthew Penrose established a time of 1:38.027 and continued his domination through the heats recording a 1:37,977. Bryce Coulbeck, new road racer Andrew Downs and Matthew Williams raced out the minor placings.
Results
1. Matthew Penrose (ChCh); 2. Bryce Coulbeck (ChCh); 3. Andrew Downs (ChCh); 4. Matthew Willliams (ChCh).

125cc Rotax Max Heavy
Simon Hunter was dominant, the rest of the field chasing the minor placings. The battle for second was between Murray Press and Stephen Child with Murray taking second by one point. Simon eventually set the lap record for the heavies at 1:39.403.
Results
1. Simon Hunter (ChCh); 2. Murray Press (ChCh); 3. Stephen Child (ChCh); 4. Mike Pulley (ChCh)

250 National
With only four entries in the International class the National drivers agreed to the International drivers being a part of their racing based on time trial and results. Paul Dunlop in the International class stopped the clock in the time trial at 1:23.906 but set the outright record at 1:23.661 which is sixth fastest class record at Ruapuna.

Robin Wooldridge dominated the National class and recorded a time of 1: 25.676. Matthew Hamilton and Karl Wilson fought out the minor placings, but a broken gear shift in the last heat stopped Wilson from placing better. Allan Giles had a ride he won’t forget when his rear axle broke at close to 200km/h on the main straight.

Results
1. Robin Wooldridge (Whangarei); 2. Matthew Hamilton (ChCh); 3. Matt Moore (ChCh); 4. Karl Wilson (Wgtn)

International Result (Not NZ Championship)
1. Paul Dunlop (Balclutha); 2. Lindsay Dove (ChCh); 3. Gerard Braakhuis (Wgtn); 4. Lachlan Taylor (ChCh)

125 Rotax Grand Prix
Simon Hunter took his weights off and ran as a light but still gave away 10kg to his competition. The race at the front was between Simon and Matthew Penrose. They swapped places around the circuit for the 12 laps but it was Simon who took the chequered flag first. Matthew took the lap record down to 1:37.865. Just behind these two was a battle royal between Matthew Williams, Bryce Coulbeck and Glenn Hartley and at one time when they started to work together they looked like they could catch the front two but it did not happen. They crossed the line with two tenths of a second between them.

Results
1. Simon Hunter; 2. Matthew Penrose; 3. Matthew Williams; 4. Bryce Coulbeck
First Max Heavy - Murray Press.

Open Grand Prix
Paul Dunlop took off and won by 30 seconds, but the Nationals were having a great battle. Matthew Hamilton broke away from this group early in the race leaving Grant Lucas and Regan Anisy to fight out for third with Grant getting the nod two tenths of a second ahead of Regan.

Results
1. Paul Dunlop; 2. Matthew Hamilton; 3. Grant Lucas (ChCh); 4. Regan Anisy (Greymouth)

Pommie Trophy
Robin Wooldridge

Manufacturers’ Trophy
Arrow Karts

ENDS

© Scoop Media