Cunningham Heads Talented Kiwi Team

Cunningham Heads Talented Kiwi Team

Reigning New Zealand Senior Light champion Mitch Cunningham heads the talented lineup of New Zealand KartSport racers competing at the final round of the Dunlop Australia CIK Championship at Geelong's Corio Bay Raceway this weekend.

Cunningham, 15, younger brother of World Championship contender Wade, has been battling for a top three spot in the Intercontinental A (ICA) class all year and he goes into this weekend's championship final only eight points behind third placed Matthew Muller.

Last year's championship runner-up Glenn Powles looks set to go one better this year, with a healthy points lead over Nick Lowe - and Lowe is going to have his hands full warding off a four-pronged attack for second place in the championship from Matthew Muller, Troy Woodger, Tim Ball and Cunningham.

Also crossing the Tasman to take on the Australians this weekend are Ryan Grant, who will compete in the Intercontinental C (ICC) class, and Michael Burdett and Earl Bamber who will compete in the Junior Intercontinental A (JICA) class.

Young Aucklander Burdett stunned the Australians when he made his Trans-Tasman debut at the penultimate round of the Dunlop CIK series six weeks ago, working his way through the field to take third place in the Junior Intercontinental A (JICA) final, an unprecedented performance for a newcomer.

North Island Junior Restricted class champion Bamber, from Wanganui, also acquitted himself well on his Australian debut at that meeting, setting the 11th fastest time in qualifying then finishing eighth in the final.

This weekend's meeting in Australia marks the beginning of an intense two weeks for the four Kiwis - next weekend they will be back on home ground, competing at the North Island Sprint Kart Championships in Hawke's Bay.

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