NSW Championship Kicks Off at Circuit Mark Webber This Friday


press release 26 April 2016
  • 215 Entrants prepare for Round 1 of 3
  • Canberra Kart Racing Club to officially name their facility Circuit Mark Webber, 4pm April 29.

Canberra Drivers are preparing for their toughest challenge so far this season with this weekend’s first round of the NSW State Karting Championships at Circuit Mark Webber, Fairbairn Park.

Young drivers, Sebastian Ruiz (Cadet 9, for drives under 9 years old) and third generation driver Zachary Bates (Cadet 12, for drivers under 12 years) will have tough competition from across the state as they look to start the three race series with a strong performance at their home track. Ruiz was dominant in the shakedown event last month, while Bates finished 2nd to Kent Fias-Ayon.


pic - Coopers Photography

Grenfell’s Thomas Sargent is keen to continue his successful record in Canberra, The junior driver is preparing to travel to the UK later this year for a test with a European karting team, and spent last weekend testing at the circuit, trialling a new kart chassis, which will match the kart he will be testing overseas. Canberra’s Mia Bolton and Cameron Ward will be hoping they can challenge Sargent and defending NSW State champion Benito Montalbano (Prospect, NSW) for the victory in the KA4 Junior victory.

In the senior classes, Jamie Prendergast is hoping that he can repeat his March result and claim the win, Lochlan Chancellor in KA3 Senior will look to continue his good recent form, while in the 125cc classes, Rob Hogan and James Ordish will lead the local charge.


Above: James Ordish
pic - Coopers Photography

Qualifying for the senior classes will commence Friday 12pm with the first round of heats scheduled to commence immediately after. Racing will continue across the weekend with the juniors and cadets joining the Seniors on Saturday and Sunday, racing commencing from 9am on both days, with spectator entry free.

The Canberra Kart Racing Club will officially name their Fairbairn Park Circuit in honour of 2015 Federation International De L’Automobile (FIA) World Endurance Champion and nine (9) time Formula 1 Grand Prix winner Mark Webber on April 29.

Former members of the Canberra Kart Racing Club along with members of the public are welcome to attend the naming ceremony, which will commence at 4pm Friday 29 April.


Above: Michael Hogan
pic - Coopers Photography

 


CIRCUIT MARK WEBBER

The Fairbairn Kart complex is to be renamed “Circuit Mark Webber” at a ceremony as part of the NSW State Title Championship from April 29 to May 1.

The renaming of the facility to “Circuit Mark Webber” not only acknowledges Mark’s achievements, but also is a significant milestone in the clubs $3.6M master plan to create Australia’s premier kart racing facility on the site. 

The Canberra Kart Racing Club (CKRC) has already spent $100,000 on engineering, planning, and approvals and now is moving towards the construction phases of the plan.

Karting provides a solid positive economic impact to the Territory:

  • $2.46M to the Region’s economy each year from Club events held at the existing facility by the CKRC. 
  • 75% of entrants are drawn from outside the Region.
  • $1.16M to the Region’s economy each year from circuit hires to interstate clubs where 96% of Competitors are from outside the Region.

Estimates provided by Darling Capital.

Increasing the capacity of Circuit Mark Webber to hold larger Championship events, such as the Australian, NSW State Championship, Stars of Karting and Pro Tour events increases these benefits significantly. Competitors for the 2016 NSW State Championship are expected to exceed 200, compared with 80 -100 for a club event.

Championship events are held over three days compared to a single day club event. Additionally, Championships are proceeded by an influx of competitors and teams “testing” at the track in the months leading up to the event itself adding to the economic benefits to the Region. 

Hosting International events is the ultimate goal of the master plan. In the meantime, the extension allows Canberra to bid for more national and state events.  Costed over ten years, the $3.6M upgrade of the facility is expected to generate more than $170M in incremental revenue to the region.

 

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