Bunch Of Pro Class Debutants For CIK This Weekend
| press release | 23 April 2013 |
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This weekend’s second round of the 2013 CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE at South Australia’s Bolivar Raceway will see a number of drivers make their debut in Australia’s elite karting championship.
Three drivers will be making their first start in the Pro ranks with Sydney’s Nathan Tigani, Canberra’s Josh Fife and Darwin’s Bryce Fullwood lining up on the grid.
When added to the 23 drivers who made their debut on the grid in the opening round at Ipswich, there are now 26 drivers who are eligible for the KARTX Rookie of the Year Award.
Fife, who is the youngest driver to compete in the series since Toro Rosso Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo made his debut in 2002, is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to get behind the wheel of his Vortex-powered Tony Kart in the Pro Junior (KFJ) category.
Above: Canberra's Josh Fife will make his debut in Pro Junior (KFJ) this weekend
pic - AF Images/Budd
“I’m a bit nervous going into the weekend, it’s a big event and the kart is a lot faster than what I have been racing,” said Fife, a Year 7 student at Burgmann Anglican School.
“I’ve done a lot of laps around my home track in Canberra with the higher powered engine but this weekend I’ll be racing against the best young drivers from all across the country on a track that I’ve never raced at before. It’s going to be a big learning experience and I’ll be aiming to improve every time I take to the track.
“With the extra horsepower the driving is really tiring so I’ve been doing a lot of cardio and strength training to help me cope with it.”
It would come as no surprise being from the Nation’s capital who Fife's motor racing idol is, and he’s even got some tips from him recently.
“Mark Webber is my motor racing idol. I had the opportunity to meet him when he was home over Christmas, we had breakfast with a mutual friend. He was really nice and gave me some tips on my racing,” said Fife.
Fullwood is already the most successful karter from Australia’s Top End having won the Junior National Light Australian crown last month. Now focusing on his next challenge, the Australian Motor Sport Foundation and Fujitsu Cool driver is keen for a solid start to his Pro Junior (KFJ) campaign this weekend.
Above: Darwin driver Bryce Fullwood will make his debut in the CIK Stars of Karting Series this weekend
pic - AF Images/Budd
“I’m feeling pretty confident heading into the weekend, it’s a new experience but something I can’t wait for,” said Fullwood.
“There’s no one that I haven’t raced before in other categories and I’ve raced at Bolivar a few times previously, I won the City of Adelaide Titles there – so I quite like the track.
“The KF engine has a bit more horsepower than I’m used to but I really enjoyed the test day I did the other week. The Birel kart seemed to handle the extra horsepower extremely well and really suited the grippier tyres.
“If I was to set a goal, it would be to finish inside the top five, but the main aim is to continue learning all weekend. After missing the opening round I’m not looking for a championship but more so just using the year as a real learning experience.”
Fullwood will have George Sera, father of 14-time Australian Champion David, as his mechanic during his debut event this weekend.
No less than 139 entries, including 69 across the three Pro categories, have been received for this weekend’s second round of the 2013 CIK Stars of Karting Series. The event also doubles as the State Championship in the TaG 125 Light and Heavy categories.
After one round, Chris Hays holds a narrow lead in the Pro Gearbox (KZ2) championship over Dutch driver Joey Hanssen. Western Australian Luke Gabin is the points leader in the Pro Light (KF) category while Haase kart driver Damon Strongman is the leader in the chase for the Pro Junior (KFJ) championship.
Throughout the year there is more than $40,000 in prizes up for grabs by competitors in the three pro categories, including a $10,000 scholarship to each champion to compete in a CIK-FIA karting event overseas.
Practice will be held on Friday from 9:30am with racing from 9am on both Saturday and Sunday.
The Bolivar Raceway, home of the Southern Go Kart Club, is located on Summer Road, Bolivar. Admission for spectators is free.
2013 CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE
Championship Points (After 1 of 5 rounds)
PRO GEARBOX (KZ2)
1. Christopher HAYS (Gold Coast, QLD) 141
2. Joey HANSSEN (Netherlands) 138
3. Troy BRETHERTON (Gold Coast, QLD) 107
4. Kel TRESEDER (Bundaberg, QLD)102
5. John GROTHER (Gladstone, QLD) 99
PRO LIGHT (KF)
1. Luke GABIN (Perth, QLD) 144
2. Brooke TOPP (Toowoomba, QLD) 132
3. Matthew WATERS (Sydney, QLD) 122
4. George GERANIS (Melbourne, VIC) 114
5. Joshua SMITH (Townsville, QLD) 107
=5. Lachlan GIBBONS (Sydney, NSW) 107
PRO JUNIOR (KFJ)
1. Damon STRONGMAN (Melbourne, VIC) 114
2. Christopher SANDRONE (Sydney, NSW) 111
3. Joseph BURTON-HARRIS (Sydney, NSW) 108
4. James ABELA (Sydney, NSW) 105
5. Kurt KOSTECKI (Perth, WA) 97
Series Champions
Pro Gearbox (KZ2)
2012 – Chris Hays (Energy/TM)
2011 – Tyler Greenbury (Intrepid/Maxter)
2010 – Matthew Wall (BRM/TM)
2005 – Bart Price (Arrow/TM)
2004 – Bart Price (Arrow/TM)
2003 – Tyson Pearce (Omega/TM)
2002 – Jason Burns (Mac Minerelli/TM)
Pro Light (KF)
2012 – Adam Hughes (Kosmic/IAME)
2011 – Jake Spencer (Kosmic/IAME)
2010 – Cian Fothergill (Kosmic/IAME)
2009 – Hayden McBride (Gillard/IAME)
2004 – Barclay Holden (Trulli/Parilla)
2003 – Barclay Holden (Trulli/Parilla)
2002 – Adam Graham (Arrow/Rotax)
2001 – Mark Winterbottom (Tony Kart/Vortex)
2000 – Neil McFadyen (Top Kart/Comer)
1999 – Jamie Whincup (Tecno/Parilla)
1998 – Ryan Wlodzinski (PCR/PCR)
1997 – David Clark (Tecno/Atomik)
1996 – Jeremy Lohmann (Tony Kart/Vortex)
1995 – Darrell Smith (PCR/PCR)
1994 – Phillip Scifleet (Haase/Italsistem)
1993 – Richard McLeod (Azzurro/Fox)
2011 – Cameron Hill (Top Kart/Vortex)
2011 – Pierce Lehane (CRG/Vortex)
2010 – Pierce Lehane (CRG/Vortex)
2005 – Joshua Scott (BRM)
2004 – Kristian Lindbom (Top Kart/Comer)
2003 – Kristian Lindbom (Top Kart/Comer)
2002 – Ben Chong Sun (Top Kart/Comer)
2001 – Tim Slade (Top Kart/Comer)
2000 – Andrew Thompson (Tony Kart/Vortex)
1999 – Adam Graham (Tony Kart/Vortex)
1998 – Neil McFadyen (Top Kart/Comer)
1997 – Michael Caruso (Tony Kart/Vortex)
1996 – Ryan Briscoe (CRG/CRG)
1995 – Ryan Briscoe (CRG/Parilla)
1994 – Christian Jones (CRG/Rotax)
1993 – Mike Hazelton (CRG/Parilla)
