NZ Rotax Battle To Go Down To The Wire


press release 19 September 2013
 

With three of the four places on the team to represent New Zealand at this year's Rotax Max (kart) Challenge Grand Final in New Orleans in November still up for grabs action is guaranteed at the final round of this year's YÖGG New Zealand Challenge in Auckland this weekend.

Having guaranteed himself the 2013 series' title in the premier Platinum Glass 125cc Rotax Max Light class with a win at the penultimate round in Hastings last month Auckland driver Mathew Kinsman has already earned his trip to the Grand Final.

Aucklander Mathew Kinsman (#30) has already wrapped up the Platinum Glass Rotax Max 125cc Lights class, but the battle for second place is on this weekend between his brother Daniel and Daniel Connor (#2).
Above: Aucklander Mathew Kinsman (#30) has already wrapped up the Platinum Glass Rotax Max 125cc Lights class, but the battle for second place is on this weekend between his brother Daniel and Daniel Connor (#2).
pic - Fast Company/Graham Hughes

Second place in class, and with it a place in the Senior DD2 class at the Grand Final, is still very much available, however, with Mathew's younger brother Daniel - who claimed the top spot last year - on 335 points, long-time rival Daniel Connor just 12 points back in third on 323 and class young gun Reid Harker in fourth with 319.

It's even closer in both the Arai Junior Max class and the Masters (32 yrs-and-over) division of Logitech 125cc Rotax Max Heavy, with the overall class winners in each getting the remaining spots on the New Zealand team travelling to the United States for the Grand Final.

In Arai Helmets Formula Junior the battle is between Christchurch's Marcus Armstrong and Palmerston North's Dylan Drysdale, Armstrong having finally edged ahead of Drysdale - albeit by just three points - with his win at the penultimate series round in the Hawke's Bay last month.


Above: Palmerston North driver, Dylan Drysdale (#30) has spent the season battling for Arai Helmets Junior Max class honours with Christchurch driver  Marcus Armstrong (#90)
pic - Fast Company/Greg Henderson.

Aucklander Aarron Cunningham has a handy 18 point lead in the Logitech 125cc Rotax Max Heavy points standings but the final spot on the Kiwi team to go to the Grand Final goes to the winner of the Masters section, and at the moment Palmerston North driver Brendon Hart and Aucklander Stuart Marshall are tied for second place in the Heavy class and first in the Masters on 326 points. 

The driver who has the better final series round this weekend will get the final spot on the New Zealand team.

This weekend's meeting will be one of the biggest and most important held so far this year at the KartSport Auckland Club's Strata Networks Raceway on Rosebank Domain with both the YÖGG New Zealand Challenge and Formula S KartSport Club's Pro-Kart Series running the final rounds of their 2013 series at the meeting.


Above: In the Masters section of the Logitech 125cc Rotax Max Heavy class, Aucklander Stuart Marshall (#13) is tied on points heading into this weekend's series final with Palmerston North driver Brendon Hart
pic - Fast Company/Graham Hughes

There will be racing both days with qualifying and the first heats on Saturday and the remaining heats, Pre-Finals and Finals on Sunday. Racing across the three YÖGG Rotax Challenge of New Zealand categories is also being filmed for later showing on TV3.

2013 YÖGG Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand

Platinum Glass 125cc Rotax Max Light
Points after Rnd  5 of 6
1. Mathew Kinsman 343 points; Daniel Kinsman 335; 3. Daniel Connor 323; 4. Reid Harker 319;  5. Mason Armstrong 310; 6. Daniel. Bray 291

Arai Helmets Junior Max
Points after Rnd 5 of 6
1. Marcus Armstrong 346 points; 2. Dylan Drysdale 343; 3. Campbell Joyes 252; 4. Maddy Wise 305; 5. Ethan Anderson 293; 6. Jacob Cranston 292

Logitech 125cc Rotax Max Heavy
Points after Rnd 5 of 6
1. Aarron Cunningham 344; 2. Brendon Hart 326; 3. Stuart Marshall 326; 4. Brendon Gridley 313; 5. Teddy Bassick 311; 6. Daniel Sayles 310.
Masters (over 32)
1. Brendon Hart 326 points; 2. Stuart Marshall 326; 3. Brendon Gridley 313

 

 

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