Queensland’s Best In The Box Seat For Rotax Nationals


  28 August 2014
 

In excess of 200 drivers will flock to the Ipswich International Kart track next weekend for the 2014 Rotax Nationals and some of Queensland’s best are set to take it up to drivers from not only around Australia, but a group of the best from New Zealand and the Netherlands. It will be the first time the National titles have been held under lights.

Birel Kartsport Australia’s James Macken has been gathering pace in DD2 in recent Rotax Pro Tour rounds
Above: Birel Kartsport Australia’s James Macken has been gathering pace in DD2 in recent Rotax Pro Tour rounds
pic - Coopers Photography

Gladstone’s John Grother will make his debut in the DD2 Masters class, a category for drivers over 32 years of age using a Kart with a two-speed paddle shift gearbox and with his experience in Karts using front brakes, he is hoping to be on the pace with the front running drivers by the finals, despite having not yet got behind the wheel of the Karting World prepared Tony Kart.

“DD2 Masters is a very appealing class for someone like myself who doesn't get to do many laps with work commitments and a busy family life. As for my chances, I’m not going in expecting to win considering I haven’t even sat in the kart yet, but I have a very experienced team behind me, led by Tom Williamson and I'm sure by the finals we will know our chances better,” Grother said.

As with Grother, Queensland young gun Harrison Hoey will make his debut in Rotax racing at the Ipswich Nationals as he joins Australia’s only one make Karting category, the Sodi Junior Max Trophy Class. Hoey has a long list of Karting results to his name so far, but is looking forward to the challenge of competing against the nation’s best at the Rotax Nationals.

“I'm mostly looking forward to my first race meeting in the Trophy class because it's the Rotax Nationals at my home track, and you couldn't get a bigger event for my first Race in the class. Also it is my First Rotax Nationals, which makes it even more challenging, which is what I look forward to,” Hoey said.

Pacific Kartsport driver Adam Mercer will be one of many in the Rotax Light field who have completed numerous laps around the Ipswich circuit and is sure to be one of many challenging for the top five podium. With over 50 entries alone in the class, Mercer admits he will need to be on his game from the first session on track.

“Being our home track it always helps your chances of a strong result in this quality Rotax Light field, I just need to keep on top of it over the weekend. If we can make the most out of our local track knowledge there's no reason we can't get a top five finish, but the depth of this field is massive and I will need to have everything right,” Mercer said.

Former Team Australia member, Tyler Greenbury will be looking to utilise his knowledge and experience of the Ipswich circuit in the transition from day time racing to the night as one of his key advantages in securing success.
“It’s never easy to identify the right setup to adapt to the change from day to night, so I will be hoping that my experience at Ipswich in day/night events will give me a chance of claiming a top five finish on Saturday night,” Greenbury added.

Former Team Australia member Tyler Greenbury will be amongst the front runners in Rotax Light
Above: Former Team Australia member Tyler Greenbury will be amongst the front runners in Rotax Light
pic - Coopers Photography

In addition to both Mercer and Greenbury, fellow Ipswich experts; Ryan Kennedy and Nicholas Andrews are expected to challenge for a top five overall finish with Kennedy not only hoping for a good finish to the round but also looking to consolidate himself inside the top three for the series standings and earn himself a seat at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Valencia, Spain in November.

G-Force Karting’s Zane Goddard has been competing at the Ipswich track since he began his Karting career in the Cadets class and with the circuit featuring numerous tight and technical corners, the 14-year old will be looking to use his experience to be at the front of the 60 strong Junior Max field.

“I’ve had experience at Ipswich since being in Cadets, having completed thousands of laps around there and in that time I’ve really worked hard on identifying the right lines around the track to complete a quick lap. I really think this should give me an edge, but the talent throughout the Junior Max field won’t make it easy at all,” Goddard added.

G-Force Karting’s Zane Goddard has been competing at Ipswich since he started competitive Karting in the Cadets class
Above: G-Force Karting’s Zane Goddard has been competing at Ipswich since he started competitive Karting in the Cadets class
pic - Coopers Photography

The concept of local track knowledge being critical to success is an idea mirrored by Toowoomba teenager, William Brown who, along with Goddard, will be another driver imposing himself upon the front of the Junior Max field at this year’s National Championships.

“Home track knowledge will be extremely critical with so much talent in the field, and it could quite possibly be the difference between achieving a mid-pack result and taking a podium finish so I’ll be working hard to be on my game from day one,” Brown added.

Toowoomba’s Will Brown will be out to use his local track knowledge of Ipswich in the 60 strong Junior Max field
Above: Toowoomba’s Will Brown will be out to use his local track knowledge of Ipswich in the 60 strong Junior Max field
pic - Coopers Photography

The Gold Coast’s James Macken has also represented Australia on the World stage and is looking to rely on the pace he and his Birel Kartsport Australia team have achieved in recent rounds of the Rotax Pro Tour to be the building blocks for his success at Ipswich.

“I think the main thing leading into the race is that I've had good pace at the last three rounds and the Birel has been really responsive to changes. Also with two days of practice and night racing I believe a big factor in being on pace will be down to reading track conditions and trying to keep one step ahead,” Macken said.

Birel Kartsport Australia team mate, Jaxon Evans highlights the off-track support he has being critical to his chances of recording success at the Ipswich Nationals next weekend.

“The support team I have behind me, ensuring that I have the best possible package for each and every race is going to be integral in a large and competitive field. Having Daniel Bray from New Zealand and B.D. Soutar Dawson aswell as my father, John and the Birel Kartsport Australia team will be very important in keeping me focussed on the job of stepping onto the podium,” Evans said.

The Gold Coast’s Jaxon Evans will have a strong team behind him at this year’s Rotax Nationals
Above: The Gold Coast’s Jaxon Evans will have a strong team behind him at this year’s Rotax Nationals
pic - IKD Media

The 2014 Rotax Nationals take place at Ipswich, QLD from September 4-6.

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