karting news briefs from around the globe…
KARTING PRODUCTS – Are you looking for a particular brand of apparel, or a part for your kart? Don’t forget to look in the Karting Products directory on this website! Access the directory, which is broken into a range of handy categories, via the Menu above, or just click/tap HERE. (If you’re in the karting industry and want to be part of this list, please make contact).
KIDS KARTING – Karting Australia’s Junior Sprockets program is heading to Melbourne in September. Coinciding with the Victorian September school holidays, there will be two days of training at the Todd Rd circuit – a PLUS program (designed to help existing license holders fine tune their skills under the guidance of Troy Hunt) on Friday September 16, followed by the regular Beginner program on Saturday the 17th. More information and bookings via the KA website HERE.
DRIVER – Queensland karter Alice Buckley has arrived in France to participate in the FIA Women in Motorsport Rising Stars Program. As reported back in July, Buckley has been selected as one of the 14 finalists. In preparation for going up against other 12 to 16-year-old females from around the world, Buckley has been doing more than just karting. “It’s been very busy with all the training I have been doing to prepare for France for the program,” Buckley told the Motorsport Australia website. “I have been spending a lot of time in the gym focusing on reactions and doing a lot of racing in karting and Excels and more recently, the F4 testing at Queensland Raceway.” Read more on the Motorsport Australia website HERE.
INDUSTRY – Karting Spares WA has confirmed it has purchased a new shop to operate from, in Kelmscott, a south-eastern suburb of Perth. Bitumen karts and parts will be added to the shelves to compliment all the dirt karting gear and accessories. “This has always been a long term goal for us and we are very excited to be opening a full retail shop!” the organisation posted. A Grand Opening date will be announced in due course.
TRACKS – Why does this photo remind me of the old Windows XP desktop image? Anyway, the photo was taken earlier this month at the Amarillo Kart Circuit in Texas. The track is a scaled down version of Istanbul Park’s F1 layout that was used for the Turkish Grands Prix. It is a privately owned facility and was built for local orthopaedic surgeon, Dr Thane Morgan. The flat lands of the area are, evidently, well suited for a wind farm.
INDUSTRY – A new website for Viper Kart has now gone online. Viper is the OTK Kart Groups rental line of indoor and outdoor hire karts and are manufactured entirely in the OTK factories in Italy. There are two size karts, Viper Kart and Viper Kart Junior, which can be ordered in original OTK cololur schemes of Tony Kart, Kosmic, Exprit, EOS and Redspeed. For more, see viperkart.com.
BACK IN STOCK! Market leading Mychron 5S dash/data logger is now back in stock at IKD. Shop for it HERE. Key Upgrades from original MyChron5 are:
- Improved GPS Accuracy 25Hz (upgraded from 10Hz, precision improved from 1.5m to 45cm on average)
- Internal 4GB Memory
- 10g accelerometer (upgraded from 5g)
- New GPS Overlay in RaceStudio3
- Track Database
- Lambda sensor LED configuration on Shift Lights
- Future firmware update with internal Steering angle potentiometer
PROMO – The Townsville Kart Club has thanked volunteers Patty O’Connor, Matt, Katrina and Emilee Ceccato for putting their hands up and assisting the club and the sport with gaining some great exposure at the Townsville City Council’s Get Active Expo last month. “We really rely on our volunteers to get our sport out there, and generate more interest from the community” the club posted. The club reports it had a number of people leaving their names for a future Come-and-Try day.
CADET DOCO – Kart To Survive is the name of the YouTube video series documenting 12-year old South Australian Jensen Marold’s kart racing. After an 18-month break from the sport, Marold returned for the 2022 Rotax Pro Tour, racing with DR Racing Kart in the Mini MAX class.
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“Jensen always loved the Rotax power and speed” his dad, Olav, told KartSportNews. “He said he was keen to just arrive and drive for the five rounds with no practice or testing in between. We decided to document his journey to see how a driver can compete whilst not owning a kart, engine or tools, but survive on arrive and drive only.” The two episodes below cover the Canberra, Geelong and Ipswich rounds.
Episode 1
Episode 2
EURO – WSK Euro Series, round 2 highlights video from Sarno:
DISNEY GOES DIRT – Anybody notice this “test” event on speedhive recently? Looks like a couple of Disney characters are going dirt karting! Mickey needs to lift his game.
ROTAX GRAND FINALS – RaceMAX is now taking applications from drivers who wish to be considered for a Team Australia wildcard entry to the 2022 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals. Interestingly – and perhaps a bit of a kick in the guts for those who have supported it – drivers do not have to have participated in the ProTour series to qualify for a sport on the team.
NANDO CART – This popped up on social media – Fernando Alonso in a hybrid kart/shopping trolley in what looks like some sort of game show? Anyone know what this was about?
INDUSTRY – Right Karts has announced Mark Williams has joined its team, having just arrived from South Africa. “Covid has delayed his arrival by two years, but he is finally here and itching to get going” the organisation posted on social media. A Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals winning mechanic, Williams has a background of success including multiple South African Championships. “Mark is fully conversant with Rotax, Mini Rok, DVS and TM KZ2 engines” Right Karts added.
INDUSTRY – GFC Karting has expanded into new markets, announcing three new dealers. The American brand will now be available in Thailand (via former GFC driver Worawong Komarakul) and Canada (through Madonna Racing in Vancouver). Trackside Karting Services in Texas has been added to the existing USA network.
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