Southern karters renew rivalry as Mainland Series sparks into action
The South Island karters will trek to the far south for the opening round of Mainland Series karting competition.
The six-round competition roars into life with the two-stop Hotel Taieri Southern Series at Invercargill Oil Shop Kart Raceway in Otatara on Saturday followed by Kartsport Dunedin event on Sunday.
The championship moves to the Sunbelt Series at Marlborough on June 3 and Nelson on June 4, and wraps up with the Garden City Champs two-dayer in Christchurch on September 23-24.
There is competition across all classes with several of last year’s top performers returning to action.
Dunedin’s Aaron Black, the National Endurance Champion, is returning after dominating the Rotax Max Heavy class last season, while at the other end of the age spectrum is Southland 10-year-old Nixon Cripps, who will defend his Mainland title in Cadet ROK.
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Canterbury’s William McDonald, who won the Mainland honours and Southern Series is back again in Rotax Max Light, along with fellow Cantabrians Myles Findlay and Scott McLaren.
The Vortex Mini ROK looks like another tight battle with overall and Southern Series winner Henry Fisher returning, along with Dunedin’s Jack McGrath and Southland’s Robbie Batt, after a countback was required to separate the trio last year.
Southland’s Taylor Gray is hot favourite in the Briggs LO206 category after dominating last year ahead of clubmates Scott Watson and Emma Gray who are also returning, while Myles Findlay will defend his title in the Briggs Light class.
There are 13 classes competing over the series and over 60 karters in action this weekend in Invercargill and Dunedin.
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