KART PRIZE THIS SUNDAY – First prize for the TaG 125 Light Champions Trophy at Geelong this Sunday is inside this box! Held as part of “Club Event 5”, there will be 1 x 6 min qualifying, 2 x 8 lap heats, 1 x 10 lap pre-final and 1 x 16 lap final. Entries will be taken on the morning of the race (fee is $90). The winner will receive a brand new Arrow X6.2 TaG chassis which will be in the clubrooms to be collected at presentations. Second place will receive $500 cash and 3rd place $300 cash. There will also be 3 sets of Dunlop DFM tyres random drawn at the morning driver briefing for all entrants in the class. Further info on the club’s Facebook page HERE.
OK BEAST – Two OK Senior engines give a power-to-weight ratio of around 450hp per ton to teat up the Hooton Park circuit in the UK.
INDUSTRY – Ian & Lilian Stones are scaling back their race day activities and will no longer have the Stones Kart Sport mobile shop at race events. “We will no longer be attending race meetings at CDKC/Lithgow or SIKC/Eastern Creek with our mobile shop” the industry veterens posted on social media. “We will however still be operating at our premises – 1 Longview Road, Mulgoa. Ian will continue with engine rebuilds and we still have all your regular karting requirements.”
FAKES – Karting Australia’s social media presence has been coming under another wave of attack with multiple fake accounts popping up on Facebook impersonating the organisation. “If you receive a friend request from Australian Kart or similar please block and delete. Karting Australia, Australian Kart Championship, Women in Karting, or Junior Sprockets will never send ‘friend requests’ so if you receive one it is definitely an impersonator account.”
SUPERKARTS – Here are the 2024 race dates for the Adelaide Superkart Club. The club’s Superkart Cup is contested over 5 rounds, all at Mallala. The year ends in December with the Australian GP, also at Mallala.
EURO – WSK Open Series highlights video from Franciacorta. An Aussie takes 5th in OKN-Junior:
TRACK RE-OPENS – Southern Mallee Kart Club in regional Victoria has officially re-opened. It is running under the same AASA system as the Geelong Kart Club. “The important message for all Geelong karters is that your current GKC license will enable you to practice at SMKC and race etc” the Geelong club advised. The two clubs will be running the same tyres and rules and there is likely a future collaboration for a race series.
HOT (AND NOT SO HOT) LAPS – Just prior to this year’s Australian Grand Prix, AGP Corporation CEO Travis Auld was joined on track by What Ability Foundation participants and Foundation Manager Jack Burey down at the Todd Road kart track to announce What Ability Foundation as the organisation’s Community Impact Partner for this year’s event… and for some karting fun too!
INDUSTRY – Pantano Racing Kart has hit the American market by appointing Colorado-based Forward Direction Motorsports as the exclusive distributor for the United States. A former F1 driver, Giorgio Pantano is widely recognized as one of the best kart drivers and is now a team owner and chassis manufacturer. The Pantano chassis is designed and manufactured in Sacile, Italy in Pantano’s own factory using proprietary components. The current Pantano chassis range is the P2 (30 & 32mm tubing) for single speed classes and the P1 KZ (all 32mm) for KZ engines and other Shifter classes. In 2023 the Pantano kart took victories in the IAME Euro Series and at the IAME Final Games.
EURO ROTAX – WSK Promotion has confirmed the 2024 RMC Euro Trophy Championship schedule. Seven categories will feature on the RMCET program – Mini MAX, Junior MAX, Senior MAX, DD2 and DD2 Masters, plus E20 Senior and E20 Masters which for this season will join for all four rounds. The calendar is:
- RMCET Winter Cup: March 08-10, Campillos, Spain
- RMCET Rd1: April 12-13, Genk, Belgium (includes Belgian Euro Cup for Mini MAX drivers awarded with a ticket to the RMCGF)
- RMCET Rd2: June 07-09, Wackersdorf, Germany (includes German Euro Cup, an additional chance for Mini MAX drivers to win a ticket to the RMCGF)
- RMCET Rd3: July 05-07, Franciacorta, Italy
- RMCET Rd4: Aug 30 – Sep 01, Lonato Italy
LEAGUE HALVED – The new Karting Champions League has slashed its calendar from eight events to four, citing clashing events as the primary reason. “After hearing that most talented European drivers wanted to participate but could not combine their schedules with ours, we decided to go ahead with four of the eight scheduled races” a statement read. “Other significant changes are that drivers must bring their mechanic and that the drivers can enter per race.” The series remains an Arrive & Drive deal with CRG karts, Rotax or TM engines and Vega tyres. The new calendar is:
TRACK TEST – Leigh at Vital Karting put a CRG KT4 through its paces at Bolivar recently. Here’s the video!
RIP BRUCE BENSON – South Australian karting identity and kart manufacturer Bruce Benson passed away in Adelaide last month after a short illness. He was 77. “Bruce was the owner of Benson Racing Karts, previously HKS karts started by his father in the 60s” John Henman posted. “Bruce was a toolmaker by trade and carried on improving the karts he personally built. His dirt karts are still some of the best around. Deepest sympathies to his partner Michelle and his daughter and extended family.”
“He was a clever toolmaker, kart builder, a kind man and a great supporter of Australian karting. He will be remembered fondly by those who knew him” Ian O’Hara added.
PIT STOP – Victorian karter Mathew Basso appeared on free-to-air TV last Thursday, making an appearance on Australia’s longest running motorsport TV show, In Pit Lane. Mathew’s interview starts at 13:11.
INDUSTRY – Melbourne Kart Centre has been appointed the Victorian dealer for BirelART karts and spares. “We look forward to adding some red to our showroom” MKC posted. “We look forward to having spares available on race day at HQ (and) look forward to adding to our trophy collection by driving red.”
EURO RECAP – WSK Champions Cup video highlights from South Garda Karting, Lonato, 21 January:
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EURO RECAP – WSK Super Master Series round 1 video highlights from South Garda Karting, Lonato, 28 January (Australia’s William Calleja comes 3rd in Mini):
TEAM NEWS – BirelART Racing Australia has named its driver line-up for 2024. Jay Coul, Cooper Stapleton and Tom Hunter have now joined the “Red Army” while Troy Loeskow, Mika Lemasurier, Jensen Marold, Cooper Folley, Fraser Blyton and Cruz Kelly return for another year.
PUBLIC PENALTIES – Check out what the Kiwis were doing at the NZ Kart GP! On-track incidents were published with incident notes, the rule breach and the outcome/penalty, plus links to the video evidence from the track’s camera system! Check it out HERE.
RIP KEN O’DEA – Warwick Kart Club Life Member Ken O’Dea has passed away, succumbing to illness on March 25, aged 66. “Ken he was a founding member of our club, and contributed so very much over the years” WKC posted. “He was a wonderful man and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. On behalf of the committee and the entire club, our condolences to his family and all who knew and loved him.” Ken’s funeral will be at 11am on Tuesday, April 9 at St Mary’s Catholic Church, 163 Palmerin St, Warwick.
SHIFTERS – Got a KZ in the shed? Get it out for the KZ2 Super Series at Canberra in June. The series runs over 5 rounds, for more information, scan the QR code.
OTK PRIZE – International Karting Distributors is putting up an OTK chassis of the winner’s choice as a prize in the end of year draw at the Greater Sydney Kart Club. “If you like the idea of winning a Kosmic, Lando Norris, Redspeed, Gillard or even the brand new Carlos Sainz CS55 kart, then all you have to do is join the club, or be a current paid member, and race with us” the club posted. “Every time you enter a round of the 2024 Club Championship you will get a ticket in the draw to win an amazing OTK kart.” The draw will take place at the end of the 2024 Club Championship year.
RIP NEVILLE WELLS – The Circular Head Kart Club has reported the passing of Neville Wells. “It is with a very heavy heart that we wish to inform the Tasmanian Karting Community that one of our life members, Neville Wells, passed away in the early hours of March 19. We send our love and condolences to the Wells/Hinds family during this time.”
UNIQUE – The Greater Sydney Kart Club will pay $50 to each driver who can demonstrate consistency and score a ‘triple’ – three identical laps times on consecutive laps during an official GSKC race in 2024, as measured on Speedhive. Go for it!
TRIPLE TREAT – The NSW Kart Festival at Orange Kart Club on September 7 and 8 will feature the Retro Karting Australia Tony Agland Memorial, the Vintage & Historic Karts of Australia AND Senior and Junior Enduros. A weekend of celebrating all things karting, Saturday night will boast a social event for the karting community to come together and commemorate their sport. The schedule is:
Saturday
Tony Agland Memorial
Vintage Demonstrations
JUNIOR enduro
Sunday
Tony Agland Memorial
Vintage Demonstrations
SENIOR Enduro
ROTAX EURO – The 2024 Rotax MAX Challenge Winter Cup events highlights are now available on Youtube at the link below!
FREE STREAM – This year’s Queensland Kart Championship will be live streamed via YouTube. This means, unlike the Australian Kart Championship, fans can watch for free without having to subscribe to a commercial service. The Ipswich club has successfully live streamed its most recent two race days (see below).
NO QUITTER – Nick Percat says it was the kids in his kart racing team that kept him in Supercars this year. The former South Australian was ready to walk away from the sport but “they pretty much just gave me a clip around the ears and said, ‘Nick, you need to keep racing. We love watching you if you can get in the right car’” Speedcafe reported. “It’s pretty cool when you can have young karters that dream to race cars motivate you so much when it’s getting a bit tough.” Read more on Speedcafe HERE.
INDUSTRY – Mariano De Faveri has been appointed the full time Chief Technician for Kali Kart. The Tinini Group confirmed De Faveri had moved from a part-time role, splitting his time between Kali and the official CRG Team, to now work exclusively for Kali Kart. He will be assisted by Roberto Musio and Sebastiano Monte, who will share many of the team’s technical and management responsibilities.
ELECTRIC TICKETS – The second edition of the Swedish Championship for the Rotax E20 E-Kart will take place alongside the Porsche Carrera Cup Scandinavia at an event in August that is estimated to attract 10,000 spectators. The Swedish national champions in Rotax E20 Senior (age 14+) and E20 Masters (age 32+) will both receive tickets to the Rotax Grand Finals.
KIWI DOCO – Episode 2 of New Zealand karting documentary ‘The Grid’ is now online.
RETRO – As the Tamworth Kart Club prepares for the Alan Cox Cup this weekend, this historical footage has popped up on Facebook, which includes street racing in Taminda.
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