Preview: Sydney's Round of CIK Stars of Karting
| press release | 11 July 2013 |
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2013 CIK Stars of Karting Series – Round 4 - July 27/28, 2013
Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway
50 Peter Brock Drive, Eastern Creek, NSW
Australia’s elite karting championship, the CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE, will head to Sydney later this month for the penultimate round in the 2013 title chase.
The event will feature not only the top drivers from across Australia but also the World with Dutch driver Joey Hanssen, winner of the 2011 World Cup, calling Australian home in 2013. The quality of drivers is the highest seen in the Harbour City for more than a decade.
Not since the late 90s when the likes of Sydney-raised motorsport stars James Courtney, Mark Winterbottom, Ryan Briscoe and Michael Caruso were at the top of their karting career, has there been such a highly credentialed group of drivers compete in the Harbour City.
Above: Carlingford teenager Andrew Kahl is currently fifth in the Pro Junior (KFJ) Championship
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)
The July 27/28 event at Sydney’s Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway will feature up to 150 of the top young drivers across the three Pro categories – Pro Gearbox (KZ2), Pro Light (KF) and Pro Junior (KFJ) – and the three support categories. The youngest drivers in action will be those in the Rookies category where youngsters as young as nine years of age will take to the track.
Entering this month’s fourth round of the five round championship, the chase for the titles in the Pro categories are still very much a wide-open affair with 26 points, or one race win, being the largest gap at the top of the standings in any of the three categories.
Along with the round honours, competitors in the Pro Light (KF) category will be vying for the Franco Guaitoli Memorial Shield at Eastern Creek. Guaitoli, who passed away last year following a short battle with cancer, was considered one of the most influential people in the Australia karting for many years.
Above: Horsley Park's James Abela sits second in the Pro Junior (KFJ) championship points
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)
Guaitoli led the way for Australian drivers to compete overseas providing opportunities for drivers such as Darrell Smith and Ryan Wlodinski in the PCR team. He was also instrumental in putting Australia on the International karting map through his support of the Oceania Championships during the 1990’s.
In addition to the honour of becoming champion, and having their name alongside some of the biggest names in Australian motorsport on the winners’ list, drivers are also vying for a $10,000 scholarship to compete in an international CIK event provided to the champion in each of the Pro categories.
Practice for the event will be held on Friday July 26 ahead of racing on Saturday July 27 and Sunday July 28. Admission is free for spectators.
Above: Horsley Park's Matthew Waters is currently second in the Pro Light (KF) standings
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)
Local Sydney drivers competing in the Pro categories
- Andrew Kahl, 14, Carlingford
- Chris Sandrone, 15, Cobbitty
- David Whitmore, 21, Maraylya
- Dimitri Agathos, 16, Greystanes
- James Abela, 14, Horsley Park
- Lachlan Gibbons, 16, Kings Langley
- Lachlan Saccardo, 14, Cronulla
- Mathew Erdmann, 26, Kingsgrove
- Matthew Waters, 23, Wetherill Park
- Pierce Lehane, 17, Castle Hill
- Stephanie Stones, 13, Cranebrook
- Thomas Chitty, 14, Caringbah
*there will be numerous other competitors in the support categories competing for the NSW State Championship in the TaG category, also the TaG Restricted and Rookies category.
Above: Castle Hill teenager Pierce Lehane won Round Three of the Championship in Geelong
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)
2013 CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE
Championship Points (After 3 of 5 rounds)
PRO GEARBOX (KZ2)
1. Joey Hanssen (Netherlands) – 382 points
2. Chris Hays (Gold Coast, QLD) – 356
3. Matthew Wall (Melbourne, QLD) – 316
4. Jason Pringle (Melbourne, QLD) – 298
5. Troy Bretherton (Gold Coast, QLD) – 290
PRO LIGHT (KF)
1. George Geranis (Melbourne, Vic) – 364 points
2. Matthew Waters (Horsley Park, NSW) – 343
3. Brooke Topp (Toowoomba, QLD) – 303
4. Troy Loeskow (Bundaberg, QLD) – 298
5. Jordan Nicolaou (Melbourne, Vic) – 292
PRO JUNIOR (KFJ)
1. Liam McLellan (Melbourne, Vic) – 332 points
2. James Abela (Horsley Park, NSW) – 317
3. Damon Strongman (Melbourne, Vic) – 294
4. Christopher Sandrone (Cobbitty, NSW)– 293
5. Andrew Kahl (Carlingford, NSW) – 278
Former Series Champions
Pro Gearbox (KZ2)
2012 – Chris Hays (Energy/TM)
2011 – Tyler Greenbury (Intrepid/Maxter)
2010 – Matthew Wall (BRM/TM)
2005 – Bart Price (Arrow/TM)
2004 – Bart Price (Arrow/TM)
2003 – Tyson Pearce (Omega/TM)
2002 – Jason Burns (Mac Minerelli/TM)
Pro Light (KF)
2012 – Adam Hughes (Kosmic/IAME)
2011 – Jake Spencer (Kosmic/IAME)
2010 – Cian Fothergill (Kosmic/IAME)
2009 – Hayden McBride (Gillard/IAME)
2004 – Barclay Holden (Trulli/Parilla)
2003 – Barclay Holden (Trulli/Parilla)
2002 – Adam Graham (Arrow/Rotax)
2001 – Mark Winterbottom (Tony Kart/Vortex)
2000 – Neil McFadyen (Top Kart/Comer)
1999 – Jamie Whincup (Tecno/Parilla)
1998 – Ryan Wlodzinski (PCR/PCR)
1997 – David Clark (Tecno/Atomik)
1996 – Jeremy Lohmann (Tony Kart/Vortex)
1995 – Darrell Smith (PCR/PCR)
1994 – Phillip Scifleet (Haase/Italsistem)
1993 – Richard McLeod (Azzurro/Fox)
2011 – Cameron Hill (Top Kart/Vortex)
2011 – Pierce Lehane (CRG/Vortex)
2010 – Pierce Lehane (CRG/Vortex)
2005 – Joshua Scott (BRM)
2004 – Kristian Lindbom (Top Kart/Comer)
2003 – Kristian Lindbom (Top Kart/Comer)
2002 – Ben Chong Sun (Top Kart/Comer)
2001 – Tim Slade (Top Kart/Comer)
2000 – Andrew Thompson (Tony Kart/Vortex)
1999 – Adam Graham (Tony Kart/Vortex)
1998 – Neil McFadyen (Top Kart/Comer)
1997 – Michael Caruso (Tony Kart/Vortex)
1996 – Ryan Briscoe (CRG/CRG)
1995 – Ryan Briscoe (CRG/Parilla)
1994 – Christian Jones (CRG/Rotax)
1993 – Mike Hazelton (CRG/Parilla)
