WA KZ Finale: Darren Burke
| 20 August 2014 |
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The final round of the FMA Motorsport West Australian KZ series takes place as part of the 5th annual 'King of the Hill' event at Hurricane Kart Club this weekend. Jake Klarich, Darren Burke and Blake Mills fill the top three positions. Today, we hear from Darren!
by Paul Williams
Q: Burkey... being new to KZ racing you all but have the CPC Engineering ‘Ricciardo Rookie’ title in the bag. Do you have a chance to win the series as well?
DB: I think we are very close to winning the Ricciardo Rookie Award and with one more race meeting to go, we should have that one in the bag. It would be a great achievement to win that award in my first season of KZ racing but I can't deny that my sights are set on the overall championship title for sure. I can most certainly still win the championship as the points are very close between the top 3 or 4 drivers. It's going to be very difficult. Both Klarichini and Millsy have extensive circuit knowledge at Wundowie and I know from watching them there last year that they are very quick! So we will do everything we can to be quicker to try and steal the overall honours!
Above: Darren Burke leads team-mate Simon Gwilliam at the previous round
pic - Hayden O'Keefe
Q: Winning this FMA WA KZ title is obviously going to be the win of your career! What are some of the other great achievements from your past racing?
DB: It would be a great achievement to win the series outright on my first attempt, although I would be stoked with a top three position considering the calibre of drivers I'm up against. In the past, back in the UK, I was once national kart champion. That was a few years ago now! I won the Historic Formula Ford Championship back in 2010 as well as having multiple podium finishes in the sports car scene across many circuits around Europe. Circuits that I dreamt of driving as a child!
Q: So how does a proven European racer end up in Australia and driving in the FMA Motorsport team?
DB: After racing in Australia at the Dash for Cash back in 2012 for FMA motorsport, I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity of a lifetime. I was offered the chance to start a new life with a new career path in Australia. It also meant I could get back into a kart on a regular basis. So I jumped at the chance and here I am! We never even had plans to race KZ initially, but it's definitely been the right decision for the team! I would even go as far as saying that I prefer racing karts to the sports cars!!
Above: Burkey and signature sunnies
Q: It has been noticed you're hanging around Klarich between rounds - even appearing in ‘selfies’ together. Is there a team change coming now that Klarich has his own kart team?
A: *Laughs* I didn't see that question coming! I do hang around with Klarich a fair bit, we are very good friends off the track. But, FMA motorsport is the team I will be staying with for the near and distant future without doubt. We have a great setup, a great kart (Formula K), great people in the team and most importantly we have a fantastic atmosphere within the team that makes the racing even more enjoyable.
Q: Thanks for talking with us Darren, good luck for the final!
A: Thanks very much. It's awesome being part the series and I look forward to an even bigger and better season in 2015!!
