11th April 2013

Drivers chase go-kart glory on home track - From the Warrnambool Standard

Warrnambool Kart Club member Jay Coul, 11, will race in the rookie class at Lake Gillear this weekend. (Pic: Warrnambool Standard)

ABOUT 20 Warrnambool and district drivers will chase go-kart glory on their home track when round two of the Victorian Country Series gets under way this weekend.

Organisers hope the contingent will help lift the field to more than 150 across 11 classes for the once-a-year showcase at the Lake Gillear track.

Warrnambool Kart Club president Billy Askew said he was confident of a bumper weekend of racing, but was wary of a forecast which showed rain was on the way.

“Hopefully the weather stays good. Previous years it’s rained. Every time it’s been nice weather leading up to it and it’s rained,” he said.

“It feels inevitable it’s going to rain. But it’s shaping up to be a good weekend.

“We’ve got a few new sponsors on board. You get a lot of people who do the whole series, then people from Melbourne and South Australia.”

Askew said he believed go-kart driving was becoming more popular in Warrnambool but the club was battling to convert interest into competitors.

“We’ve got a lot more members than we used to, but trying to get them to the club days is the thing,” he said.

“There are a few people who have joined up that I’d like to see come out and race.

Among Warrnambool drivers expected to make their mark this weekend are siblings Tom, Jack and Acacia Owen.

Tom will contest the junior national light class, while Jack and Acacia are in rookies.

Their cousin, Max Owen, is in cadets.

Corey McCulloch and Broe Shiells will go head-to-head in sportsman light, along with Melbourne-based Warrnambool member Andrew Holmes.

Anthony Magilton will chase victory in clubman light, while Jake Maraldo and Jay Coul are also rookie-class hopes.

Jay’s father, Laurie Coul, said his son had improved rapidly since taking up go-karting 2½ years ago.

“The local stuff he’s good in and in the bigger meetings he’s in the top third. He doesn’t race enough to be up the front all the time,” he said.

“But he’s very competitive and extremely competitive in the wet.

“We’re praying for the rain. If it rains he’ll be up the front. He loves the wet.

“We always used to practice in the wet. We never went out on a dry day when he was learning, we only went out when it was raining.

“As far as driving ability, it’s the best thing for them.”

The first round of the Victorian Country Series was held at Ballarat in February.

Other rounds will be held at Cobden on May 19, Portland on July 21, Hamilton on September 15 and Horsham on October 19.

Practice will go ahead from 9am Saturday, while heats and finals are from 9am Sunday.