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17th June 2014

ROTAX PRO TOUR MAKES RETURN TO WARWICK IN SEASON'S PENULTIMATE ROUND

After a two year break, Sandy Creek Raceway in Warwick will host the Rotax Pro Tour with it being the penultimate round of the series ahead of the 2014 Rotax Nationals in Ipswich in September. With the points difference in the Rotax rankings continuing to narrow, a fleet of Queenslander’s on debut will be hoping to claim success on home soil surrounded by the nation’s best in their chase for season glory.

The top five in the DD2 Masters Rotax rankings continues to close up ahead of Pro Tour Warwick (Pic: IKD) IKD

DD2 Masters
Sydney’s Adam Hunter will lead a strong charge in the DD2 Masters category at this weekend’s Warwick event with the Karting World driver currently holding a strong lead in the Rotax rankings. A healthy bank of Queensland based drivers will contest the event this weekend, headlined by Steve Ellery who claimed the Jason Richards Memorial at the last round. Ellery is on the verge of sitting inside the top three of the rankings and will hoping to use his home state advantage to lead him towards a strong result in his Project X Racing Exprit. Of the top five placegetters from the Warwick Pro Tour event in 2012, only Hamish Leighton returns this weekend and will be hoping to boost his chances with a good result in his Tony Kart.

Sodi Junior Max Trophy Class
West Australian Brooke Redden currently leads the rankings battle in the Sodi Junior Max Trophy Class, aimed at new drivers to the Rotax engine competing in identical Sodi chassis. Since joining the series at Todd Road in January, Redden has made continued appearances on the podium and is hopeful to continue his string of results at Warwick. Geelong round winner Glen Ormerod currently sits second in the rankings, holding a slender lead over third placed Chris Bregonje with all three remaining as favourites to be amongst the front runners this weekend. The event will be the first time for Redden at the Warwick track and he is looking forward to the opportunity to add to his bank of experience.

“It’s my first time at Warwick this weekend and this has been the case with each track on the Pro Tour this year, the circuit definitely looks exciting and I’m looking forward to experiencing another new track, I’ve had a strong team supporting me this year including Troy Farley and the IKD team, so I hope to secure another podium and bring home some more silverware,” Redden said.

Former Team Australia driver Tyler Greenbury will make his return to the Pro Tour at Warwick this weekend in Rotax Light (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Rotax Light
Another strong field will headline the Rotax Light races at Warwick, with rankings leader Brad Jenner again hoping to extend his lead in the series in his RK Kart. Jenner will be amongst many that are capable of securing a podium finish including Formula K’s Andrew Carey and G-Force Karting’s Ryan Kennedy who currently sit second and third respectively in the rankings. CRG Australia’s Tyler Greenbury, who took victory last time the Pro Tour visited Warwick, returns to the Rotax Light field this weekend and is expected to use his track knowledge at Warwick to help him bring home a strong result. Queensland’s Nicholas Andrews, who took the win in Junior Max in Lithgow has made the step up to Rotax Light ahead of this weekend’s event and is looking forward to racing against some of the best driver’s in Australian Karting.
“I’m really looking forward to the new challenge of racing in Rotax Light against drivers like Brad Jenner, Andrew Carey and Tyler Greenbury to name a few. I’ve had a good run so far this season in Junior Max so it should be a good test for me to move up and race against some more experienced drivers,” Andrews said.

Junior Max
The battle for placing’s in the top three of the Junior Max Rotax rankings remains fierce with two rounds and the Rotax Nationals remaining. Exprit driver Jayden Ojeda currently holds the lead after a consistent season of results so far, though a strong Queensland contingent will be hoping to secure a healthy result from their first event in the sunshine state of the season. With a large local Junior Max series throughout Queensland, a string of young stars have stepped up to take part in the Pro Tour to test their skills against the country’s best. Darwin’s Bryce Fullwood sits second in the rankings in his FA Kart, with Project X Racing’s Callum Walker currently third and the Queenslander is hopeful of securing a good result in his home state and he admits the Warwick track will be one that will challenge even the best in the Junior Max field.

“The Warwick track is a tough one that has plenty of different features that will challenge the drivers, with the amount of new drivers to the series this weekend I think will provide for some exciting and close racing that is sure to be exciting to be part of. The season has been a good one so far for us and I hope to grab another good result this weekend,” Walker said.

Albury’s Jordan Boys is looking to back up from his victory in DD2 in Geelong with success in Warwick (Pic: IKD)

DD2
Victorian Jason Pringle currently leads the Rotax rankings as he charges towards another Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals appearance in Valencia in November. After the CRG driver took the win in Warwick in 2012, he will hoping to replicate that performance this weekend, while fellow Victorian Troy Woolston who sits second in the rankings remains a hot contender to challenge Pringle. A strong Queensland contingent have ensured DD2 deliver another healthy field of entries, including the returning Troy Bretherton who will make an appearance in the Birel Kartsport team, in addition, Gold Coast’s Joshua Crossingham who took second at Pro Tour Melbourne returns to the series this weekend. Albury’s Jordan Boys who has secured two round wins so far this season including the last time out at Geelong which also handed the 16 year old the Jason Richards Cup is hoping to back his top placing result at Warwick this weekend.

“It was a true honour to secure the win at Geelong at the last round and receive the Jason Richards Cup, we have had a good first season in DD2 and I have really enjoyed the racing. Our Praga Kart has been strong right through the year and I’m looking forward to getting back to Warwick, it’s a track that will suit us quite well and I hope we can bank some more Rotax rankings points,” Boys added.

Round six of the 2014 Rotax Pro Tour will take place at the Sandy Creek Raceway, Warwick, Queensland from June 20-22.

To follow the event online throughout the weekend, Like Rotax Pro Tour on Facebook, Follow Rotax Pro Tour on Twitter and tune into the live audio commentary via Ustream at www.ustream.tv/user/internationalkarting.

2014 Rotax Pro Tour | Round 6 | Warwick | June 2014