SPEEDY KARTERS SET FOR SOUTHERN DOWNS SHOOTOUT

Josh de Maio is the current points leader in the Rotax Light category entering this weekend's event in Warwick. Pic: Cooper's Photography

Many of Australia’s top kart racers will be heading to the Southern Downs region in Queensland this weekend to compete in the fourth event of the 2011 Rotax Pro Tour.

With coveted spots in the World Rotax Challenge Grand Final, to be held in Abu Dhabi on the final weekend in November, up for grabs in several categories, the racing will be action packed across the weekend.

All drivers competing in the seven categories being contested in Warwick will be using 125cc Rotax engines while reaching speeds in excess of 110 km/h around the 993-metre Sandy Creek Raceway.

Victorian Josh de Maio is the points leader in the Rotax Light category entering this weekend’s penultimate round of the Tour. After finishing third at the recent Queensland State Championships, de Maio will is confident of another strong result this weekend.

“I like the Warwick track, it’s a fair bit smoother than some of the tracks we have in Victoria and produced some very close racing at the recent Queensland Championships,” said de Maio.

“The level of competition has really stepped up a notch since I first moved up into seniors a couple of years ago. There are a lot of good junior drivers coming through and it looks like there are some more very good youngsters set to step up over the next few months.

“I think (Tyler) Greenbury, who won the state title a couple of weeks ago, and (James) Macken will be probably be the ones to beat again but the main focus for me is to make sure I stay in the points lead.”

Brisbane driver William Yarwood missed the opening event on the schedule due to injury, and as a result is currently playing ‘catch-up’ on the points table, which is headed by Brendan Nelson.

“Considering my last journey (the recent State Championships) there was a victorious one, I’m going into this weekend with high hopes,” said Yarwood, who competes aboard a European-made Exprit chassis.

“The competition in Rotax Heavy is always tough with the likes of Brendan and the Moore brothers, among others, always pushing hard at the front of the field. The racing we had at the Queensland Championships was probably the closest we’ve seen in a long time and I’d expect the same this weekend.”

Competitors and teams will arrive in Warwick on tomorrow (Thursday) ahead of practice on Friday. Qualifying and the heat races will be contested on Saturday following by the pre-finals and finals on Sunday.

The Sandy Creek Raceway is located on Sandy Creek Road, Allen (10 km from the centre of Warwick).

Admission for spectators is free.