AUSTRALIAN TEAM SET FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TILT

Kosmic Racing Australia Team Manager Peter Galvin (Pic: Real Deal Media)

For the first time in almost 20 years Australia will have a team chasing glory in a CIK-FIA World Championship event later this year when the Kosmic Racing Australia team lines up on the grid in Macau during October.

Not since Franco Guaitoli-led the PCR Australia team to numerous overseas events in the early nineties, which saw Darrell Smith victorious in the World Cup in Japan, has an all-Australian team competed at such a prestigious event.

Since that time there has been numerous Australian drivers compete with the Italian factory teams, most notably being James Courtney, Ryan Briscoe, Ben Horstman and Michael Patrizi, but not an all-Australian team such as is planned by the Kosmic Racing Australia outfit.

Peter Galvin will lead the team with three-time Australian Champions Cian Fothergill and Matthew Waters competing against the world’s best drivers in the KF1 category in the October 19-21 event.

For Fothergill, this will be the second time in less than 12 months that he has competed in an overseas event having contested the Asia-Pacific Championship at Suzuka in Japan last November.

After enjoying success at the CIK Trophy of New Zealand earlier this year, Waters is excited about the prospect of being a part of the all Australian team in the World Championship event.

Joining the pair as a part of the team at the event will be Townsville teenager Josh Smith, who will be competing in his first event on overseas soil when he contests the Asia-Pacific KF3 Championship.

Both Fothergill and Waters will line up on the grid next Saturday night (August 25) in the Karting Showdown at the Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway. All three drivers will then join with their Kosmic Racing Australia team-mates for the final round of the CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE in Melbourne on September 22/23.

QUOTES FROM THE TEAM
Peter Galvin – Team Principal
“It is a very proud moment for me to be leading an all Australian team to compete in the World Karting Championship. We will have the best equipment at our disposal as we will be working very close with the Kosmic Factory team from Europe to provide our drivers with the best opportunity of a top result,” said Galvin.

“We’ve been working on this trip for some time and finally it has become a reality. It must be said that our own domestic CIK Stars of Karting Series has had a major influence in opening more avenues for Australian drivers, and now a team, to compete at the very highest level of the sport.

“All of the drivers will be heading over with their own goals in mind and I’m sure we will be competitive.

“The team hopes to be doing more International events next year along with the Stars of Karting Series and we’ve already earmarked the Asia Pacific Championships in Japan and next year’s World Championship for 2013.

“I’d like to thank Remo Luciani and his wife Sabrina for their assistance in putting this all together, another member of the team John Waters has been a driving force within the team, his help is very appreciated.

“I am sure the drivers Cian, Matt and young Josh will do themselves and our country proud. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie.”

Cian Fothergill will be lining up against the world's best drivers in the KF1 Championship (Pic: AF Images/Budd)

Cian Fothergill – KF1 Driver
Three-time Australian Karting Champion
Age: 23 Hometown: Gladstone, QLD
“I raced KF2 in the Asia Pacific Championships last year in Japan but had a mechanical issue in the final which stopped me from achieving a good overall result, considering that you could certainly say that I’ve got some unfinished business on the international level,” said Fothergill.

“I’m really looking forward to racing against the world’s best drivers in Macau, it’s going to be an amazing experience – especially considering the fact that I’m doing it with an all Australian team.

“Holding the Australian flag during the welcoming ceremony in Japan is something that I really cherished and can’t wait to fly the Aussie flag on the world stage again.

“With some common faces in the team it will be a little bit more like home and we won’t have any sort of a language barrier which will allow us to focus 100% on the job at hand rather than interpret each other.

“My number one aim at the World Championship will be to be as competitive as possible and considering last year I was setting some of the fastest laps in the racing I’m confident a top ten result is achievable. If I can achieve this goal in qualifying, then it will be time to re-assess.

“There’s still a lot preparation work still but very excited about the opportunities that racing on the world stage may lead to.”

Sydney driver Matthew Waters will be a part of the Kosmic Racing Australia team in Macau (Pic: AF Images/Budd)

Matthew Waters – KF1 Driver
Three-time Australian Karting Champion
Age: 22 Hometown: Horsley Park, Sydney, NSW
“It is exciting to be part of an Australian team heading to compete at the pinnacle of World Karting as this has been a goal of mine for a long time,” said Waters.

“To race at the World Championships is going to be an amazing experience and I am sure the knowledge I will gain from it will be invaluable.

“I’m thankful to be given this opportunity of racing under the ‘Kosmic Racing Australia’ banner and not only is this great for myself but also opens an avenue for other young Australian karters to head overseas and compete against the best in the world.

“It has not been without the hard work of Peter Galvin, Remo Luciani and my father John that has made this opportunity possible.”

Townsville driver Josh Smith will compete in the Asia-Pacific KF3 Championship in Macau (Pic: AF Images/Budd)

Josh Smith – KF3 Driver
Age: 14 Hometown: Townsville, QLD
“I’m really excited about going over to Macau to race the Asia-Pacific championship, to race not only overseas and compete against drivers from around the world but to represent my own country and wave the Aussie flag,” said Smith.

“Racing in the CIK Stars of Karting Series here in Australia has helped me develop my racing significantly over the past couple of years, so to be able to put the skills that I’ve learnt here in Australia into place against some of the world’s best drivers.

“I will cherish the experience that I will obtain and very grateful for the opportunity to race in Macau thanks to all the team from Kosmic Racing Australia, Peter Galvin our team manager, Remo luciani and my Dad (Barry).”