AUSTRALIA’S BEST KARTERS ARE HEADING WEST

Kip Foster (#20) and Brad Fitch (#33) will be two of the locals expected to figure prominently. Pic: AF Images

Almost 300 of Australia’s best kart racers will be heading to Western Australia later this month to contest the 49th Annual National Sprint Kart Championships at the Cockburn International Raceway in Henderson, just south of Perth.

The April 22-24 event has attracted the best drivers from various parts of the country with competitors coming from as far as North Queensland to compete in the prestigious event.

The highly competitive Clubman Heavy category has attracted the largest number of entries with 42 drivers set to line up to compete for the coveted green plate awarded to the winner. With no less than ten current or former national champions on the entry list – the action is guaranteed to come thick and fast in this category.

Leading the charge for the local drivers will be Brad Fitch, Kip Foster, Lloyd Bilick, Adam Levi and Shannon Pearce.

With 87 entries being received across the three junior categories, for drivers aged between 11 and 16 years of age, there will a charge of the light brigade as they battle it out at speeds up to 100 km/h on one of the country’s best circuits.

“It is great to see the best drivers from all across the country heading to Western Australia to compete in the most prestigious event on the Australian karting calendar,” said AKA National President Simon Whiting.

“While there is a lot of focus on the younger drivers in the sport, karting is not just for children and teenagers who aspire to make a career in motorsport, there are many more benefits available by being involved in the sport.

“Karting is a sport you can be competitive in with a relatively small budget while still enjoying the thrill of motorsport and is a legitimate ‘stand alone’ field of competitive motorsport.

“We’ve got five champions looking to defend their crowns from last year and there will definitely be five new champions in the other five categories. No matter which way you look at it the racing will be intense all across the ten categories.”

Whiting believes the local economy will also receive a significant boost out of the event with many competitors and families doubling the championships with a holiday in the region.

“With many competitors and their families travelling a long way to get to the championships some of them will be taking the time out to check out some of the great sights of Western Australia while they are over in the region,” said Whiting.

“For the racing they will begin to arrive next weekend (April 16/17) ahead of practice beginning on April 18. During the week of the event we estimate the economy will receive a boost of up to $450,000 from the visitors heading to the region.”

Practice for the championships will begin on Monday April 18 ahead of qualifying on Friday April 22, heat races on Saturday April 23 and the championship finals on Sunday April 24.

The Cockburn International Raceway is located on Gemma Road, Henderson.

To view the full entry list please CLICK HERE.