Paralowie's Riley Matheson is all smiles about being announced as a part of next weekend's Challenge. Pic: AF Images
Eight young South Australian kart racers will become the first drivers to be a part of the 2012 Castrol Cadet Challenge during the opening round of the CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE next weekend (Feb 25/26).
The drivers, aged eight and nine years old, will line up in the Challenge at 9:10am and 12:00pm on Sunday February 26 at the Bolivar Raceway as they negotiate a ‘slalom’ course, designed to highlight the skill of the youngsters behind the wheel.
Despite all being under the age of ten, these young drivers already posses car control skills and driving techniques that will assist them for when they are old enough to obtain their road licence. When they are racing in competition, they will regularly be in control of their kart at speeds in excess of 80 km/h.
Highlighting the fact that the sport of karting is one that can be enjoyed by both boys and girls on an even playing field, there are two young females out to show the boys how it is done in the opening challenge of 2012.
The eight youngsters who will form a part of the Castrol Cadet Challenge at next weekend’s event are:
Amber Miller (8) – Largs Bay – Largs Bay Primary
Amee Blair (8) – Klemzig – Klemzig Primary
Cooper Hay (9) – West Richmond – Cowandilla Primary School
Declan Morrison (8) – Angle Vale – Holy Family
Domenic Caminiti (9) – Hillbank – Our Lady of Hope
Jackson Rees (9) – Walkerville – Prince Alfred College
Jason Bowyer (9) – Windsor – Mallala Primary
Riley Matheson (8) – Paralowie – Burton Primary School
Australian Karting Association National President Craig Denton believes the Castrol Cadet Challenge is a perfect way of highlighting the fact that the sport of karting teaches youngsters more than just how to drive fast around a racing track.
“Kart racing is a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and the Castrol Cadet Challenge is a perfect way to highlight the lessons it teaches the younger generation,” said Denton.
“By the time these children have reached the age of 16 many of them would have been driving a kart for more than half of their life and learning along the way. It’s not only the lessons of driving techniques and car control that they learn either, they gain an understanding of respect on the road and also the consequences of their actions behind the wheel.”
The Australian Karting Association has more than 7,000 members across the country and 26 percent of these members are under the age of 15.
About the CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE
With the CIK (Commission Internationale de Karting) being the specialised Karting commission of the FIA, the governing body of world motor sport, the CIK Stars of Karting Series is the elite level of karting competition in Australia.
Competitors in the series use identical equipment to that used in the European and World Championships.
There will be three Pro Categories in the 2012 CIK Stars of Karting Series – Pro Light (KF1), Pro Gearbox (KZ2) and Pro Junior (KF3).
Drivers in the Pro Light category will use the 125cc IAME KF specification engine that produces 38 horsepower and speeds up to 130 km/h. The Pro Gearbox drivers will take to the track powered by a six-speed 125cc gearbox machine and reach speeds of 135 km/h while the Pro Junior drivers will use a 125cc Vortex KF3 specification engine that produces 32 horsepower.
Former Champions of the CIK Stars of Karting Series include V8 Supercar Champion Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom, Ryan Briscoe, Michael Caruso, Tim Slade, Troy Hunt, Andrew Thompson, Phillip Scifleet and Christian Jones.
2012 Schedule
Round 1
- February 25/26
- Bolivar, SA
Round 2
– April 21/22
– Newcastle, NSW
Round 3
– June 16/17
- Ipswich, QLD
Round 4
– July 28/29
– Eastern Creek, NSW
Round 5
– September 22/23
- Port Melbourne, VIC
