Doin' dad proud - from the Gladstone Observer

FIVE-time world 500cc champion Mick Doohan will be cheering on his son Jack this weekend in Gladstone when he takes on some of the state’s best drivers at the QGC Queensland closed state sprint kart championships.

Gladstone Kart Club president Dave Bennett said the club was looking forward to hosting the event and seeing Jack Doohan race in the midgets section with the other young talents.

“We have a strong field of rookies,” Bennett said.

“The young entry-grade kids like Josh Rogers, Mitchell Bennett and Jack Bussey will be good to watch.

“And it’ll be great to have Mick there. We’ll have a celebrity in our midst.”

He said the local dual Australian champion Cian Fothergill was another drawcard.

“He’ll be good to see. He’s a champion in two classes,” Bennett said.

And with the likes of Mark Winterbottom, who raced at the Gladstone track in the 1997 national titles, James Courtney and Jamie Whincup beginning their careers in karts, it’s an opportunity to see the next generation of champions.

“We’ve got some of Queensland’s best racers coming to this event,” Bennett said.

“Some pretty famous names started in go-karting like Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.

“We hope everyone comes down to watch a great weekend of racing.”

Club secretary Jenny Morris-Battye said the club wanted to impress drivers while chasing hosting rights for the prestigious open state sprint kart championships in early 2012.

“Members have been working hard to prepare the track and surrounds to ensure the facility and event will create wonderful memories for those who participate and entice them to visit our region again in 2012,” she said.

Details

Where: Gladstone Kart Club, South Trees Rd, Gladstone.

When: Practice today. Qualifying and racing tomorrow and Sunday from 9am until 5pm.

What: 15 different classes of racing based around age, weight and engine type.

Who: More than 160 nominated drivers aged 7-70 years from as far as Cairns in the north, Gold Coast in the south.

Cost: Free entry to the track. The canteen is open from 9am to 5pm.