FIVE FAST FACTS ABOUT THE ROTAX NATIONALS

This weekend the Ipswich Kart Club will play host to the 13th Annual Sparco Rotax Nationals, here are five fast facts about the Rotax Nationals.

Record Numbers
This weekend’s Sparco Rotax Nationals will see the largest fields in the history of the event with two classes exceeding 50 entries – Junior Rotax and Rotax Light. The 58 entries in Junior Rotax exceeds the previous record of 49 set back in 2002 in the Rotax Light class at the Todd Road circuit.

12 dry, 1 wet
Of the previous Rotax Nationals events, there has only been one decided in wet conditions. Interestingly enough, it was the previous time the event was contested at the Ipswich circuit where a torrential downpour played havoc with the proceedings in the Sunday’s action during 2010.

International Flavour
Dutchman Bas Lammers will become the second driver from outside of the Australasian region to compete in the Rotax Nationals when he lines up with the Formula K Australia team this weekend. The first driver from outside of Australia or New Zealand to compete in the event was Estonian Champion Mario Vendla, who competed in 2010 with the Arrow Racing Karts team.

Australian chassis domination
Of the 31 National Championships that have been decided at the Rotax Nationals over the years the Australian-made Arrow chassis has won 19 of them. Only CRG and Redspeed are the other manufacturers to have secured dual victories throughout the 13-year history of the event.

Queensland drought
While the Queensland farmers may be crying out for rain, it is the drought of the victory type that Queenslanders are searching to put a halt to in the Championship classes at the Rotax Nationals. Not since Ben Jurczak won the inaugural Junior Rotax Australian Championship in 2009 has a driver from the Sunshine State taken home a green plate from the event. Of recent years, Lucas Ward and Kel Treseder have both however claimed victory in the DD2 support class.

ROTAX NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HONOUR ROLL
Rotax Light
2001 – Matthew Wall (Vic) – Arrow
2002 – Josh Arandt (Vic) – Arrow
2003 – Bart Price (Vic) – Arrow
2004 – Scott Auld (Qld) – Arrow
2005 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow
2006 – Hayden McBride (NSW) – Gillard
2007 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow
2008 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow
2009 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow
2010 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow
2011 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow
2012 – Pierce Lehane (NSW) – Exprit
2013 – David Sera (Vic) – Arrow

Rotax Heavy
2001 – Damien Meyer (NSW) – CRG
2002 – Brett Davidson (Vic) – Arrow
2003 – William Yarwood (Qld) – Arrow
2004 – William Yarwood (Qld) – Arrow
2005 – William Yarwood (Qld) – Arrow
2006 – William Yarwood (Qld) – Arrow
2007 – Kel Treseder (Qld) – Top Kart
2008 – Kel Treseder (Qld) – Kosmic
2009 – Matthew Wall (Vic) – Arrow
2010 – Simon Meyer (NSW) – CRG
2011 – Troy Woolston (Vic) – Intrepid
2012 – Matthew Wall (Vic) – Arrow
2013 – Michael Saller (NSW) – Tony Kart

Junior Rotax
2009 – Ben Jurczak (Qld) – Redspeed
2010 – Jonathan Venter (NSW) – Kosmic
2011 – Joseph Mawson (NSW) – Arrow
2012 – Thomas Randle (Vic) – FA Kart
2013 – James Abela (NSW) – Redspeed

Previous Venues
2001 – Eastern Creek, NSW
2002 – Todd Road, Vic
2003 – Newcastle, NSW
2004 – Ipswich, QLD
2005 – Geelong, Vic
2006 – Newcastle, NSW
2007 – Ipswich, QLD
2008 – Todd Road, Vic
2009 – Eastern Creek, NSW
2010 – Ipswich, QLD
2011 – Geelong, Vic
2012 – Dubbo, NSW
2013 – Puckapunyal, Vic