INAUGURAL AUSTRALIAN VINTAGE KART PRIX LAUNCHED IN IPSWICH

Mayor Paul Pisasale with Karting Australia Chairman Mick Doohan

The Ipswich Kart circuit will turn back the clock next month when it hosts the inaugural KTEQ Rentals Australian Vintage Kart Prix on March 21-23.

With more than 250 karts from various parts of Australia and overseas expected to attend the event, it is anticipated that it will be the largest event of its type ever held in the Southern Hemisphere.

The sport of karting has produced many national and international motor racing stars over the decades and the Australian Vintage Kart Prix will celebrate the sport’s heritage.

Five-time MotoGP World Champion and Karting Australia Chairman Mick Doohan was joined at the launch of the event by Ipswich City Council Mayor Paul Pisasale today.

“Karting is where all of the top motorsport drivers started their careers and it is also a genuine form of motorsport in it’s own right,” said Doohan.

“The Australian Vintage Kart Prix will be an event to celebrate the heritage of our sport and to have some of the most influential people in the karting world over many decades a part of the celebrations is exciting for everyone involved.

“With restored and replica karts from the 1950s through 1991 in action during the event, the sights and sounds of these fantastic machines will be very impressive.”

Mayor Pisasale (right) on track as a part of the launch at the Ipswich Kart Club

One of the major highlights of the Australian Vintage Kart Prix will be the actual kart that three-time World Formula One Champion Ayrton Senna drove in the 1979 World Championships. Senna’s mentor during his karting days, Angelo Parilla, will be making the trip from Italy to be a part of the celebrations – as will Senna’s former team-mate Harm Schuurman.

Mayor Pisasale believes it is great for the Ipswich region to have such iconic names from the karting industry travelling to attend the event.

“The city’s motorsport precinct is already home for a number of Australia’s biggest events,” said Pisasale.

“The draw card of this inaugural vintage karting event further confirms Ipswich as the premiere destination for motorsport in south east Queensland.

“Karting Australia is to be congratulated for choosing Ipswich to showcase the sport of karting through this national event.”

Also incorporated into the event is a gala dinner at the Ipswich Civic Theatre on Saturday March 22 with sponsors of the Australian Vintage Kart Prix being KTEQ Rentals, NT Electrical Services, the Ipswich City Council and Castrol EDGE.