2nd September 2011

Karts wheel into town for Nationals - from the Geelong Advertiser

Karters wheel into town for Nationals - Geelong Advertiser

RECORD entries have been received for the RotaxKarting Nationals at Beckley Park this weekend.

More than 160 have entered the seven categories, three of which will be vying for a national championship.

Drivers from throughout Australia will compete on Geelong Karting Club’s 754m circuit.

Melbourne’s David Sera, the reigning and five-time champion in the Rotax Light category, is one of the favourites among 40 entries in that section.

Sera is rarely defeated when he competes in the category and is confident of becoming the first driver to secure six Rotax Nationals crowns.

‘‘I won my first Rotax crown at Geelong back in 2005, so I’ve got some pretty good memories there,’’ Sera said.

But Sera is wary of younger rivals.

‘‘Even though I’m only 23, I’m one of the elder statesmen of the Rotax class these days and there’s a lot of good young guys coming through the ranks,’’ Sera said.

‘‘Young Josh De Maio won three state titles last year, Tyler Greenbury is a frontrunner in any class he races and James Macken won his first Rotax Pro Tour event a few weeks ago. I’m sure they’ll all be tough to beat.’’

World No. 2 in the category, Josh Hart from New Zealand, is making the trip back from Europe for the event.

Sydney’s Simon Meyer will be out to defend his national title in the Rotax Heavy division against the likes of former champions William Yarwood from Queensland and Matthew Wall from Sunbury in the 31-driver field.

Sydney’s Joseph Mawson has been undefeated in the Junior Max category in the opening four Rotax Pro Tour events of 2011.

However, his arch-rival Pierce Lehane and fellow junior stars Michael Stewart, Renee Gracie, Liam Morey and Jaxon Evans will be out to inflict Mawson’s first defeat of the year at the category’s biggest event.

Drivers and teams will begin arriving in Geelong today ahead of practice tomorrow and Friday with qualifying and heat races to be contested on Saturday. The championship finals will be contested on Sunday.

Admission is free.