IT is the biggest event on the Australian Karting Association of South Australia’s competition calendar and Mount Gambier is set to play an important role in its success.
The three day motorsport carnival will officially start today with practice for all divisions, followed by qualifying races tomorrow and finals on Sunday at the popular Glenburnie Raceway on the eastern outskirts of the city.
More than 200 competitors have inked their name onto entry forms for this weekend’s state championships, which will be broken into 12 categories.
The Mount Gambier Karting Club will be represented by 11 drivers, including Shane Moreland and Kirby Hillyer in Rookies; Joshua Munn, Callan Bemonte and Morgan Feast in Junior National Light; Bradley Saffin, Mitchell Broome and Sam Baker in Junior National Heavy; John Dankowski and Nick Scudds in Clubman Super Heavy; Glenn Henley (Clubman Over 40s) and Scott Moreland (Rotax Light).
There will also be car divisions to cater for Cadets, Junior Rotax Max; Clubman Light; Clubman Heavy; Leopard Light and Leopard Heavy.
The championships have attracted drivers from every Australian state and territory and are seen as a major player in the Mount Gambier tourism industry.
Accompanying most of the drivers are family and friends, boosting financial figures in accommodation and eating establishments in the immediate area as the championships progress.
The expectations on the local drivers is obviously high as knowledge of the home circuit will be seen as an advantage.
Dankowski and Scudds in the Scott’s Agencies sponsored Clubman Super Heavy class should provide an entertaining contest.
Included in the same class is former Mount Gambier champion driver, Anthony Higgs who is now based in Western Australia, while other major guns in that category include Adelaide’s Paul Pittam and Perth’s Ashley Pittard, both of whom Higgs rated highly when interviewed earlier this week.
Gates at Glenburnie will open at 6am today and the agenda includes driver briefings, scrutineering, timed qualifying races and repechages.
Full canteen facilities will be available at the track and spectators are encouraged to attend what promises to be a spectacular motorsport carnival.
