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24th January 2012

Rotax Pro Tour Todd Road is ready to go

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Team Australia at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final in the United Arab Emirates last year. Pic: Cooper's Photography

Australia’s fastest growing karting series resumes horsepower hostilities next weekend, when the 2011/12 Rotax Pro Tour resumes at the Todd Road Karting Complex in Port Melbourne, Victoria.

Rotax Pro Tour Todd Road comes along after a couple of months of action packed racing domestically and internationally. Following on from an exciting Pro Tour event at Canberra’s Fairbairn Park last October, 11 of Australia’s finest karters travelled to Dubai in the UAE to compete in the Rotax World Finals at the Al-Ain Raceway, representing one of the 52 countries that participated in the annual event. Team Australia and its drivers did not disappoint. Victorian David Sera capped off an action packed racing year by finishing second in Senior Max, whilst Fujistu Cool’s Joey Mawson showed the world that he is a genuine star in the making by finishing runner up in Junior Max. In DD2, Jason Pringle drove out of his skin to finish an impressive second overall, whilst the sole Australian representative, Brent Coghlan, surprised many including him by finishing fifth overall in DD2 Masters. “We went to Dubai hoping to finish in the top 20,” he said. “I was really just wanting to make the most of the experience and the opportunity to go overseas to race. Then when I qualified so well I was hoping for a top 10. To get 5th was unbelievable and to have been so close to the podium was really cool.”

Team Australia also took out the Nations Cup contest awards to the highest performing nation at the event by Rotax.

This year’s Rotax World Finals will be held in Portugal at the Kartodromo Algarve from November 27 to December 1 and for all competitors in this season’s Pro Tour, they have an added incentive. At the conclusion of the 2011/12 Rotax Rankings, which concludes at the Rotax Nationals in September, the top three drivers in Junior Max, Rotax Light and DD2 Masters at the will automatically qualify for the World Finals. For DD2, only first and second in the rankings will qualify. The highest-ranking driver in Rotax Heavy will qualify for the third DD2 seat.

Located in the Port Melbourne region, Todd Road is 960m in length and its combination of long straights and challenging corners are the perfect mix for all drivers to test their skill and agility. The track is also a favourite for drivers and fans alike.

Todd Road will also see the official debut of Denso as a major sponsor of the Rotax Pro Tour, following a successful trial at Pro Tour Canberra. Rotax welcomes Denso into the Pro Tour family and hopes this partnership will blossom into the future.

At Rotax Pro Tour Canberra, Joey Mawson made his mark in his debut run in Rotax Light, taking out the Final from Jaie Robson and Pierce Lehane and will no doubt use the success of last year’s World Finals to his advantage at Todd Road. Aaron Rintoul and Troy Woolston battled all through the weekend to take out line honours in Rotax Heavy, with Woolston eventually claiming the honours from Rintoul and Todd Davey, who currently leads the Rotax Rankings in that class. Woolston would back up with a win in DD2, taking out the Final from Damian Ward and Mitch Bink. Exprit’s Thomas MacDonald currently heads the Rankings in DD2. Hamish Leighton dominated the weekend in DD2 Masters, comfortably winning the Final from Tony Prendergast and Dale Verral. In Junior Max, Thomas Randle snatched victory in the Final from Cam Hill, who had dominated most of the weekend with Joseph Burton-Harris in third. In Rotax Over 40s, Nick Karmalis dominated the class, winning all the heats and the Finals from Greg Moores and Anthony Grant.

Interest in the Rotax Pro Tour continues to grow, with 310 competitors now registered. Of those 310 registered, 107 have entered so far to compete this weekend at Todd Road across six classes, with entries closing on January 24. Entries have come as far as Western Australia, South Australia and across the Tasman in New Zealand. Five drivers will represent WA, with Steven Scoble competing in DD2, one of 12 entered, James Allen in Junior Max, which consists of a field of 25, Ryan Johnstone and Jason Lecocq in Rotax Light, fielding 26 entrants and Trevor Gaynor in Rotax Over 40s. From South Australia, Luke Marquis will be the sole representative in Junior Max, whilst Jeffery Jansen, Nathan Burgess, Matthew Fritz, Con Paxinos and Brandon Stillwell will fly the fly proudly in Rotax Heavy, the most subscribed field of all the classes with 27 entered. Of the two New Zealanders, Aaron Cunningham will race in Rotax Heavy and Daniel Connor in Rotax Light.

Practice will be held on Friday January 27, which concludes with a free spit roast BBQ hosted for drivers and officials by the series promoters, International Karting Distributors. Racing begins on Saturday January 28 with qualifying and heat races, with the Pre-Final and Finals held on Sunday January 29. For those unable to make Rotax Pro Tour Todd Road, fans can follow live updates on Twitter and Facebook and now live audio commentary from the track via Ustream.

Rotax Pro Tour on Ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/rotax-pro-tour-australia
Rotax Pro Tour on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RotaxProTour
Rotax Pro Tour on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RotaxProTour