From the Newcastle Star (http://www.newcastlestar.com.au/news/local/news/general/track-stars-hit-hunter/2523853.aspx)
WILD BOYS: Australia's best kart racers are heading to the Hunter for round two this weekend.
SOME of the world’s best racing car drivers honed their craft in the cut and thrust of kart racing.
The Newcastle round has attracted strong fields across all classes and if the opening round at South Australia’s Bolivar circuit in late February is any indication, racing this weekend will be tough.
Victorian driver Jake Spencer came away from Bolivar with a Pro Lights win and goes into Newcastle with fond memories of the undulating 1056-metre track where he won the James Courtney Trophy last year.
“Last year I had two pretty strong rounds in Newcastle,” he said.
“I won the round in one and then took out the championship in the other so you could say I’m looking forward to going back there.”
However, Spencer is aware of his competition.
“In saying that though, the level of competition has certainly stepped up another gear this year so to win again is going to be very hard,” he said.
Spencer was followed home in the first round by current championship leader Daniel Rochford and 2010 series champion Cian Fothergill and that has allowed the young driver to pick form among his rivals.
Rochford has already showed he is a serious contender for the championship, as has Fothergill and team mate Adam Hughes.
“Newcastle is almost a home track for Matthew Waters and Joseph Mawson so I think they will be hard to beat next weekend as well,” he said.
As well as the three main CIK classes, support races will be run for the Australian Leopard Challenge, the Yamaha Clubman Challenge and the junior national class.
The championship meeting starts with Friday practice, continues on to Saturday qualifying and heat races and finishes with finals racing on Sunday.
