TRANS TASMAN BATTLE FOR RACE OF STARS

Graeme Smyth will be one of 13 New Zealanders in action at the Race of Stars.

More than a dozen of New Zealand’s best kart racers will head across the Tasman to take on the top drivers from around Australia in the Race of Stars powered by SuperFest on the Gold Coast on October 16/17.

As announced earlier this month International Kiwi star Daniel Bray will lead the way for the New Zealand contingent but with 12 countrymen in tow a Trans-Tasman battle is certain to break out.

Joining Bray in the elite KZ2 class, where five-time World Champion Davide Forè will start as the favourite, will be several of the top finishers in the New Zealand ProKart Series from both the KZ2 and KZ2 Masters classes.

One driver who is no stranger to Australian shores is Graeme Smyth. The 24 year-old is a former North Island and New Zealand KZ2 class champion who is this year also competing in the Australian GT Championship aboard a Ferrari 458 GT3.

Steve Brown is one of several drivers from the KZ2 Masters class set to line up on the grid at the Race of Stars

Multiple-time New Zealand Champion Mat Kinsman will be flying the flag for the New Zealanders in the KA TaG class where more than 50 drivers are expected to battle for the 38 spots in the final.

Kinsman is no stranger to competing in Australia having contested numerous events in the Rotax Pro Tour throughout his lengthy career in the sport. He has also represented New Zealand in the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final.

Also competing in the KA 12 class, for drivers aged between 9 and 12 years of age, are Connor Davison and Liam Sceats. Davison has competed in three rounds of the Australian Kart Championship in 2015 and after qualifying on pole position at the most recent round in Newcastle is expected to be a front runner next month at the Race of Stars.

For KartSport New Zealand Development and Administration Manager Robert Hutton the Race of Stars event is a perfect event for the New Zealand competitors to battle it out with their Australian counterparts.

“It is great to see the recent resurgence in Trans-Tasman karting competition, which is now as big as it has ever been, and especially as our respective engine and age group classes have become more closely aligned” said Hutton.

“We look forward to working closely with Karting Australia to develop even more Trans-Tasman competition opportunities. Best wishes to all the Kiwis competing at the Race of Stars!”

Multiple-time New Zealand Champion Mat Kinsman is expected to be one of the front runners in the KA TaG class.