Tribute event attracts big guns - From the Geelong Advertiser

MORE than 130 of the country’s best go- kart drivers will converge on Geelong’s Beckley Park International Raceway this weekend for one of the most significant events on the Rotax Pro Tour calendar.

Geelong will host the 2013 Jason Richards Memorial, which is held in honour of former V8 Supercar driver, New Zealand- born Jason Richards.

The concept was introduced in 2012 with the first event being held at Albury to remember the life of Richards, who died in December 2011 after a public battle with cancer.

As part of the competition, two awards are up for grabs.

The Jason Richards Memorial is awarded to a driver from any category who displays exceptional sportsmanship, win, lose or draw.

Last year it was awarded to Victorian Troy Woolston, a driver many of today’s young stars look up to and admire, not only for his success on track, but for his passion off track to succeed in every facet of his racing.

The second award is the Jason Richards Cup, awarded to the round winner in DD2, a category Richards raced in on the 2010 Rotax Pro Tour to maintain his fitness levels, and to keep his eye in between V8 Supercar events.

Fellow former V8 Supercar driver Shane Price, who drove under the guidance of Richards and also replaced him at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 in 2011 when Richards became too sick, returns to the kartseat this weekend.

The 2013 Jason Richards Memorial will be opened with an official gala dinner at the Mercure, Geelong, tonight.

Practice will be held today and racing takes place all weekend.

To follow the event, like Rotax Pro Tour on Facebook, follow Rotax Pro Tour on Twitter and tune into the audio commentary via Ustream at www. ustream. tv/ user/ internationalkarting