From the Gympie Times (http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2012/03/23/Rotax-Pro-Tour-Gympie-karting/)
COOLOOLA Coast Kart Club member Mitchell Gee has had motorsport in his veins since he was born.
His father Michael has been a prominent driver in speedway racing and is a former Australian Super Sedan Champion and now he is following proudly in his father’s footsteps, making a strong presence on the national karting scene.
“I started racing karts when I was seven years old,” he said.
“Before that, I briefly raced motocross. I’ve been around motorsport since I was born with my Dad, Michael, being an Australian champion in Litre Sprintcars and Super Sedans. He also showed me different forms of motorsport and also having my uncle and grandfather as past Australian champions
in Speedway helps. So motorsport of some form is in my blood.”
Based in Little Mountain, the Year 9 student at Unity College has obtained a healthy list of achievements since he started racing karts including 2010 Yamaha Challenge, 2010 Young Guns Champion in Junior National Heavy, 2nd in Rotax Junior Max in the South Australian State Titles and finishing 8th in the 2010 Rotax Nationals in Junior Max.
Gee is now laying further foundations to a successful karting career in the popular Rotax Pro Tour series, which travels to the Cooloola Coast Kart Club in Gympie for the first time this weekend.
The youngster is genuinely excited to be racing against his contemporaries at his home track.
“I am stoked to be racing at Gympie,” Gee said. “It’s a great track, it’s close to home and I know the track well.”
He is all too aware however, that whilst he might have a home track advantage, his opposition will be just as fierce and be on the pace quickly.
“I am hoping that my experience around Gympie will give me an advantage on Friday for practice, but my other competitors will prove to be strong later in the weekend, as the field in my class, Junior Max, has very experienced drivers who can read track conditions quickly and set up accordingly. That said, I think the other drivers will like the track layout as it is unlike most tracks I have been to around Australia.”
Gee finished eighth overall at the recent Rotax Pro Tour event at Todd Road in Melbourne and is keen to move further up the field at the home event.
“Well I have not yet won a Rotax Pro Tour round but have got very close,” he said.
“I am hoping to be in the top five, but it would be awesome to win the round, so hopefully Gympie is my time.”
A first for the Cooloola Coast Kart Club
Rotax Pro Tour Gympie is held at the Cooloola Coast Kart Club from Today (March 23) through to Sunday (March 25) at 10 Runge Rd, Gympie.
Entry is free for all spectators and a free BBQ on Friday afternoon, hosted by International Karting Distributors, promoters of the Rotax Pro Tour, will be held for all drivers, teams and spectators.
Action begins at 9am each day with qualifying and heat racing on Saturday and the Finals on Sunday.
And Gee reckons it’ll be the best racing the region has seen.
“This Rotax event will be huge! They should be ready to see good hard competitive racing from a professionally run and organised series.”
See Rotax Pro Tour online or visit their facebook and twitter for more information.
