Fresh from contesting the opening round of their own Giltrap Group-backed Rotax Challenge series in Palmerston North last weekend the Kiwi karters also contesting this year’s Australian Rotax Pro Tour will be at Warwick in inland Queensland this weekend contesting the second round of that series.
The first round in Melbourne last month saw both Jaden Ransley (Junior Max Trophy) from Christchurch and Emerson Vincent (Micro Max) from Pukekohe top their respective classes, and both will be determined to build on that momentum this weekend.
Meanwhile, after impressive performances at the opening double-header round of the local series last weekend, Matthew Payne from Pukekohe and the Stewart sisters, Ashleigh and Madeline, from Wellington, are looking to step up in Queensland.
Payne, 13, is a former round winner and 2015 series runner-up in the Junior Max Trophy class in Australia and though he finished 20th in the Final on his debut in the Junior Max class at the first round of this year’s Australian series last month that was after running as high as fifth before an on-track clash.
Last weekend in Palmerston North Payne not only qualified quickest in the Junior Max class on both days he also won all eight Junior Max races for the meeting’s only two-round clean sweep.
The Stewart sisters were also quick, Madeline finishing second in the Junior Max class on the first day and third on the second, Ashleigh fifth in Rotax Max Light on Saturday and sixth on Sunday,
Also back in Australia this weekend is young Auckland karter Samuel Wright, who finished fourth in the Junior Max Trophy class at the first Pro Tour round last month, Connor Davison from Hamilton who finished 24th in the Mini Max class, and Auckland’s Aarron Cunningham who ended up 12th in DD2 Masters at the first round.
And joining the Kiwi contingent at Warwick is one of New Zeaalnd’s emerging female kart aces, Rianna O’Meara-Hunt from Wellington, who will compete in the Junior Max class.
