Karting: Huge starting line-up expected

HBT104016-02.JPG L-R 92 Zach Zaloum from Hawkes Bay Club. Photo / Warren Buckland

The biggest karting event in Rotorua is coming to town this Labour Weekend.

The fastest kart drivers in the North Island will travel to Rotorua to show off their skills from Friday to Sunday.

Local club KartSport Rotorua are hosting the KartSport New Zealand North Island Sprint Championships at the The Rock FM Raceway, with 188 drivers expected to attend.

It is the biggest karting field assembled in New Zealand in about a decade, according to KartSport New Zealand development and administration manager Robert Hutton.

"These are numbers we haven't seen since the mid-2000s, so we're very encouraged."

Event convenor Brent Hatton said he would love to see the state-of-the-art 1241m track lined with spectators for the event.

"This is a great opportunity for local people to see what a fantastic facility we have," Hatton said.

"It truly is world-class." Rotorua KartSport's $3.5m track has only been open for a couple of years, and this will be the biggest event at The Rock FM Raceway to date. It is part of the Offroad NZ complex on Amoore Rd in the Mamaku Ranges. Several drivers are defending their 2013 North Island titles at the meet, including Mathew Kinsman from Auckland (125cc Rotax Max Light), Zach Zaloum from the Hawke's Bay (125cc Rotax Max Heavy) and Hamilton's Rhys Tinney (100cc Yamaha Light).

Multi-time Australian champion David Sera, who won the 2012 New Zealand 125cc Rotax Max Light class title, has also been invited back to contest the event.

Twelve class titles will be contested with racing starting on Friday and finishing on Sunday.

On Friday the classes are Cadet Raket, Junior Restricted 100cc Yamaha, 125cc Rotax Max Junior and KZ2.

On Saturday it is Vortex Mini ROK, Junior 100cc Yamaha, and the two Senior Yamaha classes, 100cc Yamaha Light, and 100cc Yamaha Heavy.

Sunday then sees Open, Cadet ROK, and the two Senior Rotax Max classes, 125cc Rotax Max Light and 125cc Rotax Max Heavy.