Shifter Series Moves Up Another Gear

With capacity grids of snarling, darting gearbox-equipped 125cc karts at every round this year's Counties Commercials Shifter Series was always going to be a spectacle.  

But what made this year's series even better than last year's was the increasing depth of talent, dedication and application in the two categories, KZ2 and F125S.

Ryan Grant
Photo : Fast Company/Greg Henderson

Ryan Grant was again the overall series winner in KZ2, but this year the fight was taken to the young Aucklander by no fewer than four drivers. Fellow Aucklander Daniel Bray won the first round at Waitara from top local Nic Kiser and series young gun Graeme Smyth with Smyth finishing second to Grant at the second round in the Bay of Plenty before winning the third in the Hawke's Bay.

It was then the turn of Wellington driver Alex McLennan to step up to the plate, winning the fourth round at Hamilton from Grant, Bray and Michael Pulman. Grant then came back to beat Smyth and reigning New Zealand Senior 100cc Yamaha Light champion Karl Wilson (enjoying a competitive first year on the gearbox scene) at the penultimate round back in the Bay of Plenty, and Bray and Michael Kiser at the final in Auckland a fortnight ago.

It was close though, Grant's winning margin just 19 points over Bray who in turn has just a six point margin on third placeman Shane Hodgson with McLennan a further seven points back.

Aucklander Hodgson was the big improver this season, with top six finishes at all but the final round and a best of second at the third round in Hawke's Bay.

And what of Smyth?

After winning one round outright and twice finishing second to Grant the young Auckland driver was forced to miss the final round because it clashed with a car racing commitment, meaning he ended up back in ninth place, with Wilson - who was forced to miss the final because he was racing karts in Japan - tenth.

The   situation was virtually the same in the F125S category (the key difference is that KZ2 uses 2-stroke engine/gearbox packages built specifically for karting whereas F125S is based round single-cylinder 2-stroke motorcycle engines).

Pukekohe driver Daniel Eggleton won three of the six rounds including the final at Auckland to claim the overall series title for 2008 but in the end his margin of victory was just 14 points over round one winner Mark Swetman.

Swetman and eventual third placegetter and Masters section winner Craig Toy from Tauranga combined speed and consistency to always be a threat, stepping up to the plate late in the season to win both the Hawke's Bay and second Bay of Plenty rounds before slipping back to sixth at the Auckland final.

Fourth placed Rick Huston from Auckland was also a factor finishing third three times and fourth twice to end up tailing third placed Craig Toy by just three points. Mention must also be made of class stalwart Snow Mooney, the former Possum Bourne Subaru Rally team technical guru finishing fifth overall after top six placings at all six rounds.

Having now established a viable platform for their series the driver/organisers of the combined series are now looking to make it even bigger and better next season - something which shouldn't be too hard given the healthy state it is in right now!

2008 Counties Commercials Shifter Series

Final championship points

KZ2

1. Ryan Grant 645 points; 2. Daniel Bray 626; 3. Shane Hodgson 628; 4. Alex McLennan 613; 5. Michael Kiser 611; 6. Jason Farmilo 608; 7. Michael Pulman 592; 8. Ashley Johnson 587; 9. Graeme Smyth 530; 10. Karl Wilson 511

F125S

1. Daniel Eggleton 648 points; 2. Mark Swetman 634; 3. Craig Toy 631; 4. Rick Huston 628; 5. Snow Mooney 620; 6. Steve Purcell 615; 7. Steve Brown 605; 8. Kevin Storr 588; 9. Steve Browne 586; 10. Daniel Samuelson 586

2008 Counties Commercials Shifter Series

Rnd 1 March 1-2 Taranaki
Rnd 2 May 17-18 Bay of Plenty
Rnd 3 June 28-29 Hawke's Bay
Rnd 4 July 9-20 Hamilton
Rnd 5 August 2-3 Bay of Plenty
Rnd 6 (Final) Oct 04-05 Auckland

Prepared by FAST COMPANY on behalf of the 2008 Counties Commercials Shifter Series. To find out more about the 2008 series contact Ross MacKay on 021 677 919

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