Grant and Swetman Take First Wins in Taranaki

Karters Ryan Grant and Mark Swetman were the big winners at the first round of the 2009 125 Shifter Series at Waitara in Taranaki over the weekend of 7th/8th March.

F125 class winner Mark Swetman
Photo : Fast Company/Dave Ayres

Defending class champion Ryan Grant was again too good in the KZ2 class, qualifying quickest and winning the heats, Pre-Final and Final while last year's F125 class runner-up Mark Swetman went one better in his category, qualifying quickest and winning two of the three heats before wins in both the Pre-Final and Final.

Second in the KZ2 class after the first round is young Auckland driver Graeme Smyth who fought a tooth and nail battle with multi-time New Zealand Sprint class champion Karl Wilson before finally gaining an advantage - and the second step on the podium - in the Final.

That left Wilson, from Wellington, third with another young Auckland driver, Richard Moore, fourth and former Rotax Max racer Daniel Dufty from the Bay of Plenty fifth.

While Mark Swetman emerged as the the man to beat in the F125 class the big mover in the winner-takes-all Final was Snow Mooney who had to start the race from the back row if the grid after retiring from the Pre-Final (the race which determines grid positions for the Final) with an electrical problem.

Despite the handicap Mooney was into third place by the fourth lap and held the position to the flag.

Eventual class runner-up Kevin Storr also impressed by being the only driver to take a heat win off Swetman (in the second heat) and finishing second in both the Pre-Final and Final.

KZ2 class winner Ryan Grant
Photo : Fast Company/Dave Ayres

As well as the established names this season's Shifter Series has also attracted a number of newcomers amongst them Auckland businessman Steve Cox, who decided to buy and run a KZ2 class kart because he was going to be at the meetings anyway running his six-year-old son in the Cadet class.

Why choose the blue riband KZ2 category?

"It's a growing class and the driving is seriously challenging but very rewarding."

Shifter Series competitors now have just over a month to wait until the second round of the 2009 series at the Bay of Plenty Kart Club's Fagan's Valley Rceway near Te Puke over the April 25-26 weekend.

2009 125 Shifter Series Rnd 1 Todd Energy Raceway Waitara Taranaki Sat-Sun March 07-08 2009

KZ1

1. Ryan Grant; 2. Graeme Smyth; 3. Karl Wilson; 4. Richard Moore; 5. Daniel Dufty; 6. Jason Farmilo

F125

1. Mark Swetman; 2. Kevin Storr; 3. Snow Mooney; 4. Keith Warwick; 5. Wayne Condor; 6. John Steward

Rnd 1 March 7-8 Taranaki
Rnd 2 April 25-26 Bay of Plenty
Rnd 3 May 23-24 Auckland
Rnd 4 August 29-30 Hamilton
Rnd 5 Sept 26-27 Rotorua

Prepared by FAST COMPANY on behalf of the 2009 125 Shifter Series. To find out more about the 2009 series contact Ross MacKay on 021 677 919