
Luca Burns from Invercargill and Blenheim local William Exton shared class honours in two classes at the TE Contracting Ltd-sponsored 35th Sunbelt Sprint championship kart race meeting at Blenheim and Nelson last weekend.
Wins over Exton in the final three heats at Nelson gave Burns the overall win in the Open class - albeit by a single point over Exton with fellow young gun Jacob Douglas third a further four points back. Wins in the same three 125cc Rotax Max Light class races at Nelson helped recently crowned NZ #1 Exton get his win over Burns (in this case by a margin of 7 points) in that class, with William Neale from Christchurch third, a further 5 points adrift.
The wet, cool conditions in Nelson on Sunday added a whole new element to the competition, and were in strict contrast to the cool but largely dry weather and track conditions which prevailed for the first day of combined competition at Blenheim the day before.
Consistently finishing races at or near the front of the field - rain or shine – is the obvious way to gain a winning advantage – as NZ #1 Zach Tucker proved with a rare 9-wins-from-9-starts record in the Vortex Mini ROK class.
Only fellow Juniors Willliam Ruffell (who won the ClubSport Briggs LO206 Junior class) and Tucker’s fellow #1 NZ from Christchurch, Cadet ROK class winner Henry Fisher got close to match that, with four wins and four second places.
The full list of class winners at the meeting was;
Open – Luca Burns (Invercargill)
125cc Rotax Max Light – William Exton (Blenheim)
125cc Rotax Max Heavy – Arron Black (Dunedin)
Briggs LO206 ClubSport Light – Tony Dyer (Nelson)
Briggs LO206 ClubSport Heavy – Shane Madsen (Christchurch)
Briggs LO206 ClubSport Junior – William Ruffell (Nelson)
Rotax Max Junior – Blake Knowles (Christchurch)
Vortex Mini ROK – Zach Tucker (Christchurch)
Cadet ROK – Henry Fisher (Christchurch).
Each day’s competition at this year’s Sunbelts event also carried points for the 2021 HSD Building Contractors Mainland Series.
Class point leaders after 4 of the 6 rounds of that’s series are;
Open - Luca Burns (Invercargill)
125cc Rotax Max Light – Harry McDonald (Christchurch)
125cc Rotax Max Heavy – Kevin Barker (Nelson)
Briggs LO206 ClubSport Light – Tony Dyer (Nelson)
Briggs LO206 ClubSport Heavy – Taylor Grey (Nelson)
125cc Rotax Max Junior – Blake Knowles (Christchurch)
Vortex Mini ROK – Zach Tucker (Christchurch)
Cadet ROK – Henry Fisher (Christchurch).
CAPTIONS
Class winners at this year’s TE Contracting Ltd-sponsored Sunbelt Sprint Championship kart race event held at Blenheim and Nelson over Queen’s Birthday weekend included Luca Burns (#61 Open), William Exton (#1 125cc Rotax Max Light), Blake Knowles (#3 125cc Rotax Max Junior), Zach Tucker (#1 Vortex Mini ROK) and Henry Fisher (#1 Cadet ROK). Photo credit: Fast Company/Tim Did-Dell.
2021 TE Contracting Ltd 35th annual Sunbelt Sprint Championships inc. Rnds 3 & 4 of the 2021 HSD Building Contractors Ltd Mainland Series, Cresswell Electrical Kart Raceway Blenheim Sat June 05/The Hits/RWCA Accountancy + Advisory Kart Raceway Nelson Sun June 06 2021.
RESULTS
Open
125cc Rotax Max Light
125cc Rotax Max Heavy
ClubSport Briggs LO206 Light
ClubSport Briggs LO206 Heavy
ClubSport Briggs LO206 Junior
1.William Ruffell; 2. Riley Price; 3. Maxxus Blick; 4. Will Partridge.
125cc Rotax Max Junior
Vortex Mini ROK
Cadet ROK
1. Henry Fisher; 2. Jack McGrath; 3. Mason Dunphy; 4, Magni Whittle; 5. Nixon Cripps, 6. Braxton Kraayvang er.
2021 HSD Building Contractors Ltd Mainland Series
Points after Rnd 4 of 6
Open
125cc Rotax Max Light
125cc Rotax Max Heavy
ClubSport Briggs LO206 Light
ClubSport Briggs LO206 Heavy
125cc Rotax Max Junior
Vortex Mini ROK
Cadet ROK
CALENDAR
2021 HSD Building Contractors Mainland Series
Round 1 - 27 February 2021 KartSport Southland Southern Series
Round 2 - 28 February 2021 KartSport Dunedin Southern Series
Round 3 - 5 June 2021 KartSport Marlborough Sunbelt Series
Round 4 - 6 June 2021 KartSport Nelson Sunbelt Series
Round 5 - 25 September 2021 KartSport Canterbury Garden City Championships
Round 6 - 26 September 2021 KartSport Canterbury Garden City Championships
Prepared by FAST COMPANY on behalf of KartSport New Zealand. To find out more about KartSport in New Zealand txt Ross MacKay on 021 677 919 or e-mail him at ross@fastcompany.co.nz
Article added: Saturday 12 June 2021