The South Island karters will trek to the far south for the opening round of Mainland Series karting competition this weekend.

The six-round competition roars into life with the two-stop Hotel Taieri Southern Series starting Saturday at the Invercargill Oil Shop Kart Raceway in Invercargill, followed by a day of action at KartSport Dunedin on Sunday.

The championship then moves to the Sunbelt champs at Marlborough on June 3 and Nelson on June 4, before wrapping up with the Garden City Champs two-day event in Christchurch on September 23-24.

There is competition across all classes with several of last year’s top performers returning to action.

Last year’s Rotax Max Heavy class runner-up Derryn French will be one to watch, with defending champion Arron Black not entered for this year’s series. While in Rotax Light, multi-time South Island Champion Chris Cox will take the fight to the field, which includes last year’s runner-up Myles Findlay & third place getter Scott McLaren.

At the other end of the age spectrum, Canterbury’s Iver Spence will compete back in the mainland after a successful start to the year in the North Island sees him as a front runner in the Hampton Downs NZ Racing Academy Kartstars series.  

The Vortex Mini ROK class looks like another tight battle with reigning Cadet ROK National Champion George Tucker stepping up a class this season, along with Dunedin’s Jack McGrath and Nelson’s Johnny Shuttleworth.

Southland’s Taylor Gray is hot favourite in the Briggs LO206 Heavy category after taking home the title last year ahead of clubmate Sam Rook who will look to go one better. While Myles Findlay will defend his title in the Briggs Light class, with hot competition from WPKA Goldstar Series round one winner Riley Price from Marlborough.

Rounding out the class line up will be the 125cc Rotax Junior category which will feature Southland’s Robbie Batt stepping up age groups to take on the likes of Canterbury’s Levin McMillan and Southland’s Josh Hill.

There’s plenty of action not to be missed Saturday and Sunday, so head along to either KartSport Southland or KartSport Dunedin to be a part of the show.  

Mainland Details: www.facebook.com/mainlandseries/

Article added: Saturday 25 February 2023