Karters Suiting Up For Kart Prix In Ipswich This Weekend

30 September 2009

With the Nikon SuperGP only a few weeks away South East Queensland motorsport fans will be able to kickstart their countdown to one of the Nation’s biggest motorsport events when the Gold Coast Kart Prix is held this Sunday (October 4).

The Gold Coast Kart Club operated since 1971 at Day's Park Raceway in Coomera. However, this racetrack is now closed and the Club is currently hiring other tracks for race events until a new facility can be established, as a consequence this weekend’s event will be run at the Willowbank Kart circuit near Ipswich.

Competitors at the event, who will range in age from seven to over 50 years of age, will be competing across a variety of categories for differing age, weight and engine capacities for thousands of dollars in prizes.

Gerry Brookes on his way to victory at the Rotax Nationals.
(Pic: photowagon.com.au)

All drivers at the event will also be in the draw to win tickets to next month’s Nikon SuperGP event to be held on the streets of Surfers Paradise on October 22-25.

Gold Coast karting veteran Gerry Brookes is one driver expected to figure prominently at this weekend’s event following a dominant victory at the Rotax Nationals in Sydney last weekend.

Brookes, who started his karting career way back in 1980, proved too good for his opposition in the Rotax Over 35s division to claim a comprehensive victory aboard his Aurora Racing Intrepid kart in the event.

The 37 year-old captured two national championships during his younger years and also took on some of the best drivers in the world during the Castrol Kart Prix’s at Oran Park during the late 80s.

“It was very pleasing to have all of the hard work over the past few months pay off in the way of a victory last weekend," said Brookes.

"The Eastern Creek track is a very physical one, towards the end of the final I started to struggle a bit but luckily I had built enough of a buffer that I wasn’t under any pressure to push too hard."

Cameron Butler is another local driver who is expected to figure prominently in the Rookies division. The youngster was crowned the 2008 Club Champion in the Rookies division and will be looking to continue his good run of form into this weekend’s event.