Toowoomba Flyer Set For Final Round Of CIK Championship

21 September 2009

Toowoomba’s Brendon Nelson is the latest in a growing list of top line drivers to confirm his entry for the final round of the 2009 Australian CIK Championship scheduled for October 24/25 in Ipswich, Queensland.

Brendan Nelson will be making his
debut in the Australian CIK Championship
next month.

Nelson, a five-time State Karting Champion, will be making his debut in Australia’s most prestigious karting series alongside the likes of Championship contenders Hayden McBride, Tyson Pearce and Simon Roberts.

“The CIK Championship is just about the only class in Australian karting that I haven’t raced and the fact that you compete with faster engines, stickier tyres and a great format of racing is really attractive,” said Nelson, who will compete under the Doyle’s Kartsport banner at the event.

“By doing the final round of this year’s Championship it should put me in a good position to be extremely competitive in next year’s Series.”

The 17 year-old, who is currently combining his racing with first year studies in a Bachelor in Business and Sports Management degree at Griffith University, has enjoyed mixed success at the Ipswich circuit throughout his six year karting career.

“Ipswich is a track that I’ve had a few wins here and there but have never seemed to be able to get it all together when it matters most in the major events – hopefully this will change next month,” said Nelson.

The Australian CIK Championship has been the springboard for many of Australia’s modern day motorsport stars including Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom, Ryan Briscoe, Michael Caruso and Tim Slade in the 13 Series’ held between 1993 and 2005.

During their karting careers Whincup and Winterbottom would regularly go head-to-head in the Australian CIK Championship – a rivalry that has continued into the V8 Supercar Championship as their careers have progressed over the years.

Nelson in action at the Queensland Championships in Gympie
during July. (Pic: photowagon.com.au)

Whincup won a CIK Championship in both 1998 and 1999 while Winterbottom secured the top crown during 2001.

This rejuvenated Championship has all drivers using the IAME Parilla KF2 (formerly Intercontinental A) specification engine, that produces an impressive 40hp, on the chassis of the driver’s choice fitted with Dunlop tyres.

With one round remaining in the 2009 Championship Gillard's Hayden McBride holds a slender lead over South Australian Tyson Pearce on the points standings.

Courtesy of Defence Industries, manufacturers of high quality security roller shutters, and St George Kart Centre there will be no less than $6,500 cash and prizes to be split among the competitors at the final round.