State Honours On The Line In Smithton Next Weekend

30 October 2009

Local kart racers take on the state's best drivers, along with a strong mainland contingent at Briant Park Raceway next weekend (November 6-8) for the Tall Timbers Hotel/Motel Tasmanian Sprint Kart Championships.

Leading the local competitors charge on the 782-metre circuit will be Stuart Wells.

Wells, one of the foundation members of Smithton’s Circular Head Kart Club in 1987, will start as one of the favourites in the Senior National Light category.

Local driver Stuart Wells in action in his Monza Kart.
(Pic: photowagon.com.au)

“I first got involved in the sport as a 17 year-old in the late 80s as there was a lot of hype around the town about the kart track being built and a heap of people were buying karts to be a part of it all,” said Wells.

“Since then you could really say the sport is something that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and is now in my blood forever.”

Wells, who won the State Championship on his home track in 1996, has been a front-runner in almost every major event across the state for a number of years and has got his sights set on the podium at this weekend’s event.

“The last month or so has been very tough as I’ve been a part of the organising committee for the event along with trying to test my kart ahead of the championships,” said Wells.

“My aim is to finish on the podium (top three) and if I can snag the win it will be a great bonus.”

Wells will be joined at the championships by fellow local drivers Cameron Able and Josh McLaren in the fight for the Senior National Light crown. Other local drivers expected to figure prominently include the father and son combination of Tim and Daniel Hinds, Callum Harper and Tim McMaster in Clubman Heavy and Anthony Walters in the Senior National Heavy category.

Another driver expected to figure prominently at the championships is Launceston-born Australian Champion Chris Hays. The second-generation racer secured his maiden National Championship in Townsville this year and is once again heading south to race at the Tasmanian Championships

In total there will be 175 competitors, including over 40 from the mainland, in action at the Championships.

The youngest drivers, in the Midgets category aged between 7 and 10 years, will reach speeds of up to 80 km/h. While karting for these kids is more about fun than winning championships the sport teaches them, both boys and girls, about car control long before they are able to obtain their road licence.

At the other end of the scale is the Clubman Over 40’s divisions where some drivers are nudging, and sometimes exceeding, 60 years of age. For these competitors the sport provides them with an opportunity to continue to enjoy the thrills of motorsport at an affordable level.

Qualifying begins on Friday November 6 followed by heat races on Saturday November 7 and the championship finals on Sunday November 8.

The Briant Park raceway is located on Pump House Road, Smithton