Top Gun Team Ready To Fire In CIK Stars Of Karting Series

19 February 2010

Led by multiple Australian karting champion Troy Hunt, the Top Gun Racing outfit is ready to fire in the 2010 CIK Stars of Karting Series which kicks off in Newcastle in two weeks time (March 5-7).

Jonathan Venter will contest the Pro Junior(KF3) category in the
CIK Stars of Karting Series. (Pic: photowagon.com.au)

Throughout the four-round series Hunt will guide young guns Jonathan Venter and Jacob Parsons as they chase the Pro Junior (KF3) championship. The Sydney teenagers will be joined in the Top Gun line-up by Wollongong driver Matthew Bailey, who will be competing in the Pro Light (KF1) championship.

“I’m really excited about the year that lies ahead and the group of drivers that I will be working with during the CIK Stars of Karting Series,” said Hunt.

“It is great to see Australian karting once again having an ‘elite’ series and I am really looking forward to being a part of it.”

During the peak of his karting career in the late 90s Hunt battled with the likes of current day V8 Supercar stars Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom and James Courtney at the top level of karting in Australia.

“The CIK style of racing has always been regarded as the top level of karting across the world. When it was last prominent here in Australia it helped the likes of Jamie, Mark, James and Ryan Briscoe to take the next step in their flourishing careers,” said Hunt.

Jacob Parsons is looking forward to the opening round in Newcastle.
(Pic: photowagon.com.au)

As a part of his preparations Venter is this weekend competing at the Florida Winter Tour in America in the Junior Rotax category.

“An opportunity came up for me to race in America, the timing was right for me to come over here and by competing against some new drivers on a new track I will be able to gain some great experience heading into the first round of the CIK Stars of Karting Series next month,” said Venter.

“The Pro Junior class is going to be pretty cool, I can’t wait to get to Newcastle and experience the extra power that the KF3 engine produces.”

Like his Top Gun team-mate, 15 year-old Parsons is excited about the prospect of working with Hunt and the Top Gun Racing outfit in the CIK Stars of Karting Series.

“Since I started racing almost six years ago I’ve always looked up to Troy Hunt and admired what he has been able to achieve during his career, so I’m really looking forward to learning as much as possible throughout the year,” said Parsons, who will be using engines prepared by Hurst Racing Engines.

“After finishing inside the top ten at the Nationals last year, I’m really looking forward to taking the next step in my karting career and being a part of the top karting series in the country.”

About to embark on his tenth year in the sport Bailey is the most experienced of the Top Gun team but still has the youthful exuberance to compete at the top level of the sport.

Wollongong driver Matthew Bailey.
(Pic: photowagon.com.au)

“I grew up watching the CIK style of racing in the nineties, it was the pinnacle of karting so when I heard that style of racing was coming back, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it,” said Bailey.

“Newcastle is an amazing track, probably the best in the country in my eyes, I can’t wait for the first round to roll around.”

The CIK Stars of Karting Series will kick off in Newcastle on March 5-7 and will incorporate the Australian CIK Championships for the Pro Light (KF1), Pro Gearbox (KZ2) and Pro Junior (KF3) categories.

Competitors in the Pro Light category will use the 125cc IAME KF specification engine, as used in the 2009 championship that was won by Newcastle driver Hayden McBride. The Pro Gearbox drivers will take to the track powered by a six-speed 125cc gearbox machine while the Pro Junior drivers will use a 125cc Vortex KF3 specification engine.