Study On Hold as Noonan Chases Karting Glory

27 September 2010

While many Year 12 students will spend these holiday’s cramming for their upcoming exams, Lumen Christi College’s (Perth, WA) Rhett Noonan will have more than study on his mind.

Rhett Noonan set for the
KTEQ Rentals Western Australian State Championships.
Pic: photowagon.com.au

The 17 year-old is this weekend competing in one of the biggest karting events in the country, the KTEQ Rentals Western Australian State Championships, at the Cockburn International Karting Raceway in Perth.

Noonan, who has been racing karts for more than five years, will take on some of the best drivers from across the country in the 100cc Clubman Heavy category while racing at speeds in excess of 100 km/h.

“Sure my exams are important but I’ll concentrate on them after the state championships,” said Noonan.

“The state championships are set to be the biggest here for a number of years because a lot of people are using it as a lead up to next year’s national championships that are also being held at Cockburn.”

Noonan, who competes aboard a European-made Tony Kart, knows that the competition in his category is going to be extremely tough but is hoping to topple some of the biggest names in the sport.

“There is something like 12 state or national champions in the field, it’s going to be very tough,” said Noonan.

“I saying that though, the event is being held on my home track and one that I love racing at so I’m confident that I’ll be able to mix it with the top guys.”

The Piara Waters resident will be joined at the championships by his younger brother Brodie who got the karting bug two years ago after watching his older sibling from the sidelines for a number of years.

Qualifying for the state championships will begin on Friday (October 1) ahead of the heat races on Saturday (October 2) and the championship finals on Sunday (October 3).

The Cockburn International Karting circuit is located on Gemma Road, Henderson.