KARTSPORT NEW ZEALAND
Media Release
For immediate release
* KartSport New Zealand Driver Development Academy
Stage 2 'Hot Shots' Launch
Hamilton Kart Club
Mystery Creek
Hamilton
Sat-Sun
September 27-28
2007
25-09-08
Last year KartSport New Zealand launched the first stage of its innovative academy-style driver development programme.
This weekend in Hamilton it launches the second stage.
The programme was created by Academy Director Graeme Moore and Coordinator and Chief Coach Niki Urwin 'to attract and retain new entrants to the sport, and provide a development path which supports these members to whatever success level they aspire to, from consistent Junior to international success.'
To that end Urwin, a top level competitor in his own right who has been coaching motocross riders for many years, created a programme with three distinctive levels - Explore and Learn for new entrants and juniors, Hot Shots performance enhancement for advanced drivers, and Top Guns for elite drivers.
Explore and Learn was introduced last year and has proved both popular and productive. Hot Shots is being introduced this year, and Top Guns will be introduced next year.
The Hot Shots curriculum is aimed at regular national and open meeting competitors and has been designed to help these competitors get the most out of themselves and their karts. Courses - as this weekend's first one has - will be timed to precede major national level events, in this case the North Island Sprint Kart Championships at the Hamilton Kart Club's track at Mystery Creek over Labour Weekend.
Hot Shots course will be a day and half long and like the Explore and Learn ones already held, will be run at kart tracks all over the country.
Subjects covered include advanced driving technique and advanced kart set up with particular attention to mental preparation, qualifying and race strategies, fitness and nutrition.
KartSport New Zealand is very happy with the response so far from karters around the country to the driver development initiative with Explore and Learn courses having already attracted 132 participants.
"This," says Academy Director Graeme Moore, "represents 10% of our total membership and 25% of our entry level Cadets of which we now have record numbers."
KartSport is a safe, affordable motorsport which caters for all ages, with categories for Cadets (6-12yrs), Junior Restricted (10-14 yrs), Juniors (12-17 yrs) and Seniors (15 yrs and over). For more information on KartSport and/or the new Driver Development Academy go to www.kartsport.org.nz
Ends
Prepared by FAST COMPANY on behalf of KartSport New Zealand. To find out more about the KartSport Academy contact Ross MacKay on 021 677 919 or via e-mail at ross@fastcompany.co.nz
Editor's note: Hi-res jpgs of New Zealand's top karters are available upon request by e-mailing Ross MacKay at ross@fastcompany.co.nz
Photo Credit : Fast Company/Andrew Bright-Ultrapix
