* Todd Energy 2006 North Island Sprint Kart Championships Todd Energy Raceway Waitara Taranaki
Fri/Sat/Sun
20/21/22 October 2006
22-10-06
CLOSE RACING AT KARTSPORT NORTH ISLAND TITLE MEETING
The increasingly competitive nature of KartSport racing in this country was reflected in the close competition at both Island title meetings over the Labour Day weekend.
Changeable weather affected the Todd Energy 2006 North Island Sprint Kart Championship meeting at the Taranaki Kart Club's Todd Energy Raceway at Waitara but after two days of intense racing it was the depth of competition across all the classes which shone through.
At the North Island title meeting only one driver - Mt Wellington's Paul Cameron - successfully defended a 2005 title - with the others going to a mix of established front-runners and new faces, including;
Cadet - Aaron Wilson (Auckland)
Junior 100cc Yamaha - Mathew Kinsman (Mt Wellington)
Senior 100cc Yamaha Light - Michael Kiser (Taranaki)
Senior 100cc Yamaha Heavy - Stuart Marshall (Mt Wellington)
F125S - Daniel Bray (Mt Wellington)
125cc Rotax Max Light - Paul Cameron (Mt Wellington)
125cc Rotax Max Heavy - Aarron Cunningham (Mt Wellington)
Formula Junior - Tim Vickers (Mt Wellington)
Junior Restricted 100cc Yamaha - Levi Madsen-Prinn (Hamilton)
Open - Jason Lee (Mt Wellington)
Intercontinental C - Ryan Grant (Auckland)
Formula 100 - Mitchell Cunningham (Mt Wellington)
International Mitchell Cunningham's win in Formula 100 came after one of the best - not to mention closest - battles of the weekend. The 20-year-old, younger brother of 2003 World Karting Champion Wade Cunningham and himself just back from competing at the 2006 World Karting Championship meeting in France, won both heats the Pre-Final and Final but had to beat fastest qualifier and 2005 New Zealand champion William Thomason to do it.
Wellingtonian Thomason had an early exit from the first heat but swapped the lead with Cunningham in the second, the Pre-Final and the Final, eventually crossing the line just 0.090 of a second behind his nemesis after a daring pass on the second to last lap which at the time looked like his passport to another North Island title.
Cunningham, however, was having none of it, using all his World Championship experience to muscle his way back to be in front when it counted.
It was a good weekend for the Cunningham family, with the oldest of the three racing brothers, Aarron, claiming his first North Island title in the 125cc Rotax Max Heavy class after an equally fraught weekend-long battle with fastest qualifer Phillip Saunders from Hamilton, eventual runner-up Nick Rogers from Wellington, and 2005 North Island # 2 Mark Gilmer who claimed the final step on the podium.
In the other Senior classes contested on Sunday wins in the two gearbox classes went to Jason Lee (Open) and Ryan Grant (Intercontinental C)
In the Junior classes fastest qualifier Tim Vickers (Auckland) eventually prevailed in Formula Junior but only after the heat races were won by Palmerston North's Mitchell Hill and Auckland's James Stead, and the Pre-Final was won by Hamilton's Martin Short.
Arguably the closest and most hard-fought class however was Junior Restricted 100cc Yamaha, though former North Island Cadet class champion Levi Madsen-Prinn won both the Pre-Final and Final.
Behind him in the Final there was a race-long battle involving defending class champion Nick Cassidy, 2005 New Zealand champion Mitchell Evans and fastest qualifier and 2005 New Zealand Cadet class champion Arie Hutton.
Cassidy and Evans looked the pair most likely to unseat Madsen-Prinn, but he was too good for both in the Final, pulling away while the other two fought for track position, the nod eventually going to Cassidy after Evans was wrong-slotted and shuffled back through the pack to fifth on the second to last lap.
Paul Cameron's successful North Island title defense was one of the highlights at the North Island meeting on Saturday, with an impressive lights-to-flag victory in the 25 lap Final. Fastest qualifier and 2006 New Zealand Rotax Max Challenge Series winner Josh Hart won both heats in driving rain in the morning, but former NZ #1 Cameron, who qualified second quickest, won the Pre-Final and was virtually assured of the Final win when Hart and another driver clashed on the first lap, sending both to the rear of the field.
Hart's drive back through the pack was equally noteworthy, the Palmerston North driver finally crossing the line in a hard-won third place behind second placed Kane Taylor and in front of Auckland's Daniel Kent and former South Island class champion Fiona Hamilton.
The action was as fast and furious in the Junior 100cc Yamaha class with fastest qualifier Mathew Kinsman from Auckland prevailing in the Final to claim the North Island title from KartSport Mt Wellington clubmate Tim Vickers, Bay of Plenty's Daniel Dufty and heat one winner James Stead.
Stead looked a title prospect early in the day but lost any chance of fighting for Final victory when he was forced wide and onto the grass as the front-runners streamed into the first turn immediately after the start.
Like Hart he then spent the rest of the race working his way back up through the field, eventually crossing the line in fourth place.
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). To find out more about it go to www.kartsport.org.nz
Ends
* Todd Energy 2006 North Island Sprint Kart Championships Todd Energy Raceway Waitara Taranaki Saturday/Sunday Oct 21/22
RESULTS
Cadet
Qualifying
1. Aaron Wilson (Akl) 31.993; 2. Joel Herbert (Mt Well) 32.210; 3. Christopher Sinclair (Mt Well) 32.372; 4. Andy Schofield (Tok) 32.422; 5. Stephen Kelly (Mt Well) 32.454; 6. Shaun Nicholson (Ham) 32.666
Heat 1: (10 laps)
Wilson; 2. Kelly; 3. Schofield; 4. Herbert; 5. Sinclair; 6. Nicholson
Heat 2: (10 laps)
1. Wilson; 2. Herbert; 3. Schofield; 4. Aaron Marr (Tar); 5. Kelly; 6. Nicholson.
Pre-Final: (18 laps)
1. Wilson; 2. Herbert; 3. Nicholson; 4. Kelly; 5. Schofield; 6. King
Final: (25 laps)
1. Wilson; 2. King; 3. Kelly; 4. Herbert; 5. Quinn; 6. Aaron Marr (Tar)
2006 North Island Cadet Champion: Aaron Wilson (KartSport Auckland, Auckland)
Junior 100cc Yamaha
Qualifying
1. Mathew Kinsman (Mt Well) 29.005; 2. James Stead (Tar) 29.052; 3. William Bamber (Man) 29.124; 4. Mitchell Hill (Man) 29.136; 5. Daniel Dufty (BoP) 29.155; 6. Martin Short (Ham) 29.241.
Heat 1: (10 laps)
1. Stead; 2. Tim Vickers (Mt Well) ; 3. Dufty; 4. M. Kinsman; 5. Bamber; 6. Richard Craig (Man).
Heat 2: (10 laps)
1. Vickers; 2. Stead; 3. Hill; 4. Dufty; 5. Kinsman; 6. Ryan Cappelman (Wgtn).
Pre-Final: (18 laps)
1. Stead; 2. Vickers; 3. Moore; 4. Kinsman; 5. Hill; 6. Bamber
Final: (25 laps)
1. Kinsman; 2. Vickers; 3. Dufty; 4. Stead; 5. Hamish Berrett (Man); 6. Moore.
2006 North Island Junior 100cc Yamaha Champion: Mathew Kinsman (KartSport Mt Wellington Auckland)
Senior 100cc Yamaha Heavy
1. Stuart Marshall (Mt Well); 2. Warren Riddick (Tar) 29.903; 3. Dion Kendall (Akl) 29.939; 4. Donna Lee (HB) 29.979; 5. Greg Robinson (Tar) 29.979; 6. Brendon Smith (Akl) 29.991.
Heat 1: (10 laps)
1. Marshall; 2. D. Kendall; 3. Cunningham; 4. Leyton Kendall (Akl); 5. Robinson; 6. Michael Grimshaw (Ham)
Heat 2: (10 laps)
1. Marshall; 2. D. Kendall; 3. Cunningham; 4. Robinson; 5. Grimshaw; 6. L. Kendall.
Pre-Final: (18 laps)
1. Marshall; 2. Cunningham; 3. L. Kendall; 4. Gerard Barlow (Mt Well); 5. Grimshaw; 6. Hoare.
Final: (25 laps)
1. Marshall; 2. Hoare; 3. Cunningham; 4. D. Kendall; 5. Barlow; 6. Smith.
2006 North Island Senior 100cc Heavy Champion: Stuart Marshall (KartSport Mt Wellington Auckland)
Senior 100cc Yamaha Light
Qualifying
1. Josh Hart (Man) 29.182; 2. Deon Forrest (Akl) 29.188; 3. Mitchell Cunningham (Mt Well) 29.224; 4. Karl Wilson (Well) 29.261; 5. Graeme Smyth (Akl) 29.282; 6. Lydia Dickinson (Tar) 29.285.
Heat 1: (10 laps)
1. Smyth; 2. Hart; 3. Forrest; 4. Michael Kiser (Tar); 5. Wilson; 6. Niklaus Kiser (Tar)
Heat 2: (10 laps)
1. Hart; 2. Smyth; 3. Mathew Wooding (Ham); 4. Wilson; 5. Forrest; 6. N. Kiser.
Pre-Final: (18 laps)
1. Hart; 2. Wooding; 3. M. Kiser; 4. Wilson; 5. Phillip Watkins (Well); 6. N. Kiser.
Final: (25 laps)
1. M. Kiser; 2. Hart; 3. Wilson; 4. Bailey; 5. Dickinson; 6. Cunningham.
2006 North Island Senior 100cc Yamaha Light champion: Michael Kiser (Taranaki Kart Club Taranaki)
Formula 125S
Qualifying
1. Jason Lee (Mt Well) 26.537; 2. Daniel Eggleton (FSK) 26.697; 3. Mark Swetman (BoP) 26.799; 4. Richard Vickers (Mt Well) 26.836; 5. Daniel Bray (Mt Well) 26.988; 6. Craig Toy (Ham) 27.293.
Heat 1: (10 laps)
1. Lee; 2. Eggleton; 3. Vickers; 4. Swetman; 5. Toy; 6. Bray.
Heat 2: (10 laps)
1. Lee; 2. Eggleton; 3. Bray; 4. Vickers; 5. Toy; 6. S. Mooney.
Pre-Final: (18 laps)
1. Lee; 2. Vickers; 3. Bray; 4. Eggleton; 5. Swetman; 6. Mooney.
Final: (25 laps)
1. Bray; 2. Vickers; 3. Swetman; 4. Toy; 5. Eggleton; 6. Storr
2006 North Island Formula 125S Champion: Daniel Bray (KartSport Mt Wellington Auckland)
125cc Rotax Max Light
Qualifying
1. Josh Hart (Man) 28.198; 2. Paul Cameron (Mt Well) 28.283; 3. Kane Taylor (Akl) 28.333; 4. Jake Pascoe (Mt Well) 28.406; 5. Fiona Hamilton (ChCh) 28.437; 6. Charles Hoare (Whang) 28.438.
Heat 1: (10 laps)
1. Hart; 2. Daniel Kent (Akl); 3. Cameron; 4. Simon Evans (Mt Well); 5. Taylor; 6. Hoare.
Heat 2: (10 laps)
1. Hart; 2. Cameron; 3. Evans; 4. Kent; 5. Taylor; 6. Ryan Hellier (Mt Well)
Pre-Final: (18 laps)
1. Cameron; 2. Hart; 3. Urwin; 4. Evans; 5. Kent; 6. Hamilton
Final: (25 laps)
1. Cameron; 2. Taylor; 3. Hart; 4. Kent; 5. Hamilton; 6. Hellier.
2006 North Island 125cc Rotax Max Light Champion: Paul Cameron (KartSport Mt Wellington Auckland)
125cc Rotax Max Heavy
Qualifying:
1. Phillip Saunders (Ham) 28.771; 2. Aarron Cunningham (Mt Well) 28.829; 3. Nick Rogers (Well) 28.843; 4. Mark Gilmer (Tar) 28.858; 5. Michael Grimshaw (Ham) 28.974; 6. Brendon Hart (Man) 29.156
Heat 1: (10 lap)
1. Rogers; 2. Saunders; 3. Grimshaw; 4. Cunningham; 5. Gilmer
Heat 2: (10 laps)
1. Cunningham; 2. Rogers; 3. Saunders; 4. Grimshaw; 5. Gilmer; 6. B. Hart
Pre-Final: (18 laps)
1. Saunders; 2. Rogers; 3. Cunningham; 4. Grimshaw; 5. Gilmer; 6. Boyde
Final: (25 laps)
1. Cunningham; 2. Rogers; 3, Gilmer; 4. Grimshaw; 5. Saunders; 6. B. Hart
2006 North Island 125cc Rotax Max Heavy Champion: Aarron Cunningham (KartSport Mt Wellington Auckland)
Junior Restricted 100cc Yamaha
Qualifying
1. Arie Hutton (Mt. Well) 30.034; 2. Levi Madsen-Prinn (Ack) 30.035; 3. Nick Cassidy (Mt Well) 30.048; 4. Mitchell Evans (Mt Well) 30.123; 5. Daniel Kinsman (Mt Well) 30.234; 6. Jamie Lane (Mt Well) 30.313.
Heat 1: (10 laps)
1. Evans; 2. Hutton; 3. Madsen-Prinn; 4. Cassidy; 5. Bradley Hicks (Mt Well); 6. Arthur Gabb (Mt Well).
Heat 2: (10 laps)
1. Evans; 2. Madsen-Prinn; 3. Cassidy; 4. Hutton; 5. Arthur Gabb (Mt Well); 6. P. Blomqvist.
Pre-Final: (18 laps)
1. Madsen-Prinn; 2. Cassidy; 3. Evans; 4. Hutton; 5. Hardy.
Final: (25 laps)
1. Madsen-Prinn; 2. Cassidy; 3. Hutton; 4. Daniel Colville (Mt Well); 5. Evans; 6. Jayden Hardy (Man)
2006 North Island Junior Restricted 100cc Yamaha Champion: Levi Madsen-Prinn (KartSport Hamilton, Auckland)
Formula Junior
Qualifying
1. Tim Vickers (Mt Well) 28.346; 2. James Stead (Tar) 28.383; 3. Mitchell Hill (Man) 28.460; 4. Mathew Kinsman (Mt Well) 28.512; 5. Martin Short (Ham) 28.547; 6. Tyler Richardson (Ham) 28.658.
Heat 1: (10 laps)
1. Hill; 2. Vickers; 3. M. Kinsman; 4. Stead; 5. Short; 6. Richard Moore (Mt Well)
Heat 2 (10 laps)
1. Stead; 2. Hill; 3. Kinsman; 4. Short; 5. Vickers; 6. Moore
Pre-Final: (18 laps)
1. Short; 2. M. Kinsman; 3. Hill; 4. Richardson; 5. Vickers; 6. Moore
Final: (25 laps)
1. Vickers; 2. Hill; 3 Kinsman; 4. Stead; 5. Short; 6. Dufty
2006 North Island Formula Junior Champion: Tim Vickers (KartSport Mt Wellington Auckland)
Open
Qualifying
1. Jason Lee (Mt Well) 26.362; 2. Richard Vickers (Mt Well) 26.636; 3. Craig Toy (Ham) 27.198; 4. Mark Swetman (BoP) 27.229; 5. Steve Brown (FSK) 27.274; 6. Kevin Storr (Auck) 27.465.
Heat 1: (10 laps)
1. Lee; 2. Toy; 3. R. Vickers; 4. Brown; 5. Swetman; 6. Steve Mooney (FSK)
Heat 2 (10 laps)
1. Lee; 2. Vickers; 3. Brown; 4. Mooney; 5. Toy; 6. Storr.
Pre-Final (18 laps)
1. Lee; 2. Vickers; 3. Swetman; 4. Toy; 5. Brown; 6. Storr
Final (25 laps)
1. Lee; 2. Vickers; 3. Swetman; 4. Toy; 5. Brown; 6. Storr
2006 North Island Open Champion: Jason Lee (KartSport Mt Wellington Auckland)
Formula 100
Qualifying
1. William Thomason (Well) 26.978; 2. Mitchell Cunningham (Mt Well) 27.072; 3. Michael Kiser (Tar) 27.161; 4. Simon Evans (Mt Well) 27.199; 5. Karl Wilson (Well) 27.201; 6. Ryan Bailey (Man) 27.335.
Heat 1: (10 laps)
1. M. Cunningham; 2. Wilson; 3. Bradley Tyrrell (Tok); 4. M. Kiser; 5. Bailey.
Heat 2: (10 laps)
1. M. Cunningham; 2 Thomason; 3. Evans; 4. Wilson; 5. M.Kiser; 6. Bailey
Pre-Final: (18 laps)
1. M. Cunningham; 2. Thomason; 3. Evans; 4. Bailey; 5. Wilson; 6. Philip Watkins (Well)
Final: (25 laps)
1. M. Cunningham; 2. Thomason; 3. S. Evans; 4. Watkins; 5. Wilson; 6. M. Kiser
2006 North Island Formula 100 Champion: Mitchell Cunningham (KartSport Mt Wellington Auckland)
Intercontinental C
Qualifying
1. Dan Smith (Ham) 26.196; 2. Ryan Grant (Akl) 26.232; 3. Daniel Kent (Akl) 26.232; 4. Daniel Bray (Mt Well) 26.267; 5. Niklaus Kiser (Tar) 26.445; 6. Jason Lee (Mt Well) 26.610.
Heat 1: (10 laps)
1. Bray; 2. Kent; 3. Grant; 4. Lee; 5. N. Kiser; 6. Michael Wheaton (Akl)
Heat 2: (10 laps)
1. Grant; 2. Kent; 3. N. Kiser; 4. Smith; 5. Graeme Smyth (Akl); 6. Bray
Pre-Final: (18 laps)
1. Grant; 2. N. Kiser; 3. Kent; 4. Bray; 5. Smith; 6. Lee
Final: (25 laps)
1. Grant; 2. Bray; 3. Smyth; 4. N. Kiser; 5. Wheaton; 6. Alex McLennan (Akl)
2006 North Island Intercontinental C Champion: Ryan Grant (KartSport Auckland Auckland)
