If anyone needed convincing that today's kart drivers are tomorrow's motor racing stars they should have been at the final round of KartSport Mt Wellington's annual Three-Way Series sponsored by Merlot Investments Ltd, CRC & Bridgestone on Sunday.
There, SpeedSport scholarship winner and rising single-seater star Andrew Waite and MINI Challenge young gun Richard Moore proved the worth of an early career in karts by jointly winning the series 125cc Rotax Max Light title.
The pair had the large crowd on its feet as they battled for track, event and overall series position, neither giving nor expecting any quarter.
Waite got the nod in the Final, from Moore and Henry Thomas-Kircher, and Ryan Hellier won the day, but when the points were tallied Rnd 1 winner Waite and round two winner Moore tied for overall series victory with 555 points, 21 more than third placed Dion Hubers and 27 more than Ashley Johnson who was fourth.
There was also action aplenty in 125cc Rotax Max Heavy where round two winner Brent Gilchrist was able to prevail over first round winner Peter Ball and final round winner Brent Murgatroyd.
Speedway star Steven Currie had it easier in the lightly supported 100cc Yamaha Heavy class, but Senior 100cc Yamaha Light saw Deon Forrest have to drive a tactical meeting to get the better of round two winner, a very busy Richard Moore.
Though he made it harder for himself competing in two classes Moore threw his heart into the task and was rewarded with second overall behind Forrest but ahead of Jason Butterworth and James Stead.
Open saw another round victory seal the overall class trophy for Ryan Urban from round one winner John Lovich, while in Club Class Chris Ellson claimed the round by one point and the overall series title by eight from the ever improving Scott Maynard.
Joel Thrupp ended up the top performer in the Junior ranks, winning all four heats and the Final to claim round and overall series victory in 100cc Junior Yamaha, as well as winning two of the heats to end up second overall in Formula Junior behind Matthew Griffin.
Griffin won the Formula Junior Final but second was good enough for Matt Hollier to step up to the mark and claim round victory from Thrupp and Griffin.
Junior 100cc Yamaha Restricted belonged to Paul Blomqvist, the youngster sealing overall series victory with his third round win on the trot. Bradley Hicks was second on the day but third overall behind Ben Drummond.
There was another clean sweep in Cadet, giving CJ Sinclair the round win, though round two winner Joel Herbert's second place on the day was enough to give him overall series victory by 15 points from Sinclair and Rhys Tinney.
A special feature of this year's series Three-Way Series is the main prize, or rather prizes; two 7-Day accommodation packages at the Oakridge Resort Grand Mercure hotel in Wanaka valued at $3000 each donated by overall series co-sponsor Merlot Investments Ltd and to be drawn at the end-of-series prizegiving on October 13 at the Waipuna Hotel and Convention Centre.
CRC and Bridgestone also provided spot prizes to be given away at each round and at the end of series prize giving.
The 2007 KartSport Mt Wellington Three-Way Series sponsored by Merlot Investments Ltd, CRC & Bridgestone was made possible with the assistance of supporting sponsors Davie Signs and Blow Fish Sushi, and class sponsors Spartan Auto Dismantlers, Brian Tinney Motors, Roundabout Cars, Right Karts, Thrupp Builders, Auckland Hydraulic Supplies, Kartside Insurance, Spargs Auto Tune, Hopscotch and P&S Auto Centre.
2007 KartSport Mt Wellington Three-Way Series sponsored by Merlot Investments Ltd, CRC & Bridgestone
Results Rnd 3 (Final)
Open
1. Ryan Urban; 2. Daniel Bray; 3. John Lovich;
125cc Rotax Max Light
1. Ryan Hellier; 2. Ashley Johnson; 3. Henry Thomas-Kircher
125cc Rotax Max Heavy
1. Brent Murgatroyd; 2. Brent Gilchrist; 3. Peter Ball
Senior 100cc Yamaha Lights
1. Deon Forrest; 2. Jason Butterworth; 3. Richard Moore
Senior 100cc Yamaha Heavy
1. Steven Currie; 2. Dean O'Sullivan
Club Class
1. Chris Ellson; 2. Scott Maynard; 3. Gary Taylor
Formula Junior
1. Matt Hollier; 2. Joel Thrupp; 3. Matthew Griffin
Junior 100cc Yamaha
1. Joel Thrupp; 2. Corey Green; 3. Kendyll Hanley
Junior 100cc Yamaha Restricted
1. Paul Blomqvist; 2. Bradley Hicks; 3. Ben Drummond
Cadet
1. CJ Sinclair; 2. Joel Herbert; 3. Thomas Maclean
Unrated Cadets
1. Bradley Wilson; 2. Oscar Grant; 3. Joe Ganley
OVERALL RESULTS AFTER RND 3 OF 3
Open
1. Ryan Urban 588 points; 2. John Lovich 579; 3. Steven Purcell 557.
125cc Rotax Max Light
1=. Richard Moore & Andrew Waite 555 points; 3. Dion Hubers 534.
125cc Rotax Max Heavy
1. Brent Gilchrist 570 points; 2. Peter Ball 556; 3. Brent Murgatroyd 553
Senior 100cc Yamaha Lights
1. Deon Forrest 593 points 2. Richard Moore 578; 3. Jason Butterworth 566
Senior 100cc Yamaha Heavy
1. Steven Currie 593 points; 2. Dean O'Sullivan 206; 3. Nic Tosswill 178.
Club Class
1. Chris Ellson 572 points; 2. Scott Maynard 564; 3. Gary Taylor 560.
Formula Junior
1. Matthew Griffin 579 points; 2. Joel Thrupp 568; 3. Dylan Steeples 541
Junior 100cc Yamaha
1. Joel Thrupp 587 points; 2. Kendyll Hanley 567; 3. Nick Moyle 562
Junior 100cc Yamaha Restricted
1. Paul Blomqvist 593 points; 2. Ben Drummond 566; 3. Bradley Hicks 550
Cadet
1. Joel Herbert 580 points; 2. CJ Sinclair 565; 3. Rhys Tinney 558
Calendar
Rnd 1: Sunday August 19 2007 (anti-clockwise)
Rnd 2: Sunday September 9 2007 (oval)
Rnd 3: Sunday September 23 (clockwise)
