After making the Motorex Rotax Max Light class their own at the opening round of this year's Right Karts Kartstars Rotax Max Challenge of New Zealand in Palmerston North last month, Cambridge 's Andy Schofield and Auckland 's Daniel Kinsman look set to do the same at the second round in Tokoroa this weekend.
The pair, both former winners of the Arai Junior Max class, dominated the premier Motorex Rotax Max Light class at the annual day/night Kart 'n The Dark meeting at KartSport Manawatu's Manawatu Toyota Raceway on Saturday February 19, Kinsman topping the time sheets in Qualifying and winning the two Heats but Schofield prevailing in the Pre-Final and Final.
Third was the first of the class's old hands, top Palmerston North driver Andrew Hoare, fourth two-time former class winner and New Zealand representative Ryan Urban.
Urban in particular is looking at making amends this weekend, as is fellow class regular Kane Taylor who finished seventh at Palmerston North.
Interest in the Strata Networks Rotax Max Heavy class, meanwhile, will hinge on whether first round runner-up Aarron Cunningham can maintain an advantage over Scott Fountain an Shane Hodgson - the winner at Palmerston North, expat Kiwi Lane Moore, having racing commitments in Australia this weekend.
Cunningham did a good job at Palmerston North, albeit one made easier when defending class champion Hamish Cross had to start the Final from the back of the grid and top Masters grade competitor Steven Currie managed only one lap of the Final before contact cut his race short.
With the large Christchurch contingent all able to make this weekend's meeting all eyes in the Arai Junior Max class will be on Scott Manson. The diminutive young South Islander put in the drive of the class at the opening round, coming from the back of the grid to win the Arai Junior Max Final from Aucklanders Shaun Grocock and Reid Harker.
However, heading to Tokoroa it is Grocock who leads the points standings with Manson fifth, the South Island driver losing a valuable points scoring opportunity when a spark plug failed in the Pre-Final, his dnf in that race the reason he had to start the Final from the back of the grid.
There will be action at the Tokoroa track both days this weekend with Time Trials (qualifying) and heats on Saturday and the final heats, Pre Finals and Finals on Sunday.
This weekend's round is the second of six which make up the 2011 Right Karts Kartstars Rotax Max Challenge with subsequent events to be held at Te Puke, Auckland , Hamilton and KartSport Rotorua's new track in the Mamaku Ranges .
Points after Rnd 1 of 6
Motorex Rotax Max Light
1. Andy Schofield 89 points
2. Daniel Kinsman 85
3. Andrew Hoare 82
4. Ryan Urban 80
5. Mathew Kinsman 78
6. Mason Armstrong 75
7. Kane Taylor 73
8. Justin Herbert 70
9. Tom Alexander 68
10. Aaron Hodgson 67
Strata Networks Rotax Max Heavy
1. Lane Moore 89 points
2. Aarron Cunningham 85
3. Scott Fountain 78
4. Shane Hodgson 77
5. Brendon Hart 76
6. Stuart Gould 76
7. Anthony Murch 72
8. Arryn Hill 72
9. Teddy Bassick 68
10. Hamish Cross 66
Arai Junior Max
1. Shaun Grocock 86 points
2. Reid Harker 82
3. Rhys Tinney 81
4. Josh Drysdale 80
5. Scott Manson 77
6. Maddison Wise 76
7. Logan Rogers-Jenkins 74
8. Caleb Hartley 72
9. James Munro 69
10. Faine Kahia 69
