Photo: Gareth Playle leads in the Rotax Max Light class heats from eventual 2012 title winner Andrew HoareMulti-talented Wellington karter Karl Wilson successfully defended his 2011 New Zealand SuperKart title at the Racetech-backed 2012 New Zealand SuperKart Championship and Grand Prix meeting at Feilding's Manfeild circuit on Saturday.
Wilson, 28, a three-time former sprint class champion and two-time New Zealand representative, qualified quickest and claimed both the 2012 New Zealand SuperKart and combined International/National class Grand Prix titles as well as the coveted Pommie trophy for a second time.
Second in the well-supported SuperKart class was two-time former National class title holder Robin Wooldridge from Whangarei with 2006 Open GP winner Ryan Urban from Auckland third.
The SuperKart (International) title was one of four contested at the annual meeting with the National class title going to Wellington's Steve Wilton, the Rotax Max Light class one to Palmerston North's Andrew Hoare and Rotax Max Heavy to Taupo's Teddy Bassick.
Steve Wilton was also first National class contestant home in the 12-lap combined International/National class Grand Prix (finishing fourth behind Wilson, Wooldridge and Urban) and ended up second to Wilson in the Pommie Trophy points standings.
Veteran Teddy Bassick enjoyed a Wilson-like run on his way to victory in the Rotax Max Heavy class and was first Heavy class entrant home in the combined Rotax Max Grand Prix.
There was a real battle for Rotax Max Light class honours however, with two local drivers - defending title holder Garth Playle and long-time sprint class standout Andrew Hoare - rarely more than a kart length or two apart.
Playle qualified quickest and won the first heat but Hoare won the other three to claim the 2012 title and beat Playle and third placed Mason Armstrong to the line in the 12-lap combined Rotax Max category Grand Prix.
The Racetech 2012 New Zealand SuperKart Championship and Grand Prix was organised by KartSport Wellington and run with the support of Racetech, Go Pro cameras, Wynns and MG Tyres.
Results
SuperKart (International)
1. Karl Wilson 3 points; 2. Robin Wooldridge 5; 3. Ryan Urban 7; 4. Paul Dunlop 11; 5. Tony Gestro 13; 6. Melissa Urban 18; 7. Darryn Waugh 11; 8. Bruce James.
National
1. Steve Wilton 3 points; 2. Greg Galway 6; 3. Richard Simmonds -.
Rotax Max Light
1. Andrew Hoare 3 points; 2. Gareth Playle 5; 3. Mason Armstrong 9; 4. Lochlan Miller 11; 5. Derek Lawrence 15; 6. Clayton Merz 17; 7. David Lundt 21; 8. Cameron Lacey 24; 9. Ashley Higgins 25.
Rotax Max Heavy
1. Teddy Bassick 3 points; 2. Daniel Sayles 5; 3. Aarron Cunningham 7; 4. Sean Cuthbert 12; 5. Karl Cameron 14; 6. Peter Cottam 15; 7. Henri Ham 18; 8. Daryl Currie 19; 9. Garth Lacey 18.
2012 Int/Nat GP
1. Karl Wilson; 2. Robin Wooldridge; 3. Ryan Urban; 4. Steve Wilton +1 Lap; dnf. Paul Dunlop 8 laps. Melissa Urban 7 laps. dns Tony Gestro, Darryn Waugh, Bruce James
Rotax Max GP
1. Andrew Hoare; 2. Gareth Playle +0.066; 3. Mason Armstrong +12.306; 4. Teddy Bassick +18.347; 5. Aarron Cunningham +27.222; 6. Clayton Merz + 32.490; 7. Sean Cuthbert +32.565; 8. David Lundt +32.592; 9. Karl Cameron +32.762; 10. Ashley Higgins +57.352.
Pommie Trophy (aggregate over heat and GP positions)
1. Karl Wilson
