RELATED:
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
WIMMERA Kart Racing Club will host round three of the Victoria Country Series at the weekend.
The Dooen track will host its round of the 2018 season almost two months earlier than it did in 2017.
Club president Shane Souter said the clubs that host six rounds of the series get together at the start of the year to request dates for their respective rounds.
“We make sure that it is fair for everybody so that the same clubs do not have the winter rounds each year,” he said. “It was particularly cold for our round last year so we’re certainly looking forward to some warmer weather come this weekend.”
Souter said entries were already up for this year and that has been a trend through the opening two rounds at the South West and the Ballarat kart racing clubs.
“We’re already up 30 racers on last year and we’re expecting to end up about 70-up,” he said. “There should be somewhere between 220 and 260 karters.”
The influx of competitors will also bring large support crews to the region for the weekend.
“All the kids have their parents and there will be some grandparents as well,” Souter said.
“Karting has become more of an elite sport to a degree – some of the top karters will also bring their own pit crews.
“They don’t just turn up in trailers any more, they turn up in big transporters.”
Bigger numbers and an expanded racing program will mean qualifying will start on Saturday afternoon before racing starts again early on Sunday morning.
In the past the Saturday has been reserved for practice before qualifying and races were held on the Sunday.
“Our pit area has had to grow to accommodate everyone,” Souter said.
“We owe a big thanks to the Horsham Motorcycle Club for letting us use part of its pit area and facilities.”
Entry is free for spectators with full canteen facilities available
Souter said the continued growth and reputation of the series meant the racing was always of high quality.
“Outside of the national events we’re probably the second-largest series outside the city,” he said.
“We seem to attract a lot of people from even the city area.”
Seven Wimmera competitors are expected to take part in the round with Remo Luciani and Ash Mitchell.
The pair placed first and second in the KA3 medium class at the most recent Horsham round of the series and will look to back up their strong performances.
“I hope all of them will perform well on their home track,” Souter said.
“They have all shown signs of great improvement over the past 12 months.”