Southern Sprint draws big names

The third edition of the Albany City Kart Club’s Southern Sprint will be held this weekend with drivers from around WA converging on Albany as a tune-up for the upcoming WA State Sprint Kart Championships.

More than 130 entries are expected for this weekend’s event, with most using the standalone meeting as a lead-up to the State titles which begin on September 29.

Round four of the WA KZ Series will also be held in conjunction with the Southern Sprint, attracting a field of at least 10 drivers which includes round three winner and former State titleholder Jake Klarich.

Daniel Currey leads the series standings after three rounds and he has also nominated, along with series rivals Alexander Barboutis and Josh Merritt who fill second and third place currently.

The Southern Sprint will likely have 13 divisions being contested at the weekend with already 19 entries being received in the cadet 12 category.

The cadet 9 division has 14 nominations as well, with a strong contingent of local flavour among the youngest drivers to take to the track this weekend.

Mitchell Riedyk, Jayden Turner, Kane Badger, Harrison Beres, Tyler Riedyk, Cody Colmer and Mitchell Turner are among the cadet drivers who will fly the ACKC flag this weekend and then onto the State championships.

Top-line drivers Kip Foster and Adam Levi will both compete in the hotly contested Tag 125 light class and talented pedaller Simon Gwilliam is entered in the Tag 125 heavy division, those two classes both attracting strong nominations.

ACKC president Greg Riedyk expected another exciting edition of the Southern Sprint.

“It’s basically the shakedown for the States,” he said.

“We have some big names coming this weekend.

“I’m hoping the locals can do well, I think Greg Pearson will have a pretty good chance.

“With the KZs and open performance coming, there will be some very fast karts and quick times.”

Qualifying will be held on Saturday before the first of the heats and then the continuation of heats and the finals on Sunday.