Welcome to the 2014 Rotax Nationals. This is our biggest event of the Year - it is our Grand Final and I hope you are all as excited as I am!
I would like to thank the Ipswich Kart Club for hosting this event. It takes a lot of time and effort to run a meeting like this one and we should all be very grateful to the people behind the scene that makes events like this possible.
Each and every year we try and do something special for the winners of this event. We have done commemorative Skateboard Decks, Didgeridoo’s, Akubra Hats and Helicopter Rides...what could it be this year? We also have some special things planned for the weekend to hopefully make it enjoyable and memorable. Be sure to stick around for the party presentation on Saturday night, I think you will really enjoy the show.
By the end of the weekend, we will not only know who are the new Australian Champions but we will also know the lucky people who will receive an invite to compete at this year's Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final in Spain. This is a huge honour and a great opportunity to compete at the event that continues to blow everyone away year after year. It is hard to describe this event to anybody, it is nothing like any event we have here in Australia. With about 70 nations competing as individuals and teams, it creates an atmosphere like no other. Team Australia has made the podium the last 4 years running which is testament to the quality of talent we have here.
This weekend is also a sad weekend for us at IKD, it looks likely that this will be Steph Sandrone’s last weekend working in the IKD truck. We will definitely miss her great personality and happy smile (most of the time). Make sure you wish her well at some point over the weekend.
A huge thank you must also go to our officials. Graeme and Janette Monds have supported the Pro Tour for a long time now, they devote a lot of time and energy for which I am very grateful. This year we have also had assistance from Mark Horsley and Chris Robinson who have all played an important role in officiating at various Pro Tours - Also John Martin has been of great help, thanks guys.
I am pretty sure that this weekend will be the first time ever that an Australian Championship has been decided “under lights”. Racing under lights always looks exciting and more spectacular so be prepared for some great finals action on Saturday night.
2015 should be another great year for Pro Tour. We have some exciting plans in the pipeline and we want to continue to improve the Pro Tour wherever we can.
Have a great weekend everybody, good luck and to quote our Clerk of the Course, “please be kind to each other”
Ian Black,
Managing Director
International Karting Distributors
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