One hundred and twenty five competitors gathered at KartSport Auckland’s Pallet Company Raceway over the weekend of February 3rd and 4th to battle it out for nine titles.

Sponsored by Cosgrave Awards karting’s youngest class, Cadets, saw twelve drivers take to the track but no-one had an answer to Auckland’s Aaron Wilson who had seven wins from seven starts. Wilson, current North Island Champion did not need to contest the final. Alex Cassidy was runner up and Stephen Kelly took third place on countback from Kaitlyn Wonnacott.

In the Junior Restricted class, sponsored by Bridgestone NZ, it was the flying pair of Arie Hutton and Daniel Kinsman battling it out for top honours. Hutton came out on top with Kinsman just one point back in second place.

Junior Yamaha has traditionally been the largest class contested at City of Sails and in 2007, sponsored by Lilliputt Mini Golf, it was no different. A class field of drivers from all over the country went hard and fast over the two days of racing. A popular win went to David Meszaros from Tokoroa who took the title from Mathew Kinsman and Mitchell Evans. Meszaros, who hasn’t raced since the 2006 Nationals, came out of ‘’retirement’’ at the preceding weekend’s CIK meeting and proved at this event that consistency, with only one finish outside the top three, is the key.

The Formula Junior class, sponsored by Spam Guard, was another large field of top class drivers and again it was those with the consistent results that achieved the rewards. Last years Junior Restricted winner, Nick Cassidy, took this title from Tom Blomqvist and Bay of Plenty’s Daniel Dufty.

The Senior Yamaha Light class, sponsored by JK’s Engines, saw 2005 winner, Deon Forrest from Auckland take on Tokoroa’s 2006 winner Bradley Tyrrell. These two shared the top two placings in all races with the Bay of Plenty pair of Jason Catley and Matthew Bufton doing pretty much the same with the next two positions. Forrest took the title from Tyrrell with Catley and Bufton in third and fourth.

Another driver who did not have a finish outside the top six all weekend was Charles Hoare from Whangarei as he dealt to the Senior Yamaha Heavy class sponsored by Taylor Auto Electrical. Hoare had some stiff competition, however, from Aucklanders Brendon Smith and Dion Kendall who filled the second & third positions.

The largest senior field was Senior Rotax Light, sponsored by the Pallet Company. This class saw some of the perennial top Rotax Light drivers up against several top Juniors recently moved up. It was the perennials that came through. Auckland’s Kane Taylor successfully defended his 2006 title from fellow club members Michael Wheaton and Daniel Kent.

Also sponsored by The Pallet Company, was the Senior Rotax Heavy class. Hamilton’s Phil Saunders, defending his 2006 title, had it all pretty much his own way on day one but was closely tracked by the Mt Wellington pair of Aarron Cunningham and Alan Sherris. Saunders retained his title and Cunningham improved on day two to take second place from Sherris with just a one point margin.

Jason Lee once again proved his dominance in Mowac Motorsport’s Senior Open. With eight wins from eight starts he showed the new boys to the class, Graeme Smyth and Simon Evans, a clean pair of heels. It was Lee’s rear bumper that these two 15 and 16 year olds were chasing. Smyth took second place from Evans in third. Lee has won the City of Sails Open class in both 2006 and 2005 and took the Senior Yamaha Light in title in 2004.

Results:

Cadet

1. A.Wilson 2. A.Cassidy 3. S.Kelly 4. K.Wonnacott 5. B.Reeve 6. J.Herbert

Junior Restricted

1. A.Hutton 2. D.Kinsman 3. D. Colville 4. B.Hicks 5. J.Gaskin 6. B.Drummond

Junior Yamaha

1. D.Meszaros 2. M.Kinsman 3. M.Evans 4. M.Sloper 5. D.Dufty 6. N.Cassidy

Formula Junior

1. N.Cassidy 2. T.Blomqvist 3. D.Dufty 4. M.Kinsman 5. M.Evans 6. J.McNee

Senior Yamaha Light

1. D.Forrest 2. B.Tyrrell 3. J.Catley 4. M.Bufton 5. J.Butterworth 6. Z.Zaloum

Senior Yamaha Heavy

1. C.Hoare 2. B.Smith 3. D.Kendall 4. R.Rollinson 5. C.Letica 6. L.Kendall

Senior Rotax Light

1. K.Taylor 2.M.Wheaton 3. D.Kent 4. B.Barrie 5. J.Pascoe 6. N.Urwin

Senior Rotax Heavy

1. P.Saunders 2. A.Cunningham 3. A.Sherris 4. B.Gilchrist 5. B.Murgatroyd 6. D.Warner

Senior Open

1. J.Lee 2. G.Smyth 3. S.Evans 4. G.Helleur 5. M.Browning 6. T.Parsons