Dubbo Kart Club members Luke Wrigley and Mark Hilder have thrived with major placings against tough competition in round one of the Southern Zone Series held in Canberra.
Wrigley and Hilder were there for the two-day event which attracted competitors from all over the State to initiate the series which will continue throughout the course of the year.
Day one featured three heats to tally the points in preparation for the pre-final and final to be held the following day.
Competing against a field of 14 in the Midget Class, Luke Wrigley started the day with some minor kart problems leading to a DNF (did not finish) in the first race.
With the problems quickly rectified, he once got back on the track and despite starting from the back of the grid, fought from 11th position to finish 1st. This win allowed him to stamp his authority and dominance on the field.
He followed with a second in heat three.
Day two of the series saw Luke Wrigley fight it out with the group to secure positions in the final. Starting from fifth on the grid in the pre-final, he strategically manipulated his machine through the field to secure a second placing.
With a grid position of two in the final, Wrigley again fought hard in an attempt to take the lead from Canberra local, Zane Morse, however was unable to take him before the fall of the chequered flag.
As a result of the DNF in the first heat young Luke was unable to secure enough points to win the series but stood proud for the Dubbo Kart Club taking home the third place trophy.
Mark Hilder entered the Clubman Super Heavy Class of 10. He was at the back of the grid to start but eventually finished third and drove consistently throughout the day to maintain third position in his further two heats giving himself a great lead up to the finals.
He entered day two with a further battle in the field to secure his second placing in the pre-final setting himself up for grid position two in the final.
Hilder drove like a man possessed to hold off the contenders to the throne to eventually secure himself second in the final and second overall in the series.
Dubbo Kart Club would like to extend our congratulations to those drivers who proudly represented Dubbo in another fine display of dominance against other karters from all over the state.
Dubbo will again be represented this weekend with three of our local guns heading off to Newcastle to take part in the Premier State Cup against a hungry field in their respective classes.
Phil King, Adam Sharam and Peter Whale will take on the state wide field for major placings in an expectant tough fight to take out the prizes.
Meanwhile, Dubbo will race again at Lincoln County Raceway at Brocklehurst on March 15. Further details are available on the club’s website, www.dubbokatclub.com.au