Karting’s Giltrap Group Top Half Series comes to a climax with the fourth and final round at the NZ Cars Raceway, Tokoroa this weekend.

All major protagonists chasing top honours in each of the eight categories in action have confirmed their entry for the weekend, with racing over four heats and final for event honours and overall Series silverware.

With drivers able to jettison their worst performance over the series, it may well change some of the placings with most classes separated by just a few points, which will add to the tension and action at Tokoroa over the weekend.

Added to that are forecasts for potential wet weather on Saturday and clearing on Sunday to make things more intriguing around the exciting 765m track.

In Cadet Rok, newly crowned North Island champion Senna Wilkinson (Auckland) has a slender five point series lead over Taranaki’s Jayden Buttimore and a single point to Matty Heaphy, who has the advantage of racing on his home track.

Vortex Mini Rok is one of the biggest categories, with the field chasing down runaway leader Mikes Baker (Hamilton) who comes into the finale with a 36 point lead over Hawkes Bay’s Grayson Stowe with a further point to Auckland’s Lucas Bell.

Hamilton’s Emerson Vincent has a handy 23 point buffer in the Rotax Max Junior class coming into the finale, over Auckland’s Ashton Phipps, the current North Island champion. However home club karter, Jay Urwin is not competing as he returns from racing in USA where he made the finals at the Rok Cup Vegas international.

Urwin was also leading the way in the DVS Junior class, and while he has a significant 33 point advantage, there are opportunities for the likes of Taranaki’s Jack Amon and Hawkes Bay’s Daniel McMillan to challenge for the overall honours.

Likewise, Auckland’s Ryan Crombie has a comfortable 31 point advantage in Rotax Max Light but is not starting this weekend, to present chances for Rotorua’s Brad Hewson and Wellington Tyler Edney who are the closest challengers.

The Rotax Max Heavy division is closely fought with Auckland’s Aaron Tahu, one of the most travelled karters in the country this season, holding a slender two-point lead on local club driver Darren Walker with 10 points back to Hamilton’s Brad Wenzlick.

Doubling up, Walker is also leading in the Rotax DD2 competition with a 26 point advantage on Wellington’s Louise Rawson.

The glamour KZ2 category sees Auckland’s Jason Lee come ingo the finale with just two points separating him from Hamilton's Mitchell Sparrow.

Racing gets underway at 12.30pm on Saturday with two rounds of heats on the schedule, with a further two heats and final set for Sunday from 9am.

Caption: Hamilton’s Emerson Vincent and Auckland’s Senna Wilkinson, both leading their classes going into the final round of the Giltrap Group Top Half Karting Series this weekend. (Credit: Emilee Jane Photography, Vicky Jack Photography)

Event information: www.facebook.com/TopHalfSeries/

Article added: Friday 11 November 2022