Bunbury City Kart Club to host Western Cup round

The atmosphere will be fever pitch at the Bunbury City Kart Club on Saturday for round three of the Make Smoking History Western Cup.

A event involving talented drivers from across the State, motorsport enthusiasts will be treated to a solid 11 hours of action.

With 12 classes and a broad cross-section of drivers between the ages of seven and 60, club committee member Jamie Flynn feels it will be a brilliant day out for drivers, officials and spectators.

“We will do qualifying in the morning,” he said. “All of the drivers will get a five-minute session and then you will have three heats and a final.

“We will race through till the night.”

With free entry to the event, Flynn is tipping a big crowd.

“You have got to do it so people can come out an watch,” he said. “That is how you build your club up. People can come along and it does not cost them anything.

“We had the State titles in Esperance two weeks ago and they had about 130 drivers down there. So that was a big deal for karting in WA.

“Bunbury had the State titles last year.”

Many sports fans would be aware go karting is where the overwhelming majority of Formula 1 drivers, such as Perth’s Daniel Ricciardo, began their careers in motorsport which have translated into international success.

However Flynn thinks there are other long-term benefits for kids to get involved.

“I think it (karting) also helps the kids in the long run when they are learning how to drive and also in terms of respecting the road rules,” he said.

“Because if you do not respect the bloke alongside, you can end up in the bush or upside down.”