GP Driver News: Austin Schimmel – SKUSA Mountain Region Round 1 Report

Pikes Peak International Raceway in Fountain, Colorado was host to the 1st round of the 2010 Superkarts! USA Mountain Region on Saturday, May 8th. Austin Schimmel arrived at this hometown facility looking to start his SKUSA regional program on the top step. The exciting two day regional format featured one full practice day on the newly designed temporary circuit, followed by a complete race day.

Schimmel drove his S5 equipped Rocky Mountain Kartworks GP well through the Friday practice sessions, getting familiar with the track, as well as the cool and windy conditions. He closed the practice rounds at the top of the time sheets, two tenths clear of his competitors. Saturday morning qualifying saw a close battle for pole, with the top three karts covered by three tenths. Austin set a time of 46.84 seconds, securing pole position over his teammate Christian Schureman by five hundredths.

The first of two 10-lap heat races got underway with Schimmel slotting into P2 and then hounding Schureman for the entire session. Austin set the fastest lap and came to the checkers less than two tenths behind the leader. The 2nd heat race was very exciting, with Schimmel holding the point early, swapping P1 with Schureman several times before settling into P2 and bringing it home safely.

After a few more changes to the kart, Schimmel was excited to continue the close battle for the S5 class win in the 20-lap final. His race got underway with a disappointing start, slotting into P3. Schimmel battled to regain P2 over the first 5 laps of the event so he could begin chasing down the leader. Once Austin found the clear air, he set the fastest lap of the race on lap 6 and started chipping away at the leader’s 3 second advantage. Schimmel was able to consistently close the gap over the remaining laps, but ran out of time, crossing the line in P2, just over a second behind the leader.

Another fine effort from Austin and a great way to open his regional points account. Currently second in Mountain Region S5 points, Schimmel will look to score well again at Round 2 of the Mountain Region’s season at Grand Junction Motor Speedway on June 19-20.

For more information and racing updates, please visit his fan page.

NEWS FROM NEW ZEALAND

Promising Début For JVB In His GP Chassis.


At the latest round of the 2010 Top Half series held in the BOP on the weekend of the 15th- 16th May, John Van Bommel had a great debut finishing 2nd in what you would call contrasting days.

Saturday started out very strong for the 17 year old Van Bommel in very changing conditions even thunderstorms throughout the day. Only having had the chassis for 3 days and not knowing where to start with a wet set up, the Aussis Butcher race team just slapped on the wets and went for a run. Van Bommel was instantly fast.
By the end of the day and minimal changes to the GP chassis, Van Bommel was the class act of the field, by 4 tenths.

Sunday then came. What a different day this was, not a cloud in the sky. This meant back to the drawing board for the Aussis Butcher/GP team. With no testing in the dry the day before, the team quickly decided to make this day a test day. John ended up 2nd overall for the weekend with finishes of: 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 7th (from 4 random starting grids throughout the heat races), then 2nd again in the final with a very competitive field of Rotax Max Lights.

John and the Aussis Butcher team are looking forward to working with N-Zed Motorsport and the GP Team in working on a winning package.


N-Zed Motorsport Ltd
35 Leicester Parade
Howick
Auckland 2014
Phone Numbers:
Work: +64 9 5376228
Mob: +64 210407968
Fax: +64 9 5372096
Email: nzedmotorsport@gmail.com

GP DRIVERS WIN IN SINGAPORE

GPRACING ASIA enter two GP drivers for the Singapore National karting championship Round 2. Both the GP karts win podium places. GP Rookie Junior Driver Hong Yang came 3rd And GP Rotax Masters Category Driver Rasheed taking the 2nd place.

Talk of the race was the GP Rookie Driver Hong Yang and more Experience Tony Kart Junior driver fighting for the third place. It was a clean drive by both of the Junior and Senior drivers. Specially Rasheed was driving with engine problems together with Singapore top drivers. Well done GP.

MIRAGE WINS AGAIN IN USA!

The 2010 season continues to be a successful journey for Team Aluminos. The hard work put in by the staff and drivers have equated to strong results on-track. On May 1, Team Aluminos shined once again at the Jim Russell International Karting Center for the third round of the Superkarts! USA ProKart Challenge North program. Team driver coach Tom Dyer made his 2010 S1 debut with a victory, while S4 pilot Jeff Smith extended his win streak to three. TaG Senior pilot Larry Fraser scored his second win of the season to give Aluminos three wins on the event.

Dyer entered the event piloting the new Mirage KZ chassis (miragekart.com), helping to develop a baseline setup for Aluminos operation. The two time SKUSA SuperNationals Stock Moto champion opened up the event with a third place performance in the morning qualifying session, just two-tenths off the pole-sitter. Wasting no time and signaling his intentions, Dyer got a great launch from inside of row two taking the lead at the start and going unchallenged for the win in heat one. Dyer again grabbed the holeshot to begin heat two. On this 8-lap run, he would find pressure and by lap six, Dyer had relinquished the lead and finishing second. Starting the main event from the off-pole position, Dyer launched off the line quickly to take the lead. With a series of quick opening laps, Dyer established a sizable lead. Hitting his marks and putting down consistent lap times over the 20-lap event, Dyer took the victory by over 4-seconds.
 
“The Mirage KZ chassis worked really well at the event,” stated Dyer following the weekend. “It’s now two for two in the win department with this one and Jeff Smith’s win in the S4 class in the second round of the series. I think this chassis likes racing here in North America.”