NSW GRAND PRIX MIDGETS TO SUPPORT SYDNEY SPEEDWAY KART CLUB
In an exciting initiative, the NSW Grand Prix Midget Club has announced that it will be supporting the Sydney Speedway Kart Club (‘SSKC’) for the next 3-5 years with an agreement put in place that will see opportunities for talented Kart racers to progress their racing careers further.
Executive committee members of NSW GP Midgets, along with Hall of Fame & NSW club life member Wally Kermond, Gavin Black and Terry Clarke attended the SSKC’s recent annual general meeting and presentation day, held at the entertainment precinct at Bankstown Airport.
Together with the SSKC, NSW GP Midgets announced a support agreement, where the Midget club will sponsor a three-race drive for one lucky SSKC driver/member (minimum 16 years of age). This includes racing participation in three separate full rounds of the Gulf Western Oil Super Series in a White Ant Racing provided GP Midget, inclusive of all running costs of the race car. In addition, $250 would be provided to the SSKC member to contribute toward travel costs and track entry fees. This will be provided each season, for the next three seasons – with a provision to extend for a further two seasons based on the success of the initiative by agreement between the two club’s.
For the 2023/24 season coming up, the SSKC placed all eligible drivers into a draw, with one lucky driver declared the winner of the first seasons sponsorship, that lucky driver being Andrew Walkerden, congrats Andrew!! Andrew is a SSKC driver from the senior ranks, not only with extensive experience in Dirt Karts, Andrew has also driven Legend Cars and a Lightning Sprint. Andrew is also crew chief for the ‘DTM Motorsport’ Sprint Car Team (Jake Baines). Andrew was thrilled to be given the opportunity and can’t wait to visit White Ant Racing in the coming month to get accustomed and sized up into the GP Midget race car.
For following seasons, the SSKC will soon announce an eligibility criteria that will decide who the lucky SSKC member driver will be – based on participation in SSKC race rounds. The SSKC will announce the yearly winner at the ensuing SSKC Annual Presentation each year, with members of NSW GP Midgets in attendance.
In a reciprocal arrangement, members of NSW Midgets will also attend SSKC Club race meetings held at Nepean Speedway wherever possible, including (where possible) having GP Midgets on track for parade laps. There will also be possibility of GP Midget drivers having a crack in a SSKC Dirt Kart from time to time.
Both Club’s see this as being a fantastic initiative that will help grow profile and car count for both and are looking forward to working together over the coming years.
NSW GPMRA club President Gary Black had this to say about the arraignment. “This is a fantastic opportunity to cross promote SSKC and GP Midgets, we would like to thank SSKC for being open to the initiative and to David Dormer and Gavin Black for driving the discussion over the last few months between the Clubs. We are excited to be able to offer this opportunity to have a drive in our open wheel division and see where it takes us over the next few years”.
This initiative has been made possible by executive committee members of SSKC & NSW GP Midgets, along with Gavin Black and the fantastic sponsors of NSW GP Midgets – Gulf Western Oil, Arjan Motors and White Ant Racing.
Ends Release.