New Zealand karting phenom Daniel Bray is aiming to upset the European applecart at this Saturday’s Race of Stars on the Gold Coast in the KZ2 Gearbox category.
It’s not unfamiliar territory for the multiple Kiwi and US Champion – who is racing in Australia for the first time at the one day event aboard his GP Karts outfit.
He stunned the establishment in Europe by landing himself on the front row of the World Championships twice and last year walking away with a podium finish.
This year, he’s been undefeated in the New Zealand equivalent of the KZ2 Championship, with his young Queensland-based GP Karts team-mate, Jaxon Evans completing the perfect quinella.
He will be taking on the best in the world again this weekend, including five-time World Champion, Team CRG’s Davide Fore – but with his own equipment from New Zealand – and has one aim:
“Taking that Surfboard Trophy home is absolutely the aim, my girlfriend told me that I wasn’t allowed back in the country without it,” he quipped.
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“I’ve raced most of these guys a few times now, but it will be awesome to see how we go with our own gear from home against the Europeans and Australia’s best.”
He rates the Australian competition highly – which sees him up against 17-time Australian Champion, David Sera and third placed man in this year’s KZ2 Castrol EDGE CIK Stars of Karting Series, Kyle Ensbey – and his team-mate Jaxon Evans.
“At the end of the day we all have the same gear, our importers all buy from the same people – it won’t be any different – it’ll just come down to who can come to the conditions the fastest – I expect the Aussies to be right there with us.”
This weekend’s free event at the Xtreme Karting Complex in Pimpama has set the Australian karting scene alight – with many young Aussie karters getting to realise a dream of sharing the paddock area with the likes of Fore and Jonathan Thonon.
Sydney Scuderia PCR racer, John Iafolla is one that has been in awe of the Europeans throughout the preparations and said it has been inspiring to him.
“Just rubbing shoulders with these guys throughout the week and talking to them is just a mad privilege for me,” said Iafolla. “It’s massive.
“These guys like Camplese – who finished second at the World Titles last weekend and Juan Manuel Correa – who is in the Lotus F1 Junior Team are just normal, genuine people and it inspires you to think of ways that you can get there yourself.
“It shows me that anyone can do it – they are just average people – you just need to believe that you can do it.”
Iafolla is looking to keep his own winning streak alive – having won his maiden Australian Junior National Heavy Title at Newcastle this past Easter and taking five State Championships in a row.
“Nothing less than a win this weekend is the aim, we have to keep the streak alive,” said the youngster from Sydney. “I’ve won seven Titles in a row this year and want to load the Surfboard into the trailer.”
The Race of Stars presented by Speedcafe.com is one-day event this Saturday as part of the V8 Superfest and is free to the public at the Xtreme Karting Complex, Pimpama Jacobs Well Road, Pimpama (North Gold Coast).
Over 160 of Australia’s and the World’s best have converged on the Gold Coast for the event.
It will be livestreamed on www.speedcafe.com/kartinglive on Saturday from 12pm Queensland time (3am UK, 4am Europe).
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