Nelson karters take top two places down South

Kartsport Nelson club-mates Brendon Gridley and Kevin Barker have completed a notable double after dominating their class at last weekend's Southern Series Championship.

They were among a handful of Nelson kart racers that headed south for the two-day event involving drivers from all over the South Island competing in Invercargill on Saturday before heading north to Dunedin the following day.

Gridley won the Rotax Heavy class with Barker second. Gridley had never driven on the Invercargill track before but was on hot form after his recent podium finish the weekend before in Auckland at the Rotax Max Challenge. This was Barker's second time at the event and backed up with another podium after finishing third last year.

"I am the most travelled competitor in Nelson for karting, I race a lot up in the North Island, so prior to heading south at the weekend, I was racing in Auckland and got third up there," Gridley said.

"I was expected to do well [in the Southern Series] but I've never raced in Invercargill before. So it was a new track for me, but we did well."

Gridley said he was confident of performing well, "but obviously you've still got to compete and it's motor sport, so anything can happen".

Gridley completed the two-day series unbeaten, winning all six races and both finals from the 14-strong field. Christchurch's James Smith was third.

The Southern Series was also the last round of the Mainland Series. Barker went into the event third on points after the Sunbelt Championship held in Nelson and Blenheim in June and with the strong podium finish last weekend, was able to secure the Mainland series title for 2015.

Josh Bradley, in the Cadet Rok class, finished the Southern Series in fifth place which was enough to see him on the podium for the Mainland series in third. Club-mate Bo Hill was fourth.

Bryce Borlace finished the Mainland series fifth in the Rotax Heavy class, having missed out in the Southern Series after struggling all weekend with engine issues.

Hannah Ross was back behind the wheel after moving up to the Rotax Light class. This was her first event since March and had to fight hard all weekend to finish sixth.

Article from The Nelson Mail