Karting: Hawke's Bay driver Tom Bewley earns Aussie trip

Hawke's Bay drivers Zach Zaloum, left, and Tom Bewely with the silverware from their respective Gold Star Series campaigns. Photo/Warren Buckland

Hawke's Bay karter Tom Bewley's first taste of international racing beckons.

But before the 10-year-old Te Mata School year 6 student heads to Australia's City of Melbourne Titles meet, in August, there's a major meet on home soil to focus on - the July National Schools Championship. Bewley qualified for the Melbourne trip by winning the Vortex Mini RoK class title during the Wellington Provincial Karting Associaton's Gold Star Series which finished last month.

"That was my third Gold Star Series and my first title. My previous best finish was a third in the Cadet RoK class last year," Tom explained.

The 58-year-old series involves three rounds, Taranaki in November, Wellington in March and Hawke's Bay last month. Bewley beat Aucklander Hayden Bakkerus by four points with wins in Taranaki and Wellington and a second at Roy's Hill.

"I didn't want to risk a disqualification in my final race in the Bay so I opted out of it knowing a second placing was enough to take out the series," Tom explained.

In addition to being the overall series winner in his class Bewley also won the Grand Prix section of the series.

"It's pretty good to be getting the Melbourne trip. I don't know much about the meet so I'll be doing a bit of googling before I go."

His father and mentor, former karter Dwayne Bewley, admitted being "chuffed to bits" with his son's Gold Star title.

"We had a goal to win it and we did it."

Tom finished second in the Cadert RoK class at last year's National Schools Championship in Blenheim and is keen to go one place better in his new class in front of home crowd.

Last year he and brother Harry won the teams title but with Harry not racing this year Tom won't be competing in the teams section.

A Havelock North Wanderers 11th grade football team striker, Tom pointed out the round ball code gives him an ideal aerobic base for his motorsport pursuits. He was one of two Bay karters to win Gold Star Series titles.

National Rotax Heavy class champion Zach Zaloum, 27, won the Rotax Max Light class title by four points from Palmerston North's James Higgins. For Zaloum, a veteran of 17 years racing, this was his first Gold Star title.

He finished second in the Wellington and Taranaki rounds and third in Hawke's Bay.

The salesman for Apollo Food is unlikely to race again until the North Island champs in Palmerston North at Labour Weekend.

This means he will miss the 50th edition of the Blossom Grand Prix Festival at Roy's Hill on September 1 and 2.

Once again a strong contingent from the Vintage Karting Club will do numerous exhibition laps in their karts during the Blossom Meet which attracts karters from throughout the country. Vintage kart drivers will be encouraged to dress in a theme from any period over the last 50 years.

The July 12-14 National Schools Championships will involve 100 drivers and will also include the fourth round of the RoK Cup. In addition to class titles competitors will also race for the prestigious Bruce McLaren Scholarship.

Aussie commentator Greg Rust and Hawke's Bay motor racing hero and former karter Greg Murphy will be the guest speakers at the champs prizegiving.