Young star driver to test revamped track

TEST DRIVE: Ryan Wood (in front) is a guest driver at the revamped track at the Riverlands Family Park in Wanganui East this weekend.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A YOUNG rising star in the karting world will test drive the revamped track and new equipment at the Riverlands Family Park in Wanganui East this weekend.

Ryan Wood, who represented New Zealand in Italy last October at the World Vortex Rok finals, has been booked to perform demonstration laps and provide feedback on a set-up designed to attract other junior karters from around the country.

Michael Wilson, who took over the park in 2013, said Wood is to drive a similar Vortex Rok kart to the one he drove in Italy.

"Our track is set up to handle that. This is part of the revamp of the park we announced last year," Wilson said yesterday.

"We have invited Ryan to come up and try out our track to see how suitable it would be to train school-age karters with new equipment we are looking at acquiring - 50cc karts. During discussions with karting distributor Richard Edgecombe, the idea of bringing Ryan to Wanganui was hatched."

Edgecombe said: "Ryan is a focused young lad with a big dream to one day be a professional racing driver.

"After starting racing in 2011 at the age of 7, he progressed quickly and, in his first year, was awarded Wellington KartSport's prestigious 'Rookie of the Year' trophy."

Edgecombe said in 2014 with a move to the next age group of racing and the introduction of a new engine for all competitors to try and master, the "Vortex Mini Rok", Wood set himself a goal to create history by winning New Zealand's first ever National Schools title in this new engine class.

It was a popular piece of history for him to win with a field of top drivers from around the country competing for not only the title, but also the opportunity to represent New Zealand in Italy at the World Vortex Rok finals.

Wood will be performing demonstration laps of the Wanganui circuit at the weekend. To help create a festival occasion, a merry-go-round, bouncy castle and slide will be set up on the adjacent ground.

The first demonstration is at 10am, then at intervals throughout the two days.

Aaron Marr, who made his name in karts and now competes in the Formula Ford series, will also be performing demonstrations on Sunday. Marr is a three-time runner up at the New Zealand karting championships and is currently sitting fourth on the Formula Ford table.

Marr will perform his demonstrations in a larger KT100 class machine at noon on Sunday and again at 2pm.