KARTING action will return to Glenburnie Raceway this weekend with the first competitive race meeting since February.
Set down for Sunday, the event will be part of the Mount Gambier Karting Club’s 2020 championship, with a solid field expected after more than three months away from the racing scene.
In line with Karting Australia’s return to sport plan, club-level activities have started to kick off around the country, while regional and state level events are to be introduced as the year unfolds.
Mount Gambier Karting Club president Jason Fewins said while it has been a “long road” back to competition, thanks to a close relationship with Karting SA and Karting Australia that road has led the club back onto the race track.
“As a committee we have been working very closely with both our state and national bodies to make sure we are compliant with all the government restrictions,” Fewins said.
“That has been ongoing for probably the last six to eight weeks, but we have had the facility open to members for the last probably five weeks in a limited capacity.”
The complex has been available for restricted practice sessions since May, but drivers will now finally be able to race for results.
Sundays field is expected to be boosted by several Adelaide drivers, which Fewins hopes will encourage more club members to “drag their gear out” and hit the track against some quality opposition.
During its stint off the track the Mount Gambier Karting Club put a keen focus on promoting itself and attracting new members.
As a result the club has picked up several new drivers, while former members have also decided to return to the sport.
Border restrictions can be expected to hinder field numbers to an extent at Sunday’s race, as the Mount Gambier club often relies on several Victorian clubs for support.
“That is still a bit of a concern, but hopefully as the year goes on those restrictions will ease and we can continue to build those relationships,” Fewins said.
“Us and Portland are very close for example – we tend to go across and support their meetings and they come here.”
However, for now the return to racing is a positive step forward on the road back to normality, despite the hygiene and social distancing restrictions which still remain.
“We do have things in place like you have to pit five metres apart and we are not allowed to share tools,” Fewins said.
“We are lucky in one aspect because predominately we are wearing gloves and helmets and things like that, so we are not necessarily exposed like footy would be for example – we are already pretty well protected.”
While motorsport is less affected by COVID-19 protocols, the gates to the venue will remain closed to the public for now, with no spectators permitted at this stage.
“As the year goes on hopefully we can readdress that and particularly if South Australia maintains a good COVID rate, we may be able to open up those gates to the public,” Fewins said.
“At this point it is only drivers, officials and mechanics, but in saying that we are lucky enough to be close enough to the highway that people could still watch through the fence without necessarily coming into the complex.
“If they are still keen to watch some racing, they have that opportunity.”
Sunday’s racing will begin around 11am and should wrap up mid-afternoon to allow time for Adelaide drivers to travel home.
