Podium placings for Marlborough karters
Arthur Broughan races in the Rotax class. Photos Peter Jones
Kartsport Marlborough have labelled the 2024 Meridian General National Sprint Championships as “a brilliant weekend”.
Leading kart drivers from throughout the country gathered at the Blenheim Kart Track for three days of racing for national titles over Easter.
With such strong fields entered, producing podium finishes was always going to be a big ask for local competitors. However, two Marlborough drivers claimed top-three finishes - Arthur Broughan finishing second in Junior Rotax and William Exton coming third in Rotax Light.
Arthur competed in both the Junior DVS and Rotax classes, managing to hold onto top five positions in both classes throughout the weekend after qualifying seventh in both. After starting the DVS final from third, a minor collision caused a mechanical issue, resulting in an early finish. However, lady luck was on his side in the Rotax class and after keeping his head down, he came home with the #2 plate.
In the Rotax Light class, William qualified third and secured two race wins on Saturday. These combined points meant he started the final from pole position and, after 22 laps, he claimed the #3 plate.
Taylor Costello qualified seventh in the Cadet class and worked hard all weekend to start the final on 10th, finishing eighth overall, a top achievement for the first attempt at Nationals for the eight-year-old.
In the VMR class, Josh McConway qualified seventh, also another great achievement for a first nationals. After a rough couple of races in a hotly contested class, he started the final from 20th and managed to collect a few spots and finish 16th. In the same grade, Will Finch pulled off a 12th place qualification with a flat tyre. He suffered from some hard racing but started the final in 18th, with an unfortunate DNF due to a mechanical issue.
In Rotax Lights, Archie Botham and Riley Price both had massive battles, with Riley finishing 22nd and Archie 25th – both have learned lots and now hungry for more.
Results of Marlborough competitors:
Cadet – Taylor Costello 8th
Junior DVS – Mechanical Arthur Broughan
Rotax Light – William Exton 3rd, Riley Price 22nd, Archie Botham 25th
Vortex Mini Rok – Josh McConway 16th, Will Finch 25th
Rotax Junior – Arthur Broughan 2nd