2012 Northern Ontario Karting Championship KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND

"Innisfil Kart Club hosts first NOKC round April 28-29"

Gilford, Ontario - April 24, 2012 - With cool, yet sunny weather forecasted, it is time to get the 2012 Northern Ontario Karting Championship (NOKC) karting season started. After a successful inaugural program in 2011, the second edition of the Northern Ontario Karting Championship kicks off this coming weekend, April 28-29. As a Rotax Max Challenge qualifying series, the NOKC offers Rotaxians the chance to get a jump-start on their three qualifying events before the Canadian Nationals and also offers four-cycle and shifter options, creating a full spectrum of class options.

Taking to the tight and twisty long track layout at the Innisfil Indy karting facility in Gilford, Ontario for the first round, the NOKC welcomes any member from any ASN Canada FIA affiliated club to take in the great racing action and friendly competition the series has become known for. And with race day cash and series championship awards up for grabs, drivers won't want to miss out on any of the NOKC action.

Practice will take place all week leading up to official on track action Sunday, April 29. Registration will be open Saturday, April 28 after 1:00pm, and will also open from 7:30-8:30am on Sunday.   The Driver's Meeting is scheduled for 8:45am with race day practice set for 9:00am, all leading up to the qualifying sessions at 10:30am to kick off the 2012 NOKC season.

The event will see Junior Honda and Senior Honda start off the action, followed by Masters, Micro Max, Mini Max, Junior Rotax and Senior Rotax. Junior 125 Shifter, DD2 and Senior 125 Shifter will complete the running order.

Innisfil Indy's own Tony and Rose Launi invite everyone out to their facility for the kick off of the second year of the 2012 Northern Ontario Karting Championship, and be sure to enjoy some of Rose's famous veal.

The NOKC is a regional qualifying series for the Rotax Max Challenge. The 2012 NOKC series will host six events at Innisfil Indy, Sutton and Shannonville and is operated by the Innisfil Kart Club. For more information on the NOKC, visit www.nokc.ca or call 905-775-4686.

Congrats Zach Meyer

Last year's Open Shifter champion Zachary Meyer (Canada) grabbed the lead when Collin gave ground at the start. After falling back, Collin fought mightily to get back to Meyer's bumper. But, with two laps to go the Jamaican's engine seized sending him into a dramatic pirouette entering the finishing straight, leaving Zachary to win uncontested. (excerpt from ekn)

ekartingnews.ca

You can follow Zach #66 at Innisfil Indy / NOKC.ca in his GP DD2 & 125cc Shifter.

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Northern Ontario Karting Championship Schedule Set for 2012

After a successful debut season in 2011, the Northern Ontario Karting Championship (NOKC) is once again set to host the best karters in Ontario regional racing and award some of the best prizes karting has to offer. With class champions last year receiving the amazing prize package of fully sponsored trips to the Bridgestone Cup, this year the NOKC will again award a trip to either the Bridgestone Cup or the Rok Cup International Final, both set for October in Italy. A Northern Ontario Karting Championship/ Innisfil Kart Club General Meeting is scheduled for 1:00pm January 29, 2012 at Grange Hall, with attendees voting on which amazing trip will be awarded in 2012.

NOKC Senior Rotax Championship winner Andrew Waring attended the Bridgestone Cup in 2011, with the other champions electing to use their sponsorship to run at the 2012 Florida Winter Tour. After an incredible experience by Waring in Italy, the NOKC has decided to continue to award a trip to Italy for the 2012 season. The Bridgestone Cup is set for October 26-28, 2012 in Lonato, Italy while the Rok Cup International Final is scheduled for the weekend prior, October 19-20, 2012 at the same South Garda facility. This unprecedented award package will see NOKC champions compete in Italy against some of the best drivers in the world. The prize will be awarded to the two Junior and two Senior champions between the 125cc Shifter, DD2, Rotax Senior, Rotax Junior, Mini Max and Micro Max classes with the most entries.

The 2012 NOKC schedule will see six rounds contested at three of the most popular tracks in Ontario. The opener is set for April 28-29 at Innisfil Indy, followed by round two June 1-3 at Sutton. Round three is still to be determined, but will lead up to a doubleheader weekend at Shannonville over Canada Day, June 30-July 1. The series will then wrap up with the sixth round at Innisfil September 15-16. The NOKC is an official regional qualifying series for the Rotax Max Challenge, with competitors requiring three events before the ASN Canada FIA Canadian National Championships, set for August 24-26 in Mont-Tremblant, Québec. One drop will be allowed only if competitors attend all six events, with the driver with the most accumulated points deemed the overall class champion. Classes offered in 2012 will be DD2, Senior Rotax, 125cc Shifter, Mini Max, Micro Max, Junior Rotax, Senior Honda, Junior Honda and Masters. Cash prizes will also be awarded in the Honda classes.