Karter Arie Hutton has backed up his 2009 National Formula Junior title with three strong performances over recent weeks.
Representing King’s College at the Auckland Region Schools' Championships the 14-year-old won all five heats in the 100cc Yamaha class in April.
Meanwhile the first two rounds of the inaugural Formula S Series for the Formula Junior class during May again saw Arie achieve two convincing wins in the Finals.
Arie’s note book:
Auckland Schools
"This was our first event at Auckland since the wet Top Half Round in July last year. We gave the UTi Kosmic TS30 chassis a run and it felt great with lap times better than we managed at this event last year. Unfortunately Daniel Colville struggled with a few technical issues later in the day but Rollo Davies started to put in some great times as the day went on. Interestingly all three of us were using the same OTK chassis design, Daniel and I on Kosmic 'blue' versions and Rollo on a Tony Kart 'green' one. I would like to thank my team mate James Wood who finished 6th which helped us place third in the secondary schools teams division."
Formula S Series Round 1, Bay of Plenty
"A new track for the UTi Tony Kart EVR/KF3, so we did some practice on the Friday. Gearing was a real compromise, especially on the dry track. To get up the slow twisty uphill sections we needed more teeth but this resulted in the engine hitting the 14,000 rpm rev limiter very early on the downhill straight. However it rained on Saturday and Sunday which resulted in more balanced gearing. On Saturday we managed pole in Qualifying and won the first two Heats, however the kart was a bit loose on wets. This was the first time for the EVR in the rain. We made some chassis adjustments on Saturday night and the kart was easier to drive on Sunday. Unfortunately Bradley Hicks had an engine problem on Sunday which cost him some points. Overall a good weekend, winning all my races on a very wet and dirty track."
Formula S Series Round 2, Auckland
"Another new track for the UTi Tony Kart EVR/KF3. It was great to see Aaron Wilson make his series debut in another KF3. Despite good early pace he had a few technical issues on Sunday. The track was fast and the kart went well on Saturday despite dad leaving the radiator cover on the kart in Heat 2. On Sunday we experienced a water temperature issue which resulted in a DNF in the Pre Final when I pulled over with a hot engine after 9 laps. It appears the thermostat had jammed closed. In the short break before the Final Daniel and Mr Colville helped dad by-pass the thermostat just in time for us to make it to the grid. Despite the engine never getting up to normal operating temperature I managed to set a new class lap record on lap 16 and win the Final. Thank you to Daniel and Mr Colville for their help during the day."
Results
2009 Auckland Region Schools Championships 100cc Yamaha
1st Arie Hutton Kosmic/Yamaha/Bridgestone 4 points
2nd Daniel Colville Kosmic/Yamaha/Bridgestone 10
3rd Rollo Davies Tony Kart/Yamaha/Bridgestone 11
Formula S Series Formula Junior Round 1, Bay of Plenty
Final
1st Arie Hutton Tony Kart/TM/Bridgestone 10.45.961 15 laps
2nd Callum Quin Arrow/XTR/Bridgestone +13.503
3rd Paul Blomqvist Tony Kart/Parilla/Bridgestone +15.189
Formula S Series Formula Junior Round 2, Auckland
Final
1st Arie Hutton Tony Kart/TM/Bridgestone 10.22.216 20 laps (lap record 30.588 L16)
2nd Bradley Hicks Maranello/Vortex/Bridgestone +8.364
3rd Callum Quin Arrow/XTR/Bridgestone +12.150
Formula S Series Formula Junior Points after two of four Rounds
1st Arie Hutton 222 points
2nd Bradley Hicks 211
3rd Callum Quin 210
