The 2024 IORK NZ Rental Kart Championships!

An epic weekend of racing!!

IORK 2024 Wrap-Up and News for IORK 2025 in Auckland!

IORK 2024: A Race for the Ages

The IORK 2024 Championship was a spectacular event that exceeded expectations, delivering thrilling competition from start to finish. With record-breaking entries and drivers from across New Zealand, the atmosphere was electric. Held at the iconic Pro Karts circuit, the event showcased fierce battles across multiple weight classes, with some of the closest racing in IORK history.

In the Under 69.9kg category, Richie Thomas emerged victorious after a gripping duel with Tyler Barrows, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. In the **70-84.9kg** division, Canterbury's Johny Curtis claimed his first IORK title with a masterclass performance. Meanwhile, Chris Anderson delighted the crowd by securing his third consecutive title in the 85-99.9kg class.

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Pictured above for the under 75kg category: 2nd place, Johnny Curtis from Rotorua (Left). 1st place Jaylem Caley from Tauranga 3rd place, Jacob Fleming from Christchurch (Middle). 3rd place, Jacob Fleming from Christchurch (Right). 

Will you be joining us at IORK 2025? 

Did you get any IORK Merchandise??

We still have some merchandise available online if you missed out over the weekend??

We now have IORK merchandise available online, take a look at our new 2024 t-shirts, hoodies, and caps.

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One of the standout races was the 18 years and under category, where Richie Thomas, Tyler Barrows, and Hayley Cavill all demonstrated impressive pace. Richie and Tyler broke away mid-race, with Richie ultimately securing his second victory of the night, edging out Tyler in a thrilling finish.

In the Over 40 years and 100kg+ categories, after a red light and restart, Clinton Wells battled fiercely with Chris Andrew. However, Andrew Barber triumphed in the 100kg+ division, securing a nail-biting victory over Jordan Burns.

The 2024 event was a true test of skill and strategy, with weather conditions forcing some races to be shortened to 8-minute timed sprints, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the competition.

Awards Ceremony Highlights

The IORK 2024 Awards Ceremony celebrated not just the race results but also the sportsmanship, effort, and personalities that made the event unforgettable:

-Highest Finishing Lady:

Hayley Cavill showcased incredible skill throughout the weekend, securing this title.

-Personality Award:

George Kinderwas recognized for his infectious positive attitude and enthusiasm.

-Event Influencer Award:

Franz Bouterey was honored for his tireless efforts in promoting the event and rallying his Wellington crew.

-Best Team Award: 

The talented and united *Team Daytona* was acknowledged for both their racing prowess and exceptional sportsmanship.

Read more below......

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-Fastest Lap Time Award:

Hayley Cavill set the fastest lap of the weekend, navigating through traffic with both style and speed.

-Sportsman Award:

Josh Thomas was praised for his grace and maturity after receiving a challenging black flag during the final race.

-Competitor Award:

Tyler Barrows the youngest competitor, earned this award by finishing second in two categories, showcasing both maturity and skill beyond his years.

To wrap up the weekend, we had the always-popular IORK Bathurst 200, where teams fiercely competed in a closely fought race. The winning team, consisting of Jaylem Carey, Josh Thomas, Bailey Corkill, and Quayde Crowther, narrowly edged out the Daytona team for first place. In third was the Fraz Bouterey team, which included some local Nelson lads. The Bathurst event is always incredibly popular and serves as a fantastic way to finish off the weekend.

IORK 2025: Auckland Awaits!

Get ready for an even bigger and better IORK 2025! Next year’s championship will be held in Auckland, the racing capital of New Zealand, where fresh challenges and opportunities await the nation's top rental kart drivers. With a surge in entries expected, the 2025 event is set to become the largest rental kart event in New Zealand history.

To accommodate the growing number of competitors, semi-finals will now be introduced across several categories, ensuring that only the elite drivers progress to the finals. Additionally, there will be 20 qualifying heats on Thursday evening, demanding that drivers bring their A-game right from the start.

Friday will feature a full day of qualifying rounds, merging through to Saturday morning, with the semi-finals kicking off on Saturday evening. The finals will begin on Sunday, with Final 1 (100kg+) at 9:00 AM, followed by three more finals throughout the day. The weekend will conclude with a highly anticipated prize-giving ceremony at 1:30 PM.

The introduction of new rules, including timed races during adverse weather conditions, promises even more excitement and unpredictability. With more details, such as top drivers, sponsors, and special events, to be announced, IORK 2025 is shaping up to be an action-packed weekend full of fierce competition and unforgettable moments.

Auckland, get ready— IORK 2025 is on its way!

Nick's Last Words

Hi Everyone,

I just want to take a moment to share my thoughts on IORK 2024. Overall, I thought the event went fantastic, and I couldn’t be more impressed with how everything came together. The drivers that came out this year brought incredible attitudes and sportsmanship, which really made the event shine.

This year, I was especially impressed by the young talent joining us in the new Under 18s category. These young drivers really stepped up, and some even took on the challenge of competing in the Under 69s category, performing at an amazing level. Watching them race so confidently was a real highlight for me.

I want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who made the trip here and contributed to such a successful event. We're already excited about next year’s event, and we’re currently working on logistics and locking in a race date, which we hope to announce in the coming month or so.

Thanks again, and I look forward to seeing you all back at IORK 2025 next year!

Cheers, 

Nick Fowler, Pro Karts - Owner