The South West Kart Club (SWKC) will host the first round of the Victorian Country Series with practice on Saturday and competition on Sunday. Over 200 entries have been received from across the state with drivers to race in 14 classes. Competitors as young as seven through to those in the masters category will be on show.

This will be the first of six rounds with points accrued across the series. The series brings with it more than the glory of victory with $25,000 in prizemoney up for grabs.

Other legs of the series will be held in Warrnambool, Portland, Hamilton, Horsham and Ballarat.

SWKC committee member Chris Place said the club is looking forward to hosting the opening round.

“Go-karting is very popular down here and we encourage people to come along and have a look over the weekend,” Place said.

“It is a real eye-opener, the drivers who will be coming along are very skillful, it’s a great spectacle.

“Our track here at Cobden is one of the best in the state, its 960 metres long and eight metres wide and the drivers love racing here. It is the kind of track that produces some great contests.”

Some of of the drivers expected to make their mark on the opening round competition include Jay Coul, Henry Johnson, Mason Rice (Cobden), Max Owen, Nerinda Beard (Warrnambool). 

Entry to the opening round is free with action starting at 8am on both days.