4 July 2025, Issue 1267
Ready to race! Tauranga 10-year-old Nico Thomasen, pictured, has a big job behind the steering wheel next weekend. The St Mary’s Catholic School student will team up with friend Charlie Clarke from Aquinas College, in their bid to bring home the silverware again at the Kartsport New Zealand
National School Championships in Te Puke from July 11-12. “This [in 2024] was the first time a Bay of Plenty primary school has won it in the over 20-year history of the competition,” said Charlie’s mother, Bridget Clarke. Nico’s mum Shannon Thomasen said they
will have to remember they are still a team “and try not to take each other out”. Thomasen will also compete against Clarke in the VMR class. “They race each other hard but fair,” said Shannon Thomasen. The boys are among five competitors from Tauranga schools and 80 students from around
Aotearoa vying for each category’s crown in the event hosted by KartSport Bay of Plenty in conjunction with Mount Maunganui College. The competitors aged seven-17 descend on Apparelmaster Raceway on July 11, for a practice followed by racing on July 12. Read more on page 18. Photo / Brydie Thompson
Residential or Commercial, big or small, we do it all.
07 5413402 www. w.petestakeaways.co.nz . admin@petestakeaways.co.nz
A PTL Group Company:
DDIJ Group