The Newcastle Kart Racing Club will host the 52nd edition of the Australian Karting Association National Sprint Kart Championships at their Mount Sugarloaf Kart Raceway at Cameron Park starting on Friday.

It is the first time Newcastle has been the host city since 2001 when current V8 Supercar driver Mark Winterbottom took out the Australian Formula A Kart championship, the last of his 10 national kart titles.

Winterbottom said preparation was key.

“You should never give up, the most important thing is that you get it right for the race that matters and just use the rest of the weekend setting yourself up for that one,” he said.

“The track changes a lot in Newcastle and you’ve always got to stay focused and positive.”

Ryley Brunner, Hayden Jackson and Sam Tooth will fly the flag for Maitland.

Jackson will compete in the x30 heavy class while 14-year-old Brunner will make his national championship debut in the junior clubman category.

Tooth will compete in the clubman heavy class. 

Winterbottom said tactics are as important as having a fast kart.

“I’d always try and get to the front and not look behind,” he said.

“A lot of guys will sit in second and wait for the leader to make a mistake.

“I won a few nationals not by being the quickest kart but being aggressive and leading from the front rather than sitting in second waiting for the opportunity to come my way.”

The club is expecting more than 500 entrants competing in up to 10 race classes from ages as young as 12 to over 50s.

Classes will include junior national, senior national and clubman and open 125cc classes.

Practice sessions began at the Mount Sugarloaf track on Thursday and were to continue with the final two sessions on Friday morning.

Timed qualifying is scheduled to commence immediately following the final practice session on Friday.

Heats will start at 8.30am on Saturday morning will finals set down for Sunday.