The Victorian Karting Championships at Hilldene, near Seymour, featured competitive racing and attracted a large turnout at the weekend.
A total of 331 competitors attended Eastern Lions Kart Club in Hilldene, an increase of more than 100 compared to the last time the club hosted the championships in 2014.
Club president Steve Pegg said there was greater interest in karting now than there had been eight years ago.
“I think COVID has probably made [karting] a little bit more enticing, interest has certainly picked up and everyone’s just happy to be out and about, having a good time,” he said.
The club began in Whittlesea and was the home track of V8 Supercars driver Craig Lowndes before moving to its current location at Hilldene.
The Eastern Lions Kart Club has now been represented in the world of motorsport by Lowndes and fellow Supercars drivers Jamie Whincup and Chaz Mostert.
In attendance during the weekend were Supercars driver Garth Tander and former Collingwood Football Club coach Nathan Buckley, who both had children competing in the championships.
Mr Pegg said people who once raced at the club often branched out in surprising ways.
“You just don’t know where they’ll go, we’re the best kept secret in Victoria really,” he said.
“No one knows we’re here, we’re located in the middle of Victoria and the weather’s nice most of the time.
“People would walk through the gate and wonder where they’re going and then it just opens up into this big area full of 1500 people.”
The championships were over three days, with practice on Friday, qualifying and heat races on Saturday and Sunday and finals races from 11am on Sunday.