Rianna O’Meara-Hunt chasing karting success

Year 9 Aotea College student Rianna O’Meara-Hunt is living her life in the fast lane.

Rianna has been racing karts since she was eight years old.  Wellington’s Kaitoke track just north of Upper Hutt is her home town venue and where she’ll be found in her spare time away from attending school and competing throughout New Zealand.

She is currently rated one of the best female competitors in junior karting and is the only one competing in every major New Zealand series all over the country.

She is already challenging for podiums after only six months in the new Junior Rotax class - racing male counterparts as old as 17 in fields of 20 or so racers - often all boys - Rianna does more than hold her own.

Currently she is the highest achieving junior female karter in the country showing the biggest potential to achieve and making the biggest gains from training, time in the seat and commitment to improve from persistence and hard work.

During the recent school holidays, Rianna represented Aotea College at the 13th annual KartSport New Zealand National Schools Championships at the Silverstream Raceway near Mosgiel. Just over 60 students from over 40 schools competed for their schools and Rianna finished a credible third in her class, the Formula Junior Class.

College Sport Media asked Rianna to explain the competitive nature of her sport.

“My class sees me competing against 12-17 year olds – normally always only boys. I race a 125cc Rotax engine - reaching speeds in excess of 120kph while only being centimetres from the ground.  It is an extremely competitive sport with success and failure often coming down to tenths or hundredths of a second.

Were you pleased with how you went in at the national championships in the holidays?

 “Yes, I was pleased to finish third behind South Island racers Ayden Polaschek and Lewis Ball. Like every competitor I aim to win, but with it being my first time racing on the track and with snow and ice covering the track and the locals having track and condition experience, I found it tough. But my self-belief was high and I backed myself for a top five finish and achieved my goals.”

What was the format of the New Zealand Schools Championship races and how did you go in your races?

“The format of racing is a five-heat system - a random grid draw is presented at the beginning of the day for the first four heats - normally two starts towards the front of the field and two starts towards the rear -  and points are award based on your finishing position.  After the four heats racers line up for the final based on the amount of points secured in the first four heats.” 

“I started the first two heats towards the back and on a slippery track with not many passing opportunities worked my way forward to finish in positions 7 and 8 respectively. In the third heat I started 5 and finished 1, while in the fourth I started 2 and finished 2.  

“I started the final on the second row of the grid on the outside line in fourth place. My competitors were all boys and all aged between 12 and 17.  The South Island champion [Ayden] was the driver to beat all weekend - he eventually cleaned up, but I came in third. Girl Power was going strong!”

How busy are you in your sport?

“Most weekends are taken up by karting - either racing at an event, practicing at an out of town track for an upcoming event, or competing at local tracks with local club competition.  

“Strength training, dietary requirements and video analysis of past performances or upcoming tracks are all part of a regular week for me.

“We leave to compete at another karting series tomorrow - this time in Auckland so its fair to say karting keeps us all busy and travelling from one end of the country to the other.

“Already this year I have raced Tauranga, Whangarei, Tokoroa, Hamilton, Wellington, Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, Palmerston North, Wellington and Dunedin. This coming weekend I’m competing in another karting series in Auckland.”

What are you long term aspirations?

“To be the most recognized and highly regarded female driver in the New Zealand karting scene and to have the confidence when older to train and encourage other young female competitors.”

You’re the driver, but it’s fair to say it’s very much a team sport?

“Yes I have plenty of help and support from my parents, my grandparents and my school, Aotea College. Plus there’s several people who help me out with my on-track performance and the set-up of my kart – without them I’d be going nowhere. Finally, a massive thank you and shoutout to my sponsors, Typeface Limited, Wilford Motorsport and Axiom Hydraulics.”

Rianna O’Meara-Hunt achievements to date in 2014 and 2015

2014 - Junior Restricted class (9-13 years) 
Current W.P.K.A Championship champion – 1st  place
– Lower North Island Series
 Current Blossom champion – 1st  place
– Prestigious Hawke’s Bay event running for over 45 years
 Current Wellington champion – 1st place
– Club champion based on year-long points system
 North Island Sprint Championships – 3rd place
– National event
 2014 “CRC Speedshow” Top Half Karting Series  – 4th place
– Upper North Island Series
 
2015 - Junior Rotax class (12-17 years) 
 “CRC Speedshow” Top Half Karting Series leader – 1st place
–       Upper North Island Series
–       Winner at Tokoroa Round 1
–       WINNER at Hamilton Round 3
 2015 “National Schools Karting Championships  – 3rd place
–       National event

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