Melbourne kart racers Adam Hughes (Mentone) and Lee Mitchener (Greensborough) will jet out to Europe next week to compete in the second annual Bruno Grana International Trophy (June 12/13) at the Lavelant circuit in France.

The event, which will see competitors from various parts of the world come together to compete aboard machines powered by 125cc IAME X30 engines, has both drivers excited about the opportunity to race overseas courtesy of Remo Racing.

“It is a great opportunity and I just can’t wait to get over there. I’m really looking forward to learning a lot from a very professional team over there and I’m grateful to Remo and IAME for the opportunity to compete,” said Mitchener, who captured his first Australian karting championship earlier this year.

“One of the biggest challenges will be the fact that I’ll be racing against people I don’t know and have never race against before but that doesn’t faze me, I’ve done that once before when I raced in Spain and I’m looking forward to doing it again.

“The facilities at tracks like we’re going to are just amazing, I’ve already spent a fair bit of time online checking it out and can’t wait to get over there and behind the wheel of the X30.”

For Hughes, a long-time competitor in the IAME Leopard category across Australia, next week’s event will mark his second start in a European event having represented his country in the IAME World Final in Spain during 2008.

“When I went to Spain a couple of years ago I was simply blown away by how good it was, it was a team endurance event whereas this one is more of a solo event where it’s you against the rest,” said Hughes.

“I’m not nervous, more so excited and can’t wait to get over there.

“Without the support of Remo Racing and IAME I would never have been able to get the opportunity to race, so I am grateful to both organisations for the chance to be rewarded for being loyal to the Leopard class for a number of years.”

Joining the pair in their trip will be Remo Luciani, the proprietor of Remo Racing that imports the IAME karting engines into Australia, who is excited about the pair representing Australia at the event.

“This is the first time that Australian drivers have competed in this event, I’m excited about the two guys being in two different categories (Mitchener in the Gentlemen X30 class and Hughes in the X30 class) and both are very capable of winning,” said Luciani.

“In saying that though, it is not the point of winning but most importantly things is giving them the experience of overseas.

“I’ll be there as a support and a mentor more than anything else as both drivers will have a fully professional mechanic for the weekend.”

The Australian trio will leave Australia this Tuesday 8th June, in preparation for next weekend’s event.

Article by: Lee Hanatschek - BAM Media