After a mixed rookie season in a Sprintcar, Western Springs regular Bill Clarkson Jnr. has made another class change and will be racing a midget this coming season.

The competitive Auckland driver started racing in 1996 and made his mark as one of the Springs most competitive TQ Midget campaigners. The move last season to the Sprint car class was disappointing for Clarkson and he had his fair share of highs and lows.

“It was the worst season we have ever had in speedway racing said Clarkson, I decided in the end to conserve the car and our points in the Western Springs National series and ended up in fourth place.”

The 2006/07 may shape up to be an interesting one as Clarkson makes the move into the competitive Midget field in one of the country’s quickest cars. The wide body Beast that Carl Worboys campaigned last season retains the Ford Gearte engine maintained by Les Nixon.

“We brought the ex 1nz midget of Carl Worboys. We were going to keep one of the Sprintcars but decided to just focus on the Midget. I was extremely fortunate to get a drive near the end of last season driving Mark"Curly"Browne's car at Waikaraka Park.  I think it took two laps for me to know that I had made the right decision.”

Clarkson’s move to the midget class has been endorsed by his sponsors who have made the move with him.

“We are very pleased to have signed nearly all of our existing sponsors again" said a happy Clarkson, "this will be our 7th season with Transport Diesel and Marine and that is something that we are really proud about.”

It looks like the TQ veteran will have his work cut out in more ways than one and his goals for the season will mean he can’t afford to take things too easy.

“We are short on crew and time this year so we are looking at just learning the class and keeping out of trouble.  In saying that we want to be firmly in the top 10.  Consistency is the goal for our first midget season.”

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