To anyone in Australian Karting and now even with Karters overseas, TopGun Driver Training is becoming synonymous with drivers who are winning races. Most of Australia’s current drivers have received help with their driving skills through TopGun. After being established in 1999, Troy Hunt and his instructors have had great success with many drivers, making it a vital peace of their careers to attend our schools.
Many have also gone onto bigger and better things with various drivers now in categories such as V8 Supercars, Formula Renault Europe, Formula BMW, Formula 3 Europe and Formula Ford, to name a few.
TopGun now has many experienced instructors that are helping drivers achieve their goals. With the expansion of the business and also the desire to help their drivers further their career, TopGun will be running a Formula Ford program in 2008.
Troy Hunt began his racing career in 1988 aged 7, but it wasn't until 1991 that he first tasted success, winning the New South Wales Championships for Rookies. After moving up into the Junior National Light competition the following year, consistently competitive performances and wins in the Premier State cup drew substantial amounts of interest from established Australian Karting teams.
The resulting signing with leading outfit Team CRG gave Hunt the best environment to develop his considerable race craft, and further success in the Junior Clubman Class followed for the next couple of years. With an outlook to competing overseas, 1995 saw the then 14-year-old driver step into the competitive Junior Intercontinental A class.
1996 saw more factory interest in Hunt, with renowned Italian Karting Manufacturer TOP KART approaching Troy to lead their Australian assault in the Junior Clubman, Junior Intercontinental A and the following year Senior Clubman Light and Intercontinental A. The move to the factory team created instant results – Taking Hunt to both the Australian and two Victorian State Titles within a year of joining the team.
The following year saw Hunt move into senior competition, against some of the best Karting drivers in the country. An impressive debut at the Oceania Championships in Melbourne saw Hunt snare pole position in a time faster than the Formula A and European Formula Super A drivers – a result which further enhanced the developing drivers impressive resume and reputation.
Total domination of Intercontinental A in 1997 resulted, Hunt becoming one of the most consistently quick Karting drivers on the CIK Racing scene, snaring the ICA Title that year, and accepting an offer to test with the TOP KART Factory team in Italy after just two impressive years with the Italian Manufacturer's Australian arm.
The successful test saw Troy given the opportunity to drive at the Ayrton Senna World Cup at Suzuka (Japan), where only a misfortunate disqualification (To which officials gave no reason) saw Hunt loose the event after winning the first final race. Hunt ended up top placed rookie in his first year of Formula A competition in 1998 (4th outright), but stole the show at the Australian Championships, Qualifying on pole by two tenths of a second in a field of 90 covered by half a second.
After snaring another Australian and another state title in 1999, Hunt took the big step towards full time overseas competition by competing in the World Karting Championships for TOP KART in 1999, ending the event ranked 10th in the world, after a strong qualifying performance (3rd) was disrupted by a mechanical drama in a heat race.
In 2000 hunt was invited back to Europe to drive with the TOPKART factory team to contest the full European season at the highest level of Karting in the world. A 13th in the European Championship and a “very pleasing” 8th in the World Championship were highlights of the year.
Although 2001 featured more international action, and very strong results on the domestic scene, the seasons highlight was undoubtedly the invitation to compete at the Gold Coast Indy event in the Honda “Young Guns” competition. Racing against incredibly talented and experienced racing car drivers (including now V8 Supercar champion Marcos Ambrose), Hunt impressed all by finishing a strong 7th against some formidable competition in his first car race.
2003 also marked another step forward in Hunt's career – given the opportunity by Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway Owner Garry Holt to compete in the final round of the Mitsubishi Mirage Cup. At the daunting Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Hunt scored pole, the round win, and the lap record for good measure.
A full campaign in the Mirage Cup the following year saw total domination by Hunt, winning all but two rounds (One due to an accident en route to the track) and taking the championship by a staggering 85 points. The success continued in Karting as well, winning yet another National and State title.
2004 was another step forward; Hunt completing a limited, four round campaigns on the prestigious and ultra competitive Porsche Australian Carrera Cup. Highlight was going faster than racing legend Jim Richards at the Eastern Creek Raceway round – no easy feat. 2004 also saw Hunt as part of the Dick Johnson Racing Junior Development program, something that proved to be an invaluable experience for Hunt. DJR engineers were impressed with the technical feedback given from someone with so little experience in a car, and out of all the drivers tested, Hunt completed the fastest laps at each test day.
The TopGun Racing Team allows customers to improve their racing skills. With TopGun going to most major events it allows drivers who are looking for that expertise in Kart set up, psychological strength and also race craft. With our experienced mechanics and former champions we have all the ingredients to help you arrive first to victory lane. With the race team we also have an arrive and drive option. All equipment is made possible to lease so all you need to do is turn up with your suit and helmet and go racing.
TopGun has a wide range of experienced mechanics than can attend any race event with you. Helping you get the maximum from you kart setup in each race. Are sick of not knowing what to change for the next race or what is wrong with your setup. Well this option is perfect for you with our mechanics you can be assured your chassis will be setup to perfection.
Kart preparation is a service that is used by people who don’t have the time to prepare their karts and are sick of not finishing races due to mechanical failures. It is also used by those who are not so mechanically minded and not to sure of what is actually needed to prepare their kart ready for the next race or practice day. We will cover your kart from front to back making sure it is ready to race. Set the wheel alignment, check carburetor settings, all nuts and bolts etc. After using this service your kart will not only be easier to drive, have less chance of mechanical failure but also your lap times will improve.
Over the years we have been able to purchase some very good engines. A lot of people spend a lot of money looking for that lucrative engine. A lot of money on having them built by different people looking for that edge. We here at TopGun have just made that a whole lot easier. Now you can lease engines for most categories. With this option no more worries of spending big money on an engine that’s not so good or many rebuilds looking to see if making some changes will get you a few more tenths. We have done all this for you. With our engine lease program all your headaches are gone and race results will be there.