Nelson Piquet & Cameron McConville karting at Albert Park

This time Albert Park's karting circuit was the centre of attention when Renault driver Nelson Piquet was joined by V8 Supercar driver Cam McConville alongside 2008 Australian Formula Ford Champ Luke Ellery and Aussie Karts champions Gary Jacobsen and Matt Wall.

The drivers each took a turn in a sedate four-stroke kart and of course the lowest timed driver would be declared the winner. These were not the superkarts they might have been used to, but rather karts from the local "pay and play" karting centre.

The karting centre at Albert Park is part of a promotion to foster the "next Australian Formula One Champion".

From the GP website: "This promotion is open to all age groups above seven years of age, with scheduled times set for each age group".

As one cynical GP pundit said to me when I asked about Mark Webber's chances in 2009: "The next Australian GP winner has not yet been born..."

While Nelson Piquet was taking his turn (claimed by Cam McConville to be two laps more than everyone else) Tom Reynolds chatted to Cam about karting, the best path to F1 for a young Australian driver and the new qualifying rules for V8s in 2009.

Oh and the winner? Watch the video right to the end...