With the recent announcement of a full Briggs & Stratton Championship as part of the 2012 Eastern Canadian Karting Championship (ECKC), series officials have released more details on the exciting new program. The four-cycle classes will now contest the entire four round, six race series, making up a national category for the popular new Local Option 206 platform. Classes will include Junior 1, Senior and Masters with Briggs & Stratton stepping up to award class participants for their participation.

"We are incredibly excited that the 206 crate engine will be a part of the ECKC in 2012," said Briggs & Stratton?s David Klaus. "This year's ECKC support program allows for us to support and thank both our racers and those behind the ECKC for this great opportunity."

Briggs & Stratton is pleased to offer a contingency prize to Briggs & Stratton class competitors who enter a minimum of four races in the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship. A $100.00 CDN payment will be made to all drivers who meet the eligibility requirements. The verification of the eligible drivers and the awards will be done by the ECKC.

The Briggs & Stratton platform follows a similar model to that of the Rotax program, and will be the perfect complement to the ECKC Rotax Max Challenge classes. With Briggs & Stratton a global manufacturer, the purpose-built, sealed engine creates a level playing field for four-cycle competitors, and combines that into an affordable, dependable and reliable option.

In 2012, Briggs & Stratton classes will contest the full Eastern Canadian Karting Championship Series schedule:

Round 1 May 25-27 - Goodwood, Ontario - 2 races
Round 2 June 15-17 - Montreal, Quebec 1 race
Round 3 June 29-July 1 - Mosport, Ontario - 2 races
Round 4 July 27-29 - Trois Rivieres, Quebec - 1 race

Briggs & Stratton class registration will be $95 per race, and the four-cycle classes will run on Bridgestone tires. The Briggs & Stratton championship will follow the ECKC points system.

?We look forward to a great year of racing and who will be crowned the first ECKC Briggs & Stratton Champions?? concluded Klaus.

The Eastern Canadian Karting Championship is an ASN-sanctioned, four round, six race series with venues in both Ontario and Quebec. Now in its third year, the ECKC will start off the 2012 season at Goodwood Kartways in Stouffville, Ontario May 26-27 for the first double-header weekend. Circuit ICAR will host the third race in Mirabel, Quebec June 17 followed by the second double-race weekend at Mosport International Karting in Bowmanville, Ontario June 30-July 1. The series will conclude at the Monaco Grand Prix of Trois-Rivieres July 29, the prestigious street race set at the site of the GP3R at Exposition Park. The Eastern Canadian Karting Championship is a Rotax Max Challenge series, and will award Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals tickets to the Rotax Senior, Rotax Junior, Rotax DD2 and Rotax DD2 Masters class champions. In 2012, the Briggs & Stratton classes will contest the series six-race series, making up a national four-stroke championship. For more information on the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship, please visit www.eckc.ca.