A Lap of Launceston with David Sera

AKA press release

Mastering the Southern Cross Archerville Kartway is not an easy job, if anyone is going to be able to master the 780-metre, nine-turn, circuit, it is going to be multiple Australian Champion David Sera.

Sera won the first of many National titles in the 2002 event held at Launceston when he took out the Junior National Light crown. He also has a 100% winning record in the Tasmanian State Championships with nine victories from nine trips across Bass Strait from his Melbourne base.

At next week’s 46th National Sprint Kart Championships sponsored by Yamaha Sera will be competing in the prestigious 100cc Clubman Light and 125cc Leopard Light categories.

Here’s how he describes a lap around the Archerville Raceway aboard his Logistics One/Pioneer-backed Arrow kart powered by a J&A Tuned engine.

David Sera: ”As you cross the start/finish line you are flat out and don’t back off entering the fast right hander at the end of the straight. The starts are very interesting here and if you are on the outside row you've got to be very careful not to get pushed off the edge of the track.

Above: Start line and entry to turn one

The next double left-hander needs to be taken with a narrow to a middle line on entry otherwise you will end up having someone sneak up on the inside of you. If you do end up having someone slip inside you through here you’ll more than likely end up right on the outside of the track on the exit and lose a lot of momentum.

Above: A narrow line is required on entry to turn two

After a short straight you then enter a short, flat-out, sweeping left-hander which takes you onto the back straight – which is the fastest point on the circuit with a top speed of around 100 km/h. Given this is probably the hardest braking point on the track it is where many passing moves are made as well.

Above: A view of the left hander at the end of the back straight

Entering the left-hander at the end of the back straight is pretty tricky. There is like a groove in the surface which acts a little bit like a berm in motorcross, if you hit it right it pulls you around the corner but if you hit it wrong it is very hard to make the apex. Exiting this corner you have to be very careful, a lot of people run a little bit wide, drop a wheel off, and end up breaking a chain which ends their race.

Above: Looking back at the middle corner

From here you go along a short straight into a tight right hander. If you don’t have anyone close behind you it is good to run wide on the entry and apex which can give you a nice tight line on the exit.

After another short straight you approach a sweeping left corner, which you have to just back off just a little bit to settle the kart. It is a lot better off to wash off speed on the entry and get a smooth exit rather than fight the kart all the way through after carrying too much speed into the corner. It is also important not to hit the ripple strip through here otherwise you can find yourself in all sorts of bother.

Above: The left hander before you go up the hill

You then go up the hill and approach the tight left corner. This is a crucial corner because it affects your straight-line speed coming onto the main straight. It is here where I expect a number of last lap moves will be made.

Above: The final 'real' passing opportunity at the top of the hill

After exiting the very tight left it is downhill, into a short right and back onto the main straight again. All going well a good lap time in the Leopard Light category should be around the 33 second bracket."

Sera is one of 292 entries for the championships that begin with qualifying for the ten categories on Friday March 21 followed by heat races on the Saturday and the Championship Finals on the Sunday.

The Southern Cross Archerville Kartway is located on Pipers River Road, Turners Marsh (through Rocherlea).

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