Zavaglia On Pole for Australian Superkart Championship

press release

Sam Zavaglia has taken pole position after a hard fought qualifying session for the first Round of the Australian Superkart Championships, held at Round 5 of the Shannons Nationals Motor Racing Championships at Eastern Creek International Raceway.  

The Sydney based racer lapped the 3.9 kilometre venue in 1:30.2382, recovering to take the pole in the second session after struggling for pace in the first qualifying session in the Stockman Superkarts Stockman-Honda. Zavaglia was just a tenth clear of Darren Hossack. Hossack, driving the Safe Evolutions Anderson-Safe, had been fastest in the early session. To get as clear a run as possible Hossack, and Zavaglia, made sure they were at the front of the queue leaving the pits and Zavaglia recorded the pole lap on his first flying lap, Hossack was fourth tenths behind on his first lap, closing to within a tenth the following lap.

Third fastest was a familiar RMR Superkarts Anderson-FPE. Factory backed Sprintkart racer Matthew Wall stepped aboard Jason McIntyre's Anderson after he was injured in a crash at Phillip Island earlier this year and has been instantly quick, lapping within half a second of Zavaglia

Jumping into fourth late in the session was Yiani Harpas (Internode/Metaplanners/Davtec Zip Eagle-BRC). Harpas leads a tight group just a second off the pole lap in what has been a great return after missing the 2007 series. Another South Australian Zip Eagle qualified fifth. Former V8 Utes racer Luke May, making his debut in Superkarts this weekend, qualified Barbara Hepworths Zip Eagle-BRC just three tenths behind Harpas.

Sixth fastest was the second of the factory supported Stockmans, Stephen Castles (NEC Automotive Stockman-Honda), capitalising on improved form since the March V8 Supercar appearance, although detonation problems have slowed his progress. Just a hundredth of a second behind is team mate and reigning Australian champion, Warren McIlveen (Mac's Marine Stockman-Honda). The veteran siezed an engine in the opening qualifying session and had a job to do just to ket the kart running for the second session. Having done so McIlveen faces reduced pace for the first race ahead of an overnight rebuild.

Anton Stevens (Electrosil/Art Motorsport PVP) is eighth fastest and is followed by Gary Pegoraro (RMR Superkarts/Marron Excavations Anderson-FPE) who has been slowed with ignition problems. New Zealand race Karl Wilson round out the top ten in the third of the RMR SUperkarts. Just outside the top ten are Queenslanders Chryss Jamieson (Coach Design Anderson-Honda) and Carlo Chermaz (Buildersmile PVP). Chermaz in particular struggling in qualifying.

Russell Jamieson (Coach Design Stockman-Honda) is a second clear in the 125 cc class, in a return to form for the 2006 champion after an unhappy 2007 season. Second fastest is Brad Stebbing (Suburban Accounting Stockman-Honda) racing the kart his brother Kristian used to win the 2007 championship. Tony Lappas (IGA Supermarkets Stockman-Honda) was third fastes, improving in the second qualifying session to jump past Jason Smith (Fuji Zerox Cougar-Honda) who is debuting the Cougar Evo-1 chassis at national level.

Martin Latta (MJR Bricklaying/Safe Evolutions Stockman-Yamaha) took pole position for the 250 National class after facing the prospect of returning to Victoria without completing a session after siezing his brand new engine in practice. With the help of Ian Saville of Karting World and the assistance of several NSW Superkart club members a rebuild got Latta back in action. The fortunes swung the other way for class rival Rick Setterfield (RMR Superkarts/Wizzer Engines Anderson-KTM). A piston failure prevented him from completing a lap in qualifying. Frank Giglio (GR Industries Stockman-Kawasaki) was second fastest for the class.

Three five lap races now lie ahead for the Superkart races, ahead of a eight lap final to complete the first round of the Australian Superkart Championships. The huge field of 44 Superkarts pormosies to bring plenty of racing action of the next day and a half at Eastern Creek.

Qualifying Quotes:

Pole Position 250 International: Sam Zavaglia (Stockman Superkarts Stockman-Honda): "The competition's getting red hot. Darren Hossack's just one tenth behind me which surprises me, he's been slowly getting to the front. There is nothing in it. I don't know what to expect. We've made more changes for the first race, hopefully we've moved forwards not backwards."

3rd 250 International: Matthew Wall (RMR Superkarts, Wizzer Race Engines Anderson-FPE): "We went into this weekend not expecting anything, just to gain experience. It's one of the hardest things I've ever driven in my life. But I've got a great team, with Anderson Racing Karts, Colin and Jason McIntyre, Ron, Wizzer building the engines. The combination should be fast. There's no reason why the kart can't be on the pace. As more sessions go by I'm building up my speed and feeling more comfortable driving the Kart."

Pole Position 125 Gearbox: Russell Jamieson (Coach Design Stockman-Honda): "We had some troubles yesterday but sorted it all out, and to put it on pole is really good. We're very impressed. The kart feels good, the motor feels strong and its handling well."

Pole Position 250 National: Martin Latta (MJR Bricklaying, Safe Evolutions Anderson-Yamaha): "Yesterday, brand new engine, siezed it. I didn't think the weekend would be any good, but today just been better. We've still got a lot more to come from it, it feels really good. I'd really like to thank Ian Saville of Karting World in Camden and the New South Wales club for fixing the engine. It's going to be a great meeting."

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