Host State Heroes Lead The Way At Vic Open

AKA press release

Victorian drivers have dominated the podium at the Victorian Karting Championships held at the Hume International Raceway in Puckapunyal over the weekend.

With 15 Championships on offer across a variety of ages, weights and engine capacities, drivers from the host state claimed a dozen of the titles on offer.

Portland’s Aaron Johnstone held his nerve for the final few corners to take the win in a spectacular Junior National Heavy final, holding off Joseph Mawson and Shepparton’s Travis Kodric in a three-kart shootout for the blue plate. It was Johnstone’s first State Championship in 15 attempts across his eight-year karting career.

Above: Aaron Johnstone on his way to his first state title
pic - photowagon.com.au

Mason Thomas was looking very strong and took the lead with four laps remaining, only to pull off at the start finish line with what appeared to be a dropped chain.

National Champion Darsey Kondopirakis clipped the back of Kodric’s kart in the penultimate corner on the circuit in the closing stages, lifting his front wheels off the ground and sending him wide and rejoining just behind Macauley Jones, who was running a lonely race just out of reach of the lead pack.

Both Kodric and Mawson looked for a way around Johnstone’s Monaco chassis on the final lap, but neither was successful at gaining the ascendancy, with a jubilant Johnstone punching the air to grab his first state title in over 15 attempts.

Bendigo driver Jarrod Egan claimed his second state championship in six months when he claimed the victory in the highly-competitive Junior Clubman category.

Above: A jubilant Jarrod Egan crosses the finish line
pic - photowagon.com.au

Egan took full advantage of every opportunity that came his way in the final of Junior Clubman, none more so than when it mattered most – on the last lap.

After being one of the front runners throughout the 16-lap final, running inside the top five for the duration, but when race leader Adam Lindstrom and second place Jordan Ford came together on the third-last corner Egan took over the lead and claimed his second state title.

Craig Arnett made it two podium finishes for the Bendigo drivers with third placing in Clubman Super Heavy when he finished third behind Scott Simpson and Jason Stania.

Echuca driver Reece Sidebottom entered the Midgets final as a clear favourite, and for good reason, with the youngster clearing out to take an easy victory.

Above: Reece Sidebottom simply drove away from the pack in Midgets
pic - Cooper's Photography

While Sidebottom drove the 16 lap journey alone the battle for second was breathtaking, with eight karts all stuck together in a pack, with positions swapping at virtually every corner.

In the end Jamie Grohman grabbed second ahead of Danny Carroll, Jordan McGregor and Nicholas Larry, with Zac Pattel in sixth and worthy of mention as he ran in the top five for almost the entire race.

David Sera led the way for the Melbourne drivers to claim his 34th State Championship across the weekend. Sera proved beyond doubt that he was the class of the Rotax Light field at Puckapunyal, but it wasn’t without a dogged fight from Jordie Lindstrom. David Whitmore, Brett Davidson and Damian Ward all had turns at running in third as part of the three-kart battle, but in the end Ward grabbed third, not far ahead of Davidson and Whitmore.

Above: The Deadly Professional - David Sera entered two classes and won both
pic - Cooper's Photography

Sera also proved dominant in the Clubman Light final on his way to a convincing victory over fellow Melbourne driver Adam Hughes and Shepparton’s Luigi Catanese.

Hughes went one better in Leopard Light to lead home a Kosmic quinella in Leopard Light, holding out a late charge from Phillip King and a mid-race attack from former team-mate James Sera.

Above: Adam Hughes leading Leopard Light
pic - Cooper's Photography

Jace Lindstrom showed that he’s anything but rusty with victory in an enthralling Clubman Heavy final.

Lindstrom had a race long battle with Sydney’s Jason Hryniuk following him through the first corner to take second. The pair then pulled away from the rest of the field as they before crossing the line within close proximity.

Behind them, Matthew Wall battled Jason Pringle and Lee Mitchener to form a three-way fight for third. In the end, Wall won that battle ahead of Pringle, Bart Price – who stormed through the field and caught the pack over the final lap as they jostled for position – and Mitchener.

Above: Jace Lindstrom took out Clubman Heavy after a great scrap with Jason Hryniuk.
pic - photowagon.com.au

A broken throttle cable in the pre-final, which relegated him down the grid for the Leopard Heavy final, wasn’t enough to stop Geelong driver Daniel Richert from claiming the State Championship.

Thirteen years after securing his first State crown Richert steered his Kosmic kart towards the front of the field and by mid race he was leading the way.

Early race leader Daniel Stein was a consistent performer to claim the runner-up spot while National Champion Kel Treseder was another big mover to charge his way from the back of the 13-kart field to claim the final spot on the podium.

Jason Pringle led home his younger brother, Rick, across the line in Rotax Heavy to claim the victory. Finishing third behind the pair was Bundaberg’sKel Treseder.

Horsham’s Remo Luciani got the better of a race-long battle with long-time rival Greg Dicker from Western Australia to claim the 49th State Championship of his illustrious career in the Clubman Over 40s category.

In the other categories the wins went to Corey Lean (Senior National Heavy), Blake Sciberras (Senior National Light), Jordan Nicolaou (Junior National Light) and James Golding (Rookies).

For the top five and race notes please click here.

For the full results please click here.

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