Nelson Wins Supercheap Auto Pro Clubman Light, Rnd 1

press release

Yesterday’s Round 1 of the new 2009 Supercheap Auto Kart Series saw 124 nominated entries across 7 classes take to the newly resurfaced 1,080 metre Willowbank Raceway track.  The Ipswich Kart Club in conjunction with the AKA Qld and SpeedFM also broadcast the event live over the internet to 38 countries around the world.


Above: Brendan Nelson’s Leopard Light ahead of John Grother on track in qualifying at Rnd 1 of 2009 Supercheap Auto Kart Series.
pic - Craig Doyle, Doyle’s Racing Kartsport

The event attracted a “Far North Queensland Invasion” force, as well as drivers from New South Wales.  Round nominations included;

  • Midgets – 12 entries
  • Rookies – 18 entries
  • Pro Junior National (130 kg) – 22 entries
  • Pro Clubman Light (150 kg) – 26 entries
  • Pro Clubman Heavy (170 kg) – 10 entries
  • Leopard Light – 23 entries
  • Leopard Heavy – 13 entries

The Harrington Doyle supported Doyle’s Racing Kartsport Team fielded 5 entries in the first round of the Queensland based Series (15 x 15klm races across 5 Qld Rounds).  The Team’s weekend wrap up by individual entry is as follows;

PRO CLUBMAN LIGHT – Brendan Nelson - Tony Kart# 70
Doyle’s Racing Kartsport driver, 17yo Brendan Nelson with a flying lap of 50.953 seconds, was pipped by a meagre 2 / 1000ths of a second for Pro Clubman Light pole by Cian Fothergill in qualifying at Supercheap Auto Kart Series Rnd 1.  

Nelson would hold his qualifying position and go on to finish 2nd in Race 1 behind Ben Stewart.  Later in Race 2 Brendan would challenge for and take the win after 14 duelling laps with Justin Garioch, Cian Fothergill and Ben Stewart.  The best was yet to come from Brendan when he drove away from the field and took a commanding 4.376 second win from Justin Garioch and Fothergill in Race 3.
Brendan won the first round and is Series Leader on 113 points.


Above: Brendan Nelson’s Clubman Heavy entry on grid.
pic - Craig Doyle, Doyle’s Racing Kartsport

PRO CLUBMAN LIGHT – Trevor Beetham – CRG # 72
One of the few Clubman Over 40 drivers to tackle the youngsters in the Supercheap Auto Kart Series, Doyle’s Racing Kartsport driver, Trevor Beetham qualified his CRG Black Diamond on grid 22.

Although struggling to find an optimum set-up with the CRG, Trevor gained 4 places in Race 1 to finish 18th.  Continuing his push forward he finished 16th in Race 2 and took 18th place in Race 3.
Trevor completed the round in 17th on 47 points.

PRO CLUBMAN LIGHT – Robbie Beetham - CRG # 3
Current 2009 Gladiators Clubman Heavy Series Leader, Robbie Beetham struggled with handling and set-up all weekend under the new Pro weight categories of the Supercheap Auto Kart Series.  Even changing chassis and engines late in Saturday’s practice sessions, Robbie couldn’t find the pace he was looking for.

Although he qualified 24th, some 2.594 seconds off the pace of pole sitter Cian Fothergill, in Race 1 Robbie was able to claw back 3 places to finish 21st. In Race 2 he would peg back yet another 4 places to cross the line in 17th place.  In Race 3 after an altercation on the roll up lap, he would rejoin a re-start of the race and go on to finish in 19th right on the bumper of his brother Trevor. Robbie now sits in 20th on 42 points.


Above: Beetham Brothers, Robbie # 3 and Trevor # 72 on the grid
pic - Craig Doyle, Doyle’s Racing Kartsport

PRO JUNIOR NATIONAL – Mitchell Gee – Tony Kart # 13
11yo Doyle’s Racing Kartsport driver, Mitchell Gee was at the front end of the midfield in a very competitive and rough Pro Junior National class.  Saturday’s practice was proving fierce and gave every indication of tough racing day come Sunday.

Mitchell put his Tony Kart on grid 9 in early morning Sunday qualifying with a 56.039 second lap, only 0.476 seconds behind pole sitter Ethan O'Farrell.  In a determined drive forward, Mitchell would move up 2 places in Race 1 and start to make inroads on the leading pack to finish in 7th. 
Knowing he was starting Race 2 right on the tail of the leaders, Mitchell pressed hard in the opening lap and spun off whilst making a passing move on the karts ahead.  He wasn’t able to recover and rejoin the race.

Starting Race 3 from the very rear of the field in grid 22, Gee drove through the pack, picking up positions on every lap to greet the chequered flag as the 9th place finisher.  This amazing drive would make up some ground in the points haul, allowing him to recover to be just outside the Top 10 Point Leaders in 11th for the Round.

LEOPARD LIGHT – Brendan Nelson – Kosmic # 70
Brendan qualified in 5th position a mere 0.17 seconds behind the pole sitter John Growther.  Nelson would come from position 5 on the grid to challenge Ryan Wlodzinski for the lead on the final lap.  The pair would tangle and take each other off the track on third last corner.  Nelson would recover to take 6th place across the line with a severely bent rear axle.  He would later lose this placing post a stewards hearing.

Determined to continue their hard racing, Wlodzinski (DNF Race 1) and Nelson would start from the rear of the field and drive through the entire grid to finish Race 2 in 1st and 2nd respectively.
Race 3 promised to be a battle royal with Wlodzinski and Nelson starting from the front of the grid under the Supercheap Auto Kart Series format, which sees your previous race placing as your next race grid. 


Above: DRK’s driver Brendan Nelson speaking with fellow competitor, Shay Mayes.
pic - Craig Doyle, Doyle’s Racing Kartsport

Nelson determined to make up for lost ground in Race 1 would bolt away in the first few laps to establish a commanding lead.  Fothergill and Wlodzinski would work hard to reel him in, but Brendan would take a convincing win some 0.571 seconds ahead of Fothergill, followed by Wlodzinski, Grother, Justin Garioch and Trent Mercer.

Due to being classified as a non-finisher in Race 1, Brendan completed the round in 8th on 74 points.

Round 2 of the 2009 Supercheap Auto Kart Series heads to Gladstone next, on the weekend of June 20 & 21.  Doyle’s Racing Kartsport and Harrington Doyle Corporate Resources look forward to being a part of all of the action.

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