SA Pro Series, Round 1 - Hits The Ground Running
from Craig Denton
The performance classes of South Australian Karting kicked off the season at Bolivar Raceway on Sunday February 6. In a new format for 2011, the Leopard/Rotax Classes combined with the Open Performance for KZ2. All enjoyed fantastic weather whilst the rest of Australia was either under water or sweltering through 40-plus degree temperatures.
Above: Scott Kissock 2-wheels in Leopard Light
pic - Mark Lunn
Open Performance for KZ2
In a prelude to round 2 of the Stars of Karting Series, the local drivers all got valuable lap time in preparation for the April 1/2/3 event. Qualifying saw the DR/TM combination of Scott Taylor put it on pole from the Kosmic/TM of Paul Pittam by 0.05 of a second. Third was Josh Tynan (Kosmic/TM), with the BRM of Shaun Stevens in fourth.
Scott Taylor showed everyone the way and was consistent all weekend. Paul Pittam set the fastest lap times in both heats and the last final but has not quite got his launch control sequence working yet as his starts let him down over the weekend. In the first final he got it all right and entered the first corner in front of Scott conceding the corner, only to see the race red flagged on the first lap. Unfortunately Shaun Stevens had a massive roll in the middle corner ending his and David Brewers day. Dave was certainly the best off of the line consistently mixing it with the front runners for the first two laps. Josh Tynan made the progression from Leopard Light and did a fantastic job running in the top three all weekend.
Series Points
1 Scott Taylor 103 (DR/TM)
2 Paul Pittam 97 (Kosmic/TM)
3 Joshua Tynan 94 (Kosmic/TM)
Above: Scott Taylor (DR Kart/TM) won the KZ2 class at Bolivar
pic - Mark Lunn
Above: solid podium for Paul Pittam
pic - Mark Lunn
Leopard Light
Jedd Stojakovic and Scott Kissock lead from the front all weekend winning a final each and had some great racing all day long. Ben Edward’s luck did not get any better in Leopard after he qualified quickest, ran third in the first heat and first final, but unfortunately suffering a dnf in the second heat and second final. Brett Fortainier made a return to the Leopard class and with a little more time in the seat will surely be running at the front again. He was just that tenth and a bit off all weekend but certainly gave them a hurry up for the first few laps. Josh Manning was on the pace of Brett all weekend with the two of them having some great dices as the finals progressed.
Series Points
1 Jedd Stojakovic 100 (CRG/IAME)
2 Scott Kissock 98 (Kosmic IAME)
3 Brett Fortanier 93 (Intrepid/IAME)
Above: Jedd Stojakovic leads the points in Leopard Light
pic - Mark Lunn
Leopard Heavy
Pole for the first heat was the Kosmic kart of Robbie McKenzie who showed great speed all weekend. Leigh Cocker dragged his Dad’s 30/32 out of the shed, fitted a Leopard and went racing (it got the nickname over the weekend of the vintage kart). Leigh qualified second and unfortunately suffered a DNF in the first heat. From there though he had a clean sweep winning the second heat, final 1 and final 2. Robbie was having a great weekend until in the roll around he buried the kart into the tyres at the end of the straight suffering a mechanical fault which also put him out of the second final. Simon Layne also borrowed a kart for the weekend while he was waiting for the delivery of his new X1-E and finished second in both finals from the ever improving Nathan Harris. Others to do well on the day where Danny Somerville, Grant McLure and Michael Smith who sit fourth fifth and sixth in the series point score.
Series Points
1 Leigh Cocker 102 (Arrow/IAME)
2 Simon Layne 96 (Arrow/IAME)
3 Nathan Harris 94 (Arrow/IAME)
Above: 2nd in Leopard Heavy, Simon Layne
pic - Mark Lunn
Rotax Max Junior
2011 has seen many new faces in the JMAX class with Jonathon French finishing the day on top of the series points score. Anthony Rugolo started the day brilliantly qualifying quickest and running in the top three all weekend. Joshua Angus had his first run in the class also winning the second heat and running second for the rest of the day. 2010 series champion George Gutierrez had carb issues all day ending in fourth for the day after dicing getting up as high as second in the last final.
Series Points
1 Jonathon French 102 (Arrow/Rotax)
2 Joshua Angus 96 (DR/Rotax)
3 Anthony Rugolo 95 (Arrow/Rotax)
Rotax Light
Aaron Wilamowski had his first race meeting in the Rotax class and dominated the meeting qualifying quickest and winning the meeting. Ben Edwards was expected to take the challenge to Aaron but after winning the first heat suffered two DNF’s in the finals. Michael Phillpott has stepped up from the Junior classes and is making great headway under the guidance of Michael Yeo. The two of them finished the day second and third respectively.
Series Points
1 Aaron Wilamowski 104 (DR/Rotax)
2 Michael Phillpott 96 (/Rotax)
3 Michael Yeo 94 (CRG/Rotax)
Above: Aaron Wilamowski won on his rotax debut
pic - Mark Lunn
Rotax Heavy
George Economou started the day well qualifying quickest, from Brandon Stillwell and Con Paxinos. These three dominated the day along with Kevin Ledwidge who finished second in heat two. George had a great run in the end taking the win in heat one and both of the finals, suffering a dnf in the second heat. Brandon picked up a win in the second heat and finished second every other time he hit the track.
Series Points
1 George Economou 103
2 Brandon Stillwell 96
3 Con Paxinos 94
Above: Brandon Stillwell
pic - Mark Lunn
Support Classes
Midgets
1 Jacob Dowson
2 Jason Bowyer
3 Jade Morrison
4 Tyler Clare
5 Nikki Watson
Rookies
1 Joshua Denton
2 Jackson Freer
3 Jordan Pianezzola
4 Joel Oliver
5 Brodie Cook
Above: Joshua Denton
pic - Mark Lunn
Junior National
1 Cameron Reynolds
2 Jonathon French
3 Dylan Howell
4 Jayden Sharrad
5 Conor Williams
Clubman 150
1 Daniel Price
2 William Rowe
3 Alex Baker
4 Jason Taylor
5 Peter Zacharia
Above: Daniel Price
pic - Mark Lunn
Clubman 170
1 Dave Brewer Snr
2 Christopher Wood
Restricted 125 Light
1 Matthew Adam
2 Angus Whaite
3 Mark Lunn
4 Thomas Hayden
5 David Harradine
Restricted 125 Heavy
1 Matthew Fritz
2 Timothy Murphy
3 Thomas Armstrong
4 Frank Batki
