Pro Tour 2 - Dubbo
from International Karting Distributors
The second round of the Rotax Pro Tour found its way to Dubbo in western NSW last weekend. Dubbo is one of the most popular tracks in NSW and with its technicalities and long straights, it allowed drivers to put on a great show.
Above: Dubbo proved a popular circuit for the 2nd stop on the 2011 Rotax Pro Tour. Here, Kayne Hughes leads DD2
pic - Cooper's Photography
The DD2 class fronted up with the most entries ever in the class at 28, and total entry numbers for the event topped out at 143. The buzz around the pits was evident early on and many teams had arrived and set up by lunch time on Thursday.
Day one practice sessions showed that all teams were serious about getting their set up right, with most teams making the most out of the 6 practice sessions on offer and bringing their A game straight away. The differing lap times on the first day proving that set up and driving style through the many bends would be vital to get right before heading into qualifying. The massive track offered lots of challenges for the drivers and pit crews alike.
Above: After a pre-final DNF, Joseph Mawson won Junior MAX after an awesome drive from the back
pic - Gavin Willadsen, Quick Pixels Photography
“Its really great to see a race meeting of this calibre in Dubbo and it makes it worth the trip” said Rotax Light driver Steel Guiliana who had just stepped off the plane from America where he commenced testing with a Formula 2000 team in preparation for the season overseas.
Day Two and qualifying opened with the threat of rain and sprinkling during the first qualifier sent teams running for their wet prep. The weather gods however, held the rain at bay and pushed forward with a beautiful sunny weekend. Turn 15 on the track saw the most action, with a wide driving line allowing 3 or 4 drivers through if taken incorrectly.
Setting the pace in qualifying were Geoff Connell for Rotax Light, Troy Woolston in Rotax Heavy, Mark Flood in DD2, Liam Morey in Junior Max Light, Alex Griffiths in Junior Max Heavy, Mick Robson in Over 35s & Bruce Otter in Super Heavy.
Above: Victorian/Intrepid/CC Racing - Troy Woolston and Paul Rodgers show the way in Rotax Heavy
pic - Cooper's Photography
Adam Lindstrom was consistent in Rotax Light all weekend, sitting in 1st & 2nd position through all three heats and 1st place in the pre-final & final. He was closely tailed by Tyler Greenbury who showed he is on the charge to stay high in the rankings and secure a drive at the Rotax World Finals in Dubai. Steel Guiliana overcame his jetlag to secure 3rd place on the day.
Above: DR Kart driver Adam Lindstrom enjoys his Rotax Light win
pic - Cooper's Photography
Rotax Heavy also delivered consistency with Troy Woolston offering a stand-out performance. Troy did not drop a race all weekend, winning all heats, pre-final & the final. He was closely followed by Paul Rodgers who also finished in second place all weekend and Lane Moore came through in third.
The Junior Max class offered the most exciting racing of the weekend with their 3rd heat taking the prize for being the best race of the whole meeting. A big accident on turn one saw the medics called after Sponseller and Gardner came together and ended up in the air. Both drivers were OK but a lot of damage to Sponseller’s kart meant the pit crew were up for a late night.
After being sent to the back of the grid by an accident in the Pre-Final, Joseph Mawson once again proved his talent as his fought his way back through the field to take first place. Renee Gracie also showed she is a force to be reckoned with this year, her steady pace throughout the weekend meant she was 2nd on the grid for the final. Chris Corbett made a move and forced his way through from 5th to finish in second on the podium, leaving Gracie with the third place trophy.
Above: Troy Woolston, Heavy winner
pic - Cooper's Photography
Above: DD2 winner Damien Ward ahead of Jason Pringle and Kayne Hughes
pic - Cooper's Photography
DD2 was a mixed bag with drivers in the front 6 spots switching all weekend. The most consistent were Ensbey & Flood who have both stepped aboard new DD2 chassis. Kyle was with team TopKart and Mark who qualified fastest, was in the new Sodi. With Dubbo being such a technical track, both drivers set impressive lap times for their first time in the kart. Kyle appeared unbeatable once he got his set up right, but Damian Ward who had an average lead up to the finals, forced an opportunity to gain the lead mid race, also opening the opportunity for Mark Flood to move into second. Ensbey finished third on the podium.
Junior Max Heavy saw some dicing and swapping between Dale Corbett & Alex Griffiths and even after a DNF in Heat 2, Corbett polled for the final and brought home a convincing win. The challenge of the race was behind him with Griffiths & Saller trading places. Griffiths held on to take home second and Saller scored his first podium win for the Pro Tour.
Above: Dale Corbett wins Jnr MAX Heavy
pic - Gavin Willadsen, Quick Pixels Photography
Mick Robson continued his dominance in the Over 35s class, proving why he is the number 1 holder for the class. Robert Amess & John Bailey took out the second & third place.
In the Super Heavy class, Bruce Otter had a score to settle after losing first place to younger driver Sean Reeves in round 1 of the Pro Tour. Reeves put up a good fight swapping first place with Otter throughout the final but it was Otters experience that got him over the line in a nail biting run on the home straight. Third place honors went to Peter Beetan.
Above: Super Heavy winner Bruce Otter
pic - Gavin Willadsen, Quick Pixels Photography
The Word Around The Pits
Steel Guiliana
"Dubbo is such a great track. I haven’t run here in a long time, not since I ran as a Midget. I got into the kart and was pretty close to the pace this morning so we’ll make a few tweaks this afternoon and I think we can qualify in the top 5. I think the main competition will be from the same guys that did well at Todd Road. Tyler & De Maio seem pretty quick. I think the number of people at this event has been helped a lot by the exposure from the World Finals which I have been to and it’s a great event as well as the Euro Challenge. It just shows that there are a lot of people that want to get overseas and showcase their talent and its great that there is a series here that allows drivers to do that. There’s some great tracks in this series, particularly for Rotax with the fast flowing ones. I have the other rounds on the calendar so hopefully we can get there."
Above: Steel Guiliana chases Rotax Light winner Adam Lindstrom
pic - Cooper's Photography
Mick Robson
"Dubbo is a really great track. I have done a lot of laps around here with Shane Piper when developing Clubmans so I would class it as my home track. Any track is good if you can get fast on it and this weekend we seem to be going OK so far. The circuit is getting pretty good now, there is a lot of rubber going down and to be honest if I wasn’t in the CRG, I don’t think I would be as fast. I think the people at IKD are doing a good job and each round we go to on the Pro tour is just getting better and better. I am so surprised about the number of DD2’s we have here. The promoters are obviously doing a really good job and DD2 might be something we take a look at in the future."
Above: Mick Robson is dominating the Over 35s category
pic - Gavin Willadsen, Quick Pixels Photography
Trent Grubel
"We struggled a bit at Pro Tour 1 so I am hoping to improve this time. Today we are looking pretty good but Dubbo is a very technical track. Rochford, De Maio and Jenner are gonna be tough competition, they are always quick."
Pierce Lehane
"Junior Max is really taking off and with the new Heavy class they have been able to equate everyone on the class. I want to try to stay away from crashes, I got caught up in a lot at Todd Road. The track conditions are great, there is a lot of rubber going down which suits my CRG. It’s a pretty good track and has some nice technical sections. It’s a bit different so I like it because its not boring like some tracks. My main goal for the weekend is to just get some rankings points."
Michael Saller
"It's great that we are getting more numbers to the Junior Max Heavy class. The Pro Tour is also offering really good venues this year so its good that the turn out is great. Dubbo is very technical and fast so its always bringing out the best drivers. Friday wasn’t to bad for me – I could still do with another couple of tenths so hopefully we can get them tomorrow. I have been training really hard to get down on my weight and trying to make a commitment to be competitive. I am really looking forward to Port Macquarie."
Rebecca Brown
"This is my first year on the Pro tour, I have been running a Rotax for a couple of years in total. I took last year off for work but now I am getting back into it. I have been racing every weekend so far this year to try and get myself good enough to be competitive. I am in a new Energy now so hopefully it will help me, I am very happy with it. I do like Dubbo, its demanding and very hard, but I like it. I am very excited for the next round at my home track. Hopefully I can get up there. I would be really happy with a top ten at Port Macquarie."
Cameron Hill
"I had problems with kart setup at Todd Road. We are really trying to just get on the pace this weekend – I have a new chassis now. The circuit is really great. Good layout – lots of passing opportunities. I’ll have fun regardless. Qualifying will be really important to get a good starting position, especially with these numbers. If I can get above the mid pack to avoid tear ups on the first corner I will be happy. I am aiming for top ten this weekend. I am really looking forward to racing against all these drivers because they are really good."
Tyler Greenbury
"I didn’t qualify as well as I had hoped but I made my way back through the heats so hopefully I get a good grid position. Dubbo is a good track. Its fast but has a couple of slow spots as well."
Above: Damien Ward
pic - Gavin Willadsen, Quick Pixels Photography
Above: Rotax Light form up
pic - Gavin Willadsen, Quick Pixels Photography
TOP TEN RESULTS: (full results on CM:S HERE)
Junior Max
- Joseph Mawson
- Chris Corbett
- Renee Gracie
- Joseph Burton-Harris
- Michael Stewart
- Pierce Lehane
- Liam Morey
- Lachlan Gibbons
- Chris Anthony
- Cameron Hill
Junior Max Heavy
- Dale Corbett
- Alex Griffiths
- Michael Saller
- Mitchell Kennedy
- Jack Richardson
- Mason Barbera
Rotax Light
- Adam Linstrom
- Tyler Greenbury
- Steel Guiliana
- Bret Mullavey
- Simon Hodge
- James Macken
- Bradley Jenner
- Luke Rochford
- Trent Grubel
- Warren White Jr
Rotax Heavy
- Troy Woolston
- Paul Rodgers
- Lane Moore
- Daniel Stein
- Danny Wright
- Simon Meyer
- Brock Green
- Rick Pringle
- Brendan Nelson
- Adam Hunter
Over 35s
- Michael Robson
- Robert Amess
- John Bailey
- Cameron Harch
- Malcolm Walker
- Julian Watts
- Danny Woodland
- Anthony Grant
- Paul Timmins
- Dean Penrose
DD2
- Damian Ward
- Mark Flood
- Kyle Ensbey
- Kayne Hughes
- Jason Pringle
- Thomas Macdonald
- Brinley Gread
- Jack Lindgren
- Mathew Harris
- Jackson Delamont
Super Heavy
- Bruce Otter
- Sean Reeves
- Peter Beetan
- Eddie Ruiz
- Paul Rolls
- Greg Williams
- Warren Hall
