Arrow's Nationals News: 4 Titles for Aussie Brand
press release
The 2011 AKA Australian Karting Championships were held at Cockburn International Raceway, Cockburn, Western Australia on the 22nd-24th of April marking the 49th running of the annual event. Arrow Racing Karts drivers fared well, claiming four class victories from the ten available to outclass their fellow manufacturers.
Out of the four class titles that Arrow won, three were first time winners for Australia’s premier kart with Anton DePasquale, Jesse Elliot and Nicholas Ellen all winning their respective classes.
Above: Junior National Heavy winner, Anton dePasquale
Arrow Racing Karts made a clean sweep of the Junior National Heavy field, to take all five positions available on the podium. Anton DePasquale continued his good form in the class where he netted the Victorian Open a month earlier to outgun young Queenslander Brock Plumb at the finish. In third spot was 2010’s leading karter Joseph Mawson who made a return to the Junior National ranks to challenge for the lead at stages, but ultimately had to settle for third behind his Arrow compatriots. Nicholas Rowe and Todd Hazelwood both showed great speed throughout the weekend to round of the Arrow dominated podium.
After finishing third at the 2010 Nationals, Jesse Elliot went two better to beat his more fancied rivals to claim his first National Championship in the premier Junior Clubman category. Elliot now has the opportunity to race with the Factory Arrow Team at a round of the CIK Stars of Karting Series in KF3 under the Arrow Rewards program. Anton DePasquale claimed his second podium position for the day in second spot with outgoing champion Joseph Mawson finishing fourth in front of fellow Arrow driver Todd Hazelwood.
Above: Jesse Elliott, 1st Junior Clubman
Matthew Waters qualified fastest in Senior National Light, and looked in control in the final until a mid-race downpour made things exciting. Current Victorian Open champion Nicholas Ellen handled the conditions a bit better than Waters, to take a narrow victory and win his first National championship over the former champion Waters. Aaron Borg finished in third to cap off a great start to the year for the New South Welshmen.
With rain once again coming down during the race, Matthew Waters excelled in difficult conditions to win his third national championship of his career, and take his third podium position of the day aboard his Arrow chassis when he crossed the line first in Senior National Heavy. The New South Welshmen was the class act of the weekend, winning both heat races, pre final, and final. Nicholas Ellen rounded out the podium in third place, to go on from his double victory at the Victorian State Championships earlier this year.
Above: Matthew Waters, Senior National Heavy champion
Junior National Light produced some of the best racing over the weekend, with Arrow drivers Luke Marquis, Jordan Boys, James Abela and Damon Strongman all having a race long battle to fill the podium positions. The youngest drivers at the 2011 Australian Championships showed maturity well beyond their years, racing hard and clean throughout the 15 lap final to cross the line almost simultaneously. In the end, it was Marquis who grabbed second over Boys, Abela and Strongman.
Zeke Edwards took third position in the hotly contested Clubman Heavy Final. After being amongst the leaders throughout the weekend, Edwards played his cards right to take home another gallant podium finish at the Australian Titles going on from his third place finish at the 2010 Australian Championships held at Puckapunyal.
After a heated battle for the race lead in the prestigious Clubman Light class, Arrow driver Matthew Waters found himself at the pointy end when it mattered, and led heading into the final two turns. Having taken a defensive line, Waters slid past the race line, and allowed the following two drivers past to finish a gallant third position. Waters showed that his Arrow kart had the speed and was a bit unfortunate to finish in the position that he did but still went on to claim the most trophies for the weekend with three class podiums.
Arrow Racing Karts would like to thank all who contributed to the fantastic results and express our gratitude and appreciation to all who continue to support our products.
For more information about Arrow Karts and dealer contact details please visit our website at www.arrowkarts.com
