arrow x2

Opening Day Action Greets New Rotax Season

  27 October 2012

press release

  • Results are going on AKA CMS HERE

A new category, and some returning National Champions have highlighted an enthralling opening day to the 2012/2013 Rotax rankings season in Canberra in what is fast becoming one of the most popular motorsport series Australia wide.


Above: Darwin’s Bryce Fullwood scores pole position in the first event for the Sodi Junior Max Trophy
pic - IKD

DD2 Masters presented a strong field to the new rankings season, and again it displayed a strong performance from two of the three drivers set to represent Team Australia at the Rotax World Finals in Portugal next month. Two race victories for Energy Kart driver Jose Ruiz in heat one and three, with Tony Prendergast driving home a strong performance in heat two forced Hamish Leighton to settle for the minor placing in all heats. New Zealand’s Niki Urwin returned to the Pro Tour taking 4th and 5th in heat one and two respectively while a 10th in the final heat affected his pre-final grid placing to start 5th for the opening race for Sunday. Ruiz will share the front row for the pre-final with Tony Prendergast, with Hamish Leighton and West Australian Peter Newland out of 3rd and 4th.


Above: Hamish Leighton, DD2 Masters
pic - IKD

Youth proved durable in qualifying for Rotax Heavy with Exprit driver Michael Saller taking pole position in the lone 8 minute session, with the Sydney teenager managing to carry through his efforts to take victory in the opening heat. Reigning National Champion Matthew Wall returned from his Dubbo success and was again amongst the fastest in the field and despite recording 7th in the opening heat, a pair of second places in heat two and three for the Victorian to 3rd for the start of the pre-final. Fellow Victorian Rick Pringle used two victories in the final two heats to assist in his charge to pole position for the opening final, while some consistent driving from Travis Kodric will see him start the 18 lap pre-final from 4th with Arrow Kart driver Brendan Nelson set to start from 5th, following an unfortunate incident that saw him forced back in the field in the second heat and took 10th subsequently affecting his charge for a higher position.


Above: Michael Saller takes pole position and the opening heat in Rotax Heavy
pic - IKD

The debut of the Sodi Junior Max Trophy brought with it a mix of experience from 16 drivers, ones with State title winning experience, and others finding their feet in Karting, yet it didn’t affect their ability to display a stellar effort of driving. Darwin’s Bryce Fullwood was a standout in the beginning, taking the opening two race victories.

Queensland’s Zane Goddard showed no signs of being intimidated by Fullwood’s wins, displaying a gallant effort to take the final win of the day. The results see Fullwood set to take pole position for the first finals for the category ahead of Goddard, with Harry Hayek taking advantage of consistency to sit 3rd for the finals. Hayek managed two 5th places and a 6th, though DNF’s to his immediate challengers helped the NSW driver cement his grid position. Both Stephanie Stones and Kyle Angel recorded DNF’s in two separate heats, however they will start from 4th and 5th respectively for the pre-final.


Above: J-Max Trophy class, Jack Black (41), Melissa Whitmore (57), Harry Hayek (26) and Bryce Fullwood (16)
pic - IKD

On the back of a National victory in the category in Dubbo, Exprit Australia’s Pierce Lehane has showed true dominance of all three heats in Rotax Light. With the field being split in two for the heats due to it being oversubscribed, the Sydney teenager could not be faulted in any race he contested, with maturity showing through. Victoria’s Daniel Rochford who stepped into a Formula K kart was the standout performer in his own group, taking two dominant race victories, with a 2nd behind Lehane in the final race setting up a fierce front row battle between the two for the pre-final. Mitchell Gee has again showed the move to the senior ranks to have little effect on his performances, with a race win in the final heat seeing him sit in 3rd for the start of the penultimate race of the weekend. For the Arrow Kart pairing of Nathan Tigani and Ben Stewart, consistent performances throughout the heat races holds them in a solid position leading into finals day.


Above: Pierce Lehane took a trio of victories in Rotax Light
pic - IKD

With Junior Max front running regular Thomas Randle stepping into Rotax Light, and a penalty being applied to Joseph Burton-Harris forcing him to start from the rear of the grid for all the heat races, it allowed some fresh faces to step up to the front of the field, and it was a position they flourished in. Top Kart driver James Abela took the first of the heat races for the weekend, as a true battle pack was formed between he and Jake Klein, along with Zane Morse, Andrew Kahl and Stefan Stankovic. A return from 4th in the opening heat for Klein gave him the extra charge to strive for more success, subsequently taking two wins in the final two races of the day. The battles were continued behind the Victorian, with Zane Morse showing true signs of a star on the rise taking a trio of 2nd places which is where he will begin the pre-final alongside pole sitter Klein. A 9th place in the final race for Abela will force him to start from 3rd for the pre-final alongside Tony Kart driver Andrew Kahl with Stefan Stankovic recovering from 11th in heat 1 to use his afternoon results to take him to 5th to start Sunday.


Above: Junior MAX form up
pic - IKD

A blistering time from local driver Michael Stewart in qualifying took him to pole for the DD2 heat races, however a 9th place in heat two severely impacted his strong run from the start. In fine preparation for his trip to Portugal in November, CRG Australia’s Jason Pringle took a string of race victories showing experience over the field, defending multiple challenges from a mix of drivers. Thomas MacDonald showed a clean performance in all of the heat races, thus taking 2nd for the pre-final grid alongside Pringle. Damian Ward on return to the Rotax Pro Tour showed his talent immediately, engaging a battle with younger brother Lucas, with Damian set to start the pre-final from 3rd alongside Stewart with Lucas Ward out of 5th.


Above: Michael Stewart leads Thomas MacDonald, Damien Ward and Lucas Ward
pic - IKD

To follow the event throughout the weekend, like Rotax Pro Tour on Facebook, follow Rotax Pro Tour on Twitter and tune into the audio commentary via Ustream at www.ustream.tv/user/internationalkarting


Above: Daniel Rochford, now aboard Formula K
pic - IKD


Above: Rotax Light Andrew Carey (144) ahead of (20), Ben Stewart (11), Brock Plumb (15) and Christopher Anthony (95)
pic - IKD


Above: Jake Klein is chased by Zane Morse, Jnr MAX
pic - IKD


Home

© kartsportnews.com