2012 Tasmanian State Championships
Tweet| 18 November 2012 |
AKA media
HARRISON HOEY BREAKS THROUGH FOR MAIDEN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
Three titles won by Tasmanian drivers
Queensland youngster Harrison Hoey claimed a popular victory at the 2012 Tasmanian State Championships at the Hardings Hotmix Kartway in Burnie, Tasmania today.
In his 12th attempt at winning a State Championship, Hoey led home Victorian Nathan Williams in the 21-lap final in the Cadets category (for 7-11 year olds). Jai Sparey crossed the line third ahead of recently crowned South Australian champion Jordyn Sinni.
Above: Harrison Hoey leading Jordyn Sinni on his way to victory in the Cadets category
pic: Seggie Snaps
The eighth podium finish by the 10 year-old was a hard fought one, Hoey took advantage of his front row start to open a slight buffer over the field during the early laps of the championship final. Northern Territory Champion Nathan Herne closed the gap to the leader by mid race, and with him came Jack Harders and Jai Sparey. A group of six raced nose-to-tail at the front of the field with numerous lead changes throughout the final half of the race before Hoey took the win.
“I’ve played in top grade Rugby Grand Finals and also raced at Bathurst, but nothing comes close to the nerves and excitement that I feel when Harry (Harrison) goes on the track,” said Hoey’s father Troy.
“We’ve tried so hard to get this title over the past couple of years, over the past couple of titles in South Australia and Western Australia he was leading on the last lap before finishing second. It’s a huge relief to finally break through.”
During the corresponding event last year in Launceston, Victorian Cooper Murray broke through to claim his maiden State Championship. Today, he claimed his sixth.
Murray proved superior in the Rookies category to win ahead of ahead of fellow Victorian Jordan Caruso.
Launceston driver Zane Wyatt ensured the TaG Light championship stayed on the Apple Isle with victory ahead of Victorian Leigh Nicolaou. Wyatt was pressured throughout the race by Nicolaou and Queenslander Brock Plumb throughout the 21-lap encounter.
After taking 12 years to claim his first state championship, Wyatt has now claimed one every year since. Finishing behind Wyatt was Nicolaou, who recently won the South Australian title, while Plumb held off the challenges by outgoing champion Ben Walter to claim third place.
Above: Zane Wyatt on his way to victory in the TaG Light category
pic: Seggie Snaps
“I wasn’t really confident going into the final, so it was great to come away with the win,” said Wyatt.
“I’ve had very little time in the kart in this configuration, so to come out on top against guys who are either the best, or race against Australia’s best, just about every weekend feels fantastic.
“It’s the third time that I’ve won a championship after Ben (Walter) has won the same title the previous year, this year it was done with exactly the same kart and engine that he used to win last year.”
Wyatt was also competing in the Clubman Heavy category, where he was the defending champion. After a challenging weekend he crashed out with South Australian Sparky Marquis in the final – that was won by Leigh Nicolaou.
Queenslander Ben Stewart added another State Championship to his ever-growing resume with victory in the Clubman Light category. Stewart crossed the line ahead of his Arrow Racing Karts team-mate Brock Plumb. Pierce Lehane finished third.
Tasmanian drivers dominated the categories for the elder statesmen with Hobart’s Michael Vaughen winning the Over 40s class and Launceston’s Scott Wrigley winning Over 40s Super Heavy.
The Top Five and Race Notes from each of the Championship Finals can be found below while the full results can be viewed by clicking here.
2012 Tasmanian State Championships - Burnie, Tasmania
RESULTS: Championship Finals (Top Five)
Rookies
1. Cooper Murray
2. Jordan Caruso
3. Thomas Hughes
4. Declan Fraser
5. Thomas Bennett
Race Notes: Thomas Bennett got the jump at the green light in the Rookies Final at the Tasmanian Championships, however, it only took half a lap for Cooper Murray to show his supremacy. Murray was joined at the front by Jordan Caruso with Thomas Hughes holding down third place ahead of Declan Fraser. By mid race, Murray had Caruso pressuring him for the race lead. On lap eight, Caruso moved his Dino kart to the lead, only to be shadowed by Murray in his Tony Kart for the ensuing laps. At half race distance Murray showed superior speed to pull away and secure his sixth State Championship.
Above: Victorian Cooper Murray won his sixth state championship this weekend
pic: Seggie Snaps
Over 40s
1. Michael Vaughen
2. Steve Crocker
3. John Schofield
4. Alfredo Cocca
5. Peter O’Neill
Race Notes: Hobart’s Michael Vaughen took full advantage of his front row start in the final of the Over 40s category to lead the field away ahead of Steve Crocker, John Schofield and ‘Mainlander’ Peter O’Neill. As the race continued Vaughen wasn’t challenge on his way to victory, however, the same can’t be said in the battle for second with Crocker and Scholfield challenging each other for the runner-up position.
Above: Over 40s winner Michael Vaughen
pic: Seggie Snaps
TaG 125 Light
1. Zane Wyatt
2. Leigh Nicolaou
3. Brock Plumb
4. Ben Walter
5. Michael Carless
Race Notes: A frantic opening lap in the final of TaG 125 Light saw Victorian Leigh Nicolaou lead the way on lap one aboard his Arrow kart ahead of Launceston driver Zane Wyatt and Queenslander Brock Plumb. As the 21-lap race continued, the trio separated themselves from the field before Wyatt relegated Nicolaou to second place on lap eight. From that point on Wyatt edged himself away from Nicolaou and Plumb while Ben Walter charged his way to finish on the rear bumper of Brock Plumb. Michael Carless was the big mover coming from the back of the grid to finish fifth.
Junior National Heavy
1. Zac Phillips
2. Damon Strongman
3. Morgan Jakobovski
4. William Hawkes
5. Keenan Slater
Race Notes: Western Australian driver Nicholas Rowe had dominated the qualifying races in Junior National Heavy, however, the final was a very different affair. Rowe was joined in a six-way battle for the front of the field by Zac Phillips, Damon Strongman, Morgan Jakobovski, William Hawkes and local driver Keenan Slater in the early laps of the 21-lap main event. As the race continued, two groups of three developed with Phillips, Strongman and Rowe leading the way. Contact between Strongman and Rowe on the final lap left Rowe stranded on the sidelines with a stalled engine, which allowed Phillips to take the win. He crossed the line ahead of Strongman and Jakobovski.
Above: Zac Phillips was victorious in Junior National Heavy
pic: Seggie Snaps
Cadets
1. Harrison Hoey
2. Nathan Williams
3. Jai Sparey
4. Jordyn Sinni
5. Jack Harders
Race Notes: Polesitter Harrison Hoey took advantage of his front row start to open a slight buffer over the field during the early laps of the Cadets final. Northern Territory Champion Nathan Herne closed the gap to the leader by mid race, and with him came Jack Harders and Jai Sparey. Six karts raced nose-to-tail at the front of the field with numerous lead changes throughout the 21-lap duration. In the end it was Harrison Hoey broke through to claim his maiden State Championship after 12 attempts – including 11 podium finishes.
Senior National
1. Dale Beaton
2. Jamie Bricknell
3. Trent Rogers
4. Jonathan Males
5. Scott Hildyard
Race Notes: Queenslander Brock Plumb had paced the field throughout the duration of the Senior National action across the weekend and the 21-lap final was no different. The Arrow Karts driver led New South Welshman Trent Rogers in his PCR kart for the entire race to take a comprehensive victory. Over the closing stages it became a three-way battle for the minor positions with Dale Beaton leading home Jamie Bricknell and Rogers. Plumb was later excluded due to a technical infringement handing the win to Beaton – his first on the Apple Isle.
Clubman Super Heavy
1. Joshua Herne
2. Bradley Lovett
3. Joshua Muskett
4. Matthew Clark
5. Cory Brown
Race Notes: Lismore driver Joshua Herne was nothing short of dominant all weekend in the Clubman Super Heavy ranks. The Tony Kart pilot crossed the line 9.4 seconds clear of Brodey Lovett, who got the better of a lengthy battle with Joshua Muskett and Matthew Clark for second spot.
Junior National Light
1. Bryce Fullwood
2. Jacob Prestipino
3. William Hawkes
4. Alexander Peroni
5. Reece Sidebottom
Race Notes: Northern Territorian Bryce Fullwood had been the pacesetter all weekend long in the Junior National Light category – a trend that continued into the 21-lap championship final. As Fullwood drove off into the distance to claim the win Jacob Prestipino drove a strong race to cross the line in second place. William Hawkes, Reece Sidebottom and Alex Peroni enjoyed an intense battle for the final podium position, which was eventually won by Hawkes.
Clubman Light
1. Ben Stewart
2. Brock Plumb
3. Pierce Lehane
4. Jordan Nicolaou
5. Wayne Bourke
Race Notes: Arrow drivers Ben Stewart and Brock Plumb worked together during the early laps in the Clubman Light final to open a handy buffer over their fellow competitors. As the race continued two pairs of two led the way with Stewart and Plumb out in front while Pierce Lehane and Jordan Nicolaou battled for third and fourth place. Contact between the leading pair entering the sweeper midway through the race allowed Stewart to open a slender gap over Plumb – which he never relinquished. Plumb was forced to settle for second ahead of Lehane in his Team RacePrep entry and Shamick Racing’s Jordan Nicolaou.
Above: Ben Stewart on his way to the Clubman Light title
pic: Seggie Snaps
Over 40s Super Heavy
1. Scott Wrigley
2. Troy Sheahen
3. Rod Bender
4. Gregory Wood
5. Michael Rowe
Race Notes: Launceston driver Scott Wrigley had been the pacesetter all throughout the weekend in the Over 40s Super Heavy category, and it appeared that would be the same case in the 21-lap final. However, local driver Troy Sheahen stepped it up a notch when it mattered most to challenge for the lead with six laps remaining. The pair battled hard over the closing laps before Wrigley took a narrow victory.
Junior Clubman
1. Nicholas Rowe
2. Braydon North
3. Matthew McLean
4. Gemma Wyllie
5. Jacob Morris
Race Notes: Western Australian Nicholas Rowe got the jump at the green light in the final of the Junior Clubman category. With his two main rivals, William Hawkes and Damon Strongman, being eliminated in separate incidents on the opening lap it allowed the KTEQ Rentals-backed driver to open a commanding lead. Hobart driver Nicky Richards closed the gap in the late stages of the race but had to settle for second place. Victorian Braydon North finished third ahead of Matthew McLean and Gemma Wyllie. Richards weighed in under the minimum weight following the race elevating North to second place.
Above: Nicholas Rowe added the Junior Clubman title to his ever-growing resume
pic: Seggie Snaps
1. Leigh Nicolaou
2. Mitchel Evans
3. Mark Dorbolo
4. Jack Pickett
5. Michael Saller
Race Notes: Shamick Racing’s Leigh Nicolaou and Hobart driver Mitchel Evans raced within close proximity at the front of the Clubman Heavy field during the early laps while J&A tuning driver held down third place. At mid race distance Nicolaou showed some strong speed to open a slender gap over Evans before edging away to claim the win by 0.696 seconds.
