Drama Filled Day At Geelong
| from karting.net.au | 31 October 2015 |
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Grand Final weekend at the Australian Kart Championship presented by Jayco and Castrol EDGE has all the hallmarks of being a classic, drama-filled Championship finale, with key competitors caught out in some tough weather conditions.
- photos from Geelong are on the series' Facebook page HERE
An overnight deluge and morning thunderstorm meant that competitors qualified in wet conditions – this dropped many of the leading lights across several categories further back than they would have liked.
KZ2 was poised to be dramatic and dramatic it was. For the first time in 2015, Western Australian Jake Klarich (TB Kart) has relinquished the lead to Team CRG’s Jason Pringle. Pringle leads by two points after today’s heat races.
Dutchman, Marijn Kremers has had the perfect day aboard his Ricciardo Kart. He won the Pole Shootout and then both races. The Shootout had extra significance as the life of Geelong Kart Club Member and former KZ2 racer, Aaron Ivermee was remembered through the presentation of the Aaron Ivermee Medal to Kremers.
Behind him, it was mayhem with many of the KZ2 ‘Fast Five’ striking trouble. None more so than Kyle Ensbey – who had a coming together with JC Kart’s Jason Faint in the opening heat. It eliminated both of them.
Klarich has been battling through the pack after a poor qualifying, but another to fall was Chris Hays. His Energy Corse Australia kart had no power in the warmup laps for the second heat and the Gold Coaster was forced to watch from the sidelines.
Brad Jenner – who led two classes coming into the weekend – is under pressure. Lining up with the stickers of Comp Kart on his machine for the first time this weekend, Jenner led both X30 and KA TaG Championships, but had just no form in the wet for qualifying. A technical issue in the second heat of X30 put him out of the race.
His title rivals Adam Lindstrom in KA TaG (Formula K Kart) and Daniel Rochford (X30 – Monaco Kart) both had strong runs going. The KA TaG heats were shared by Bryce Davidson and William Hawkes, whilst Morgan Feast took both X30 heats and has done his best to give FA Kart the strongest opportunity to challenge Arrow for the Manufacturer’s Championship.
James Sera has managed to finish both KA1 heats in second position after qualifying 11th quickest this morning. He held a 34 point advantage coming into the weekend however chief rival Justin Francis has scored a first and a third, while Toby Pope won the second heat after not finishing the opener.
A terse battle in KF2 is looming between Scott Sorenson and Liam McLellan for the Title. They were separated by 16 points at the start of the weekend, however both have been up for the fight with McLellan throwing everything he has at Sorenson and the Queenslander returning serve just as well. They shared the wins today.
Dunlop V8 Supercar Series campaigner, Todd Hazelwood is acquitting himself well on his karting return, whilst Zac Soutar led most of the second heat and is showing some good pace.
Championship leaders in Junior competition – Jay Hanson and Jack Doohan both took wins in their only heats of the day. The KA12 heat won by Hanson had a strong five kart battle that looks likely to go for the entire weekend. Hanson was 23 points in front at the beginning of the weekend.
Doohan has all but secured his maiden Australian Championship in KA Junior after charging forward from ninth on the grid to win.
Very little could be gained from the KF3 race this afternoon. It started raining as drivers took to the circuit on slick tyres and it created a nightmare for the youngsters – conditions changing every few laps. Local driver, Dylan Hollis took a dominant win, however Championship rivals Zane Morse and Reece Sidebottom – who were separated by nine points – both held their steel on track to finish the race. The category promises to go right to the final lap tomorrow.
All of tomorrow’s action will be covered exclusively through the Australian Kart Championships livestream at karting.net.au.
The fight for supremacy and more than $160,000 in prizes is on for young and old and it will bring a fitting conclusion to what has been a magnificent 2015 season.
