Victorian Short Track Superkart Championship
| press release | 12 November 2013 |
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2013 SuperSonic Global Payments Victorian Short Track Championship
Some of the states top drivers ventured to Winton raceway on the weekend as a support category for the Winton 300 event. Whilst the feature race was on the full circuit, both the superkarts & Super Trucks ran the traditional short circuit.
Saturdays Qualifying saw the new Anderson/BRC karts of Gary Pegoraro & Matt Bass battle for pole position with the wily veteran Pegoraro nabbing pole from Bass. Martin Latta claimed third ahead of leading 250 National driver Jason Akermanis. Dale Williams in fifth just ahead of the 125cc trio of Kristian Stebbing, Todd Gardner & Shane Fewster.
Above: Gary Pegoraro qualified fastest at Winton on the weekend
Heat 1 saw Pegoraro lead to mid race distance before Bass's Top Torque Engines machine slipped through to take the win. Latta held on to third, just pipping Akermanis who showed his wheel several times in a spirited dice. Stebbing came through for fifth in front of Gardner & Fewster. Early race pace saw both Pegoraro & Akermanis come tantalizingly close to setting new lap records, both within 0.3 of a second of current records.
Heat 2 run late in the afternoon saw Bass straight to the lead with a stream of karts snaking their way behind. With Pegoraro shadowing, Bass lost the rear through the fast sweeper spinning in front of the field. This allowed Pegoraro thru to he lead, which he never relinquished. Latta & Akermanis again had a race long dice before Latta grabbed second. Bass recovered to finish fourth ahead of Williams & Stebbing.
Above: Matt Bass
Sunday morning saw mayhem on the first lap of the pre-final after the field was confronted with the remains of a SuperTruck clean up entering the braking area at the end of the back straight. Pegoraro made it through the esses, although totally sideways followed by Akermanis, but Bass & Latta headed to the grass in the ensuing chaos. When the sawdust settled Latta was in hot pursuit of Akermanis' SuperSonic Yamaha, closing to within striking distance on the last lap. The enthusiastic crowd was cheering as Latta made several lunges but was unable to make a pass stick as he cautiously entered the esses, Akermanis home for second by half a kart length. Bass fought back to fourth from Stebbing, Gardner and Fewster, with Williams a DNF after electrical issues.
The 8 lap final saw Pegoraro nail a fast start, building a commanding first lap gap he would hold onto for entire race. Bass ran a close second but couldn't quite get within striking distance. Nevertheless his 56.1 lap time in an earlier heat proved to be the the fastest of the event, underlining his rapid rise this season. His heat one win proving he will be a serious contender anywhere next year. Latta's MJR Bricklaying Anderson/DEA home third from Akermanis & Williams. Stebbing's Suburban Accounting Stockman/Yamaha completed a clean sweep of the 125 GP class with Gardner & the ever improving Fewster coming home behind.
Above: Kristian Stebbing took the honours in 125cc Gearbox
In all a great first up meeting for Australian Superkart Events with the superkarts a great hit with the crowd.
Thanks to all the competitors involved for making it a success, also for allowing all the kids to sit in their karts & get photos.
Above: Jason Akermanis
Above: Dale Williams
Above: Martin Latta
Above: Kristian Stebbing
Above: Jason Akermanis
