Ipswich Re-Runs The Restricted Titles

Words – Russell Innes, Ipswich Kart Club
Photos – Ronan Morgan Photography (Official IKC Photographer)

ROUND 4 IKC CHAMPIONSHIP – 9^th OCTOBER 2021 – TAG RESTRICTED TITLES

• full results on speedhive HERE

An amazing turnout of 230 entries fronted up for the rerun of the IKC TAG Restricted Titles on October 9^th. After the previous attempt at running the TAG Restricted Titles back on July 31^st had to be abandoned when the Queensland Government called a snap lockdown on the day, this event was a replacement and coming only 1 week after the Queensland Championships, entry numbers were expected to be a fair bit lower than normal at Ipswich. So, 230 entries was exceptional and once again the organising team at IKC ran a very efficient race meeting to get through and finish the event right on schedule.

The Feature classes were TAG Restricted Light, TAG Restricted Medium and TAG Restricted Masters and overall winners were Declan Matthews (TAG Restricted Light) David Vogel (TAG Restricted Medium) and Peter Nolloth (TAG Restricted Masters)

Declan Matthews, made a one off appearance in the TAG Restricted Light class and dominated proceedings all day, starting with fastest in qualifying from Keegan Fraser and new class State Champion Brent Reading. Matthews convincingly won Heat 1 from Fraser and Jacinta Hoey and the same result again in Heat 2. New State Champion Reading however was having a shocker finishing at the back in Heat 1 and then failing to get a start in Heat 2. Matthews again won Heat 3 from Hoey and the ever improving Blake Day. Reading came from the back of the 28 kart field to 4^th. In the Final Matthews led from the start and started to pull out to a comfortable margin front. Keegan moved to 2^nd early on ahead of Hoey, Andrew Torti and Robert Mortensen, whilst Reading had moved from 19^th to 6^th by lap 3. Reading moved up a further spot on lap 4, but then on lap 9 he had another DNF. The front 5 was now settled at Matthews, Fraser, Hoey, Torti and Mortensen. Jordan Costa made a move in the last few laps to take 5^th from Mortensen but was then disqualified post race.

David Vogel led Qualifying in TAG Restricted Medium and would also go on to win each Heat and the Final. His closest challenger was Pete Sattler who followed him home closely in the 1^st 2 Heats but then had a DNF in the 3^rd Heat. Sattler challenged again in the Final but Vogel was able to hold on for a very close win. Others to figure in the placings during the Heats were Guy Wuoti, Craig Balke and Bradley Cox. It was Cox who came through in the Final to finish 3^rd just ahead of Jason Smith and Adam Wood.

Peter Nolloth set the pace in Qualifying for TAG Restricted Masters and was never really challenged thereafter all day winning each Heat by over 7 seconds each time and then the Final by almost 13 seconds. Evan Broughton was the best of the rest finishing 2^nd in every Heat and then the Final. Peter Greenwood and Kevin Castles had a great battle for 3^rd through the Heats but Castles got the better of the battle in the Final to secure the final spot on the podium. Greenwood 4^th and Scott Horwell 5^th in the Final.

Across the rest of the classes, newly crowned Cadet 9 State Champion Sebastian Eskandari-Marandi had a convincing win in the Final from a very impressive drive from Gabriel Elkayam with Zack Hilder 3rd.

Caine Caldwell was the winner in the small 4SS Cadet field. Jenson Burns winning Cadet 12 from Ky Burke and Jaxson Burns.

New State Champion Ryan Macmillan had a narrow win in KA4 Junior Light from Isaac McNeill with a fine drive from Brodie Norris for 3^rd. Likewise in KA3 Junior, the new State Champion Max Walton had a win from Brodie Norris and Armand Hamilton.

The 4SS Juniors put on some great displays of driving and in a thrilling Final, Henry Stratford held out twin brother Charlie Stratford and Finn Woodley in a very tight finish.

In the 4SS Senior classes, Kevin Davis won 4SS Supermaxx Heavy, Sam Greenhalgh won 4SS Senior Medium, Kevin Johnston won 4SS Supermaxx Medium and Coby Tucker won 4SS Senior Light.

Declan Matthews narrowly won the KA3 Senior Final from Kurtis Tennant with Harvey Pryce 3^rd. Marc Tulloch was the winner in TAG light from Hamish Fitzsimmons and Alexander Hadden.

In a rare appearance at Ipswich, Regan Payne was the winner of TAG Heavy from Christopher Williams and Sam Houston. Open Performance provided an entertaining mixture of KZ2, twin engines and DD2’s with Bailey Sagaidak in fine form winning from Brock Plumb and Ryan Uhlmann.

Next race meeting at Ipswich Kart Club will be on the 30th of October with the final club round for the year and the famous IKC Cadet Titles on offer.