McIlveen Wraps Up Superkarts at Eastern Creek

press release - (full results on Natsoft HERE)

Warren McIlveen won the third of three races held at on Sunday at the Eastern Creek, Round 2 of the V8Supercar Championship series weekend, winning the day for the Tamworth based, six time Australian champion. It was a hard fought win after being pushed all the way initially by Darren Hossack and later by Stephen Castles, before leading Castles home for a 1-2 result for Stockman Superkarts.

In front of the large crowd of Sydney V8 Supercar fans the Australian Superkart fraternity put on some great racing with Hossack (SAFE Evolutions Anderson-SAFE) having to work back to the front after McIlveen and Gary Pegoraro launched away from the grid. Hossack pushed back into the race lead but faded late in the race and speared off the track at the top end of the circuit after bottoming out on a ripple strip.

McIlveen too had an excursion, a bump from another kart sending the Mac's Marine Stockman-Honda off track at turn 4, erasing the lead McIlveen had built up. Castles (Nunawading Engine Centre Stockman-Honda) had to drive from the back of the grid after failing to finish yesterday's race 2 to get to the front, catching the leaders on lap 4. Carlo Chermaz, another with overnight engine problems finally got power in the Buildersmile Constructions PVP and raced in Castles' wake through the field to climb into fourth place at the chequered flag.

The Marron Excavations RMR Superkart team finished fifth and sixth for Jason McIntyre and Gary Pegoraro, their Anderson's losing speed down the straight to the placegetters. Daniel Ramerman was seventh, also a career best weekend for the Ramerman Racing team with Rod Prickett (Rockett Racing Anderson-RCS) fading from fourth to ninth at race's end and Adrian Lombardo taking his first national level top ten in the Lombo Concrete Anderson.

Anthony Lappas completed a trifecta of race wins in the 125cc class in the IGA Supermarkets Stockman-Honda in a near perfect weekend for the South Australian. Colin Moore (Impact Flags and Banners Stockman-Honda) inherited second position on the last lap after Tim Philp (George Floth Engineering Stockman-Honda) had a coming together with a 250 International competitor. Moore set his fastest laps at the Creek and a trio of second places is excellent reward for Superkart racing's veteran. Sonny Luca (Giova Design Avoig-Honda) took third place ahead of Ron Ping.

Rick Setterfield again won the 250 National class in the Marron Excavations RMR Superkarts Anderson-KTM for a perfect weekend for the Victorian and the Rotax Max class was won by Graeme Taplin (Taplin Racing Arrow-Rotax) leaving a different Max winner in each of the three races with Patrick Atherton (Lagler Racing HyperRacer-Rotax) taking the day on consistency.

Driver Quotes:
Warren McIlveen (Mac's Marine/Stockman Superkarts Stockman-Honda), first 250 International: "Good practice, good qualifying. The racing was very busy with lapped traffic. Darren gave us a really good race. I got bumped off the track and had to drive hard the last couple of laps to keep Stephen at bay. It ended up being the most awesome weekend. Racing in front of a big crowd this has been the most fun in years."

Stephen Castles (Nunawading Engine Centre/Signzone Stockman-Honda) second 250 International: "It was a bit nerve wracking starting from so far back and racing in traffic. By the time I got to Warren I had no tyres left. We've worked out the gears for the nationals so we'll be a lot quicker. It's starting to feel like me kart."

Darren Hossack (Safe Evolutions Anderson-SAFE) third 250 International: "Not the best race today, we made some changes, lowering the ride height at the front and it turned out to be the wrong way for what we wanted. Then the front bottomed out over the ripple strip and I speared off the track. We've been second or third fastest all weekend, definitely moving forwards. We know how to chase the setup in the kart now."

Anthony Lappas (IGA Supermarkets Stockman-Honda) first in 125cc class: "All in all a good weekend. The kart ran like clockwork. Racing amongst the twins in heavy traffic keeps us on our toes. It was good to get those great starts, to clear out at the beginning of the race."

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