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AKA press release

JACOBSON DOES THE DOUBLE IN THE TERRITORY

Victorian Gary Jacobson has proved why he is considered one of the top junior karters in the country with a dominant double victory in the Northern Territory State Karting Championships in Darwin this weekend.

Jacobson claimed the victory in both the Junior National Heavy and elite Junior Clubman categories (pictured below).

pic - Ash Budd, www.photowagon.com.au

The teenager was the defending champion in the Junior National Heavy category and wasn’t seriously challenged on his way to victory in the 16-lap final, however, the same can’t be said for the final of Junior Clubman.

New South Wales driver Mathew Hart got the jump on the opening lap and led the way until Jacobson found his way into the lead on lap four. As Jacobson cleared away from the field Hart began to fall into the clutches of Queenslander Lucas Ward.

With a handful of laps remaining Ward found a way past Hart into second place.

Jacobson crossed the line well clear of Ward and Hart to claim the fourth state championship of his career.

In the senior ranks it was local driver Chris Gatt who broke through for his maiden state championship when he took out the Leopard Light category. Gatt (below, celebrating victory) led home a Territory quinella in the category with Darwin teenager Royce Nott finishing runner-up.

pic - Ash Budd, www.photowagon.com.au

The 21-year-old was headed during the early laps by his fellow Northern comrade Nott in his Top Kart but on lap eight Gatt, who was the fastest qualifier on Saturday, regained his ascendency.

When South Australian Paul Pittam began to hassle Nott for second place it allowed Gatt to open a buffer over the battle for the runner-up spot. A mid-race incident between the pair enabled Gatt to extend his lead to a race-winning margin and resulted in damage to Pittam’s Australian-made Omega kart.

Gatt celebrated the biggest victory of his karting career as he crossed the line well clear of Nott. Toowoomba driver Luke Lane finished in third place aboard his Zanardi Kart.

This weekend’s championships were Gatt’s fifth tilt at a home-town title and after two podium results in the past couple of years the 21-year-old was delighted to get the ‘monkey off his back’.

“After five attempts and finishing as the bridesmaid over the last couple of years it is great to finally win one,” said Gatt. “Royce (Nott) got the jump on me at the start of the final and made me work pretty hard during the early laps but I just stayed calm and waited for my opportunity to move into the lead.”

South Australian Matthew Panella (below) broke through to claim his maiden NT crown, the second state championship of his karting career, in the Clubman Light category. Western Australian Jayme Light was the 'holeshot hero' and led the opening few laps of the final before defending Champion Nicholas Karavas moved into the lead.

pic - Ash Budd, www.photowagon.com.au

Further back in the pack, a mid-race incident eliminated Lydon Dodge and saw Light drop down the order. Panella then moved to the front of the pack with a handful of laps remaining to cross the line two kart-lengths clear of Sebastien Tolson. Tolson was later excluded due to a technical infringement elevating Tom Williamson into second and Royce Nott into third.

Victories in the other categories went to Joshua Buggy (Midgets), Jonathan Venter (Rookies), Mathew Hart (Junior National Light), Corey James (Senior National Light), Paul Pittam (Clubman Heavy), Ashley Pittard (Clubman Super Heavy), Tom Williamson (Rotax Light), Anthony Grant (Rotax Heavy) and Nathan Mills (Leopard Heavy).

Above: South Australian Todd Hazlewood leading the pack in Junior National Light.
Pic: photowagon.com.au

The full list of results can be found on mylaps.com by CLICKING HERE.

The next major event on the Australian karting calendar is the Queensland State Karting Championships presented by the Smart City Vocational College to be in Rockhampton next weekend.

RACE NOTES FROM THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

MIDGETS
Despite some early pressure from arch rival Jake Dixon, who narrowly won the Victorian Open earlier in the year, Canberra driver Joshua Buggy (below) broke through for his maiden state crown in the Midgets category.

pic - Ash Budd, www.photowagon.com.au

The pair exchanged the lead on no less than seven occasions during the opening laps before the Maranello kart driver opened a slender lead before crossing the line several kart-lengths clear of Dixon in his Arrow kart.

Local driver Blake Adcock finished third, which was altered to second when Dixon was later excluded from the results due to a technical infringement.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Joshua Buggy
2. Blake Adcock
3. Jayden Meckenstock

CLUBMAN SUPER HEAVY
After dominating all of the preliminary races New South Wales driver Wayne Marsh succumbed to a last lap pass by Ashley Pittard in the Clubman Super Heavy Final.

The leading duo of Pittard and Marsh were joined on the podium by Western Australian Monaco driver Ashley Hounsfield.

Thomas Janusz and local driver Jake Meyer had a coming together during the early laps that forced them both onto the sidelines.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Ashley Pittard
2. Wayne Marsh
3. Ashley Hounsfield

ROOKIES
Top Kart youngster Jonathan Venter opened an early lead in the final of the Rookies category before he was reeled in by Chris Corbett over the closing stages. The pair exchanged the lead on the final lap before Venter claimed the narrowest of victories.

The battle for the minor positions was a hotly contested affair with Jack Oosthuizen holding on ahead of Dalton Ellery for the final spot on the podium.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Jonathan Venter
2. Chris Corbett
3. Jack Oosthuizen

LEOPARD LIGHT
Local driver Chris Gatt achieved his aim for the weekend by breaking through for his maiden State Championship in the Leopard Light category.

The Palmerston resident was headed during the early laps by fellow Territorian Royce Nott in his Top Kart but on lap eight Gatt, who was the fastest qualifier yesterday, regained his ascendency.

When South Australian Paul Pittam began to hassle Nott for second place it allowed Gatt to open a buffer over the battle for the runner-up spot. A mid-race incident between the pair enabled Gatt to extend his lead to a race-winning margin and resulted in damage to Pittam’s Omega kart.

Gatt celebrated the first championship victory of his karting career as he crossed the line well clear of Nott in second place. Toowoomba driver Luke Lane finished in third place aboard his Zanardi Kart.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Chris Gatt
2. Royce Nott
3. Luke Lane

JUNIOR NATIONAL LIGHT
The top four ran nose to tail during the opening few laps of the Junior National Light final with Arrow driver Mathew Hart (below) leading the way narrowly ahead of Jordan Lloyd, Todd Hazelwood and Chelsea Holman.

pic - Ash Budd, www.photowagon.com.au

Hart and Lloyd exchanged the race lead on a number of occasions throughout the race, including twice on the final lap, before Hart crossed the line one kart-length ahead of Lloyd. Closely following the pair was Hazelwood in third place ahead of Chelsea Holman.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Mathew Hart
2. Jordan Lloyd
3. Todd Hazelwood

ROTAX HEAVY
An incident on the opening lap of the Rotax Heavy final between front row combatants Patrick Hamon and Anthony Grant forced the latter to the rear of the field and allowed Hamon to open a commanding lead.

Grant stormed through the field to cross the line in second place behind Hamon. Michael Rowe finished third.

Following a post-race investigation regarding the opening lap incident the top two positions were reversed handing Grant the victory.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Anthony Grant
2. Patrick Hamon
3. Michael Rowe

SENIOR NATIONAL LIGHT
In a small field of Senior National Light Corey James was simply dominant on his way to victory. The Queenslander finished well clear of local driver Royce Nott.

South Australian Matthew Panella finished third.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Corey James
2. Royce Nott
3. Matthew Panella

JUNIOR NATIONAL HEAVY
Victorian driver Gary Jacobson proved too good for his opposition in Junior National Heavy.

The Arrow pilot was never challenged on his way to victory and crossed the line well clear of Daniel Oosthuizen. Western Australian Jason Hounsfield got the better of a battle with Chelsea Holman for the final podium spot.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Gary Jacboson
2. Daniel Oosthuizen
3. Jason Hounsfield

ROTAX LIGHT
Queensland Arrow driver Damian Ward started on pole for the final of Rotax Light and led the opening few laps before the current National Rotax points leader Tom Williamson took over the front running on lap four.

Despite his best efforts Ward couldn’t match the pace of Williamson, who failed to finish both heat races, and was forced to settle for second place behind the dominant New South Welshman.

Ex-Darwin driver Ryan Rannard had a lonely race on his way to the final podium position ahead of Kyle Ensbey followed by four locals David O’Dowd, Peter May, Ricky Jones and Wendy O’Dowd.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Tom Williamson
2. Damian Ward
3. Ryan Rannard

LEOPARD HEAVY
Queensland Top Kart driver Nathan Mills was unstoppable across the weekend on his way to claiming the Leopard Light championship.

Stauner was running second until late in the race. Pitt moved to second followed shortly after he was followed in the top three by Jake Meyer.

Pitt dropped down the order following an incident with Meyer late in the race which allowed Eric Smith to fill the final spot on the podium.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Nathan Mills
2. Jake Meyer
3. Eric Smith

JUNIOR CLUBMAN
With both Mathew Hart and Gary Jacobsen already having secured victories earlier in the day they were both out to chase the ‘double’ in Junior Clubman.

Hart got the jump on the opening lap and led the way until Jacobsen found his way into the lead on lap four. The Victorian continually picked up the pace throughout the race to cross the line well clear of Lucas Ward, who got the better of Hart with a handful of laps remaining.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Gary Jacobson
2. Lucas Ward
3. Mathew Hart

CLUBMAN HEAVY
South Australian Omega driver Paul Pittam started on pole for the final of Clubman Heavy but was headed into turn one by Queenslander Nathan Mills.

Pittam moved into the front mid race before crossing the line well clear of Mills. Third across the line was Scott Armstrong.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Paul Pittam
2. Nathan Mills
3. Scott Armstrong

CLUBMAN LIGHT
South Australian Matthew Panella broke through to claim his maiden NT crown, the second state championship of his karting career, in the Clubman Light category. Western Australian Jayme Light led the opening few laps of the final before defending Champion Nicholas Karavas moved into the lead.

Further back in the pack, a mid-race incident eliminated Lydon Dodge and saw Light dropped down the order. Panella then moved to the front of the pack with a handful of laps remaining to cross the line two kart-lengths clear of Sebastien Tolson. Tolson was later excluded due to a technical infringement elevating Tom Williamson into second and Royce Nott into third.

RESULTS: Top Three
1. Matthew Panella
2. Tom Williamson
3. Royce Nott

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