NSW State Championships - Finals Day

Full results are going on mylaps.com HERE

AKA press from www.karting.net.au

THIRD GENERATION BRABHAM WINS AT NSW KARTING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Third generation racer Matthew Brabham was victorious in the Junior National Light category at the New South Wales Karting Championships sponsored by PDL Electrical Solutions at Port Macquarie this weekend.

As the grandson of a three-time World Formula One Champion and the son of a Le Mans 24-hour winner, there is no doubt that Brabham has motor racing in his blood. The 14-year-old is focused on establishing his own name in the world of motorsport and he continued his family’s history of motor racing success at this weekend's Championships.

nsw state karting championship
Above: Matthew Brabham shows his relief as he crosses the line for victory in Junior National Light.
pic - Ash Budd, www.photowagon.com

After claiming the Queensland Championship in July Brabham entered this weekend’s event, which attracted 375 entries from all across Australia for the 13 categories, as one of the favourites in the Junior National Light and Junior Clubman categories.

Brabham took out the fourth state title of his career with a tight win in Junior National Light, passing Jordan Lloyd on the final lap and then holding the lead to the flag. Brabham led early while main rivals Lloyd and James Kovacic were shuffled back at the start, but remained in the lead bunch.

Kovacic was quickly back up the order and into the lead, with Brabham, Lloyd and Cameron Waters all taking turns at the lead, the latter going from fourth to first in just a couple of corners.

Brabham and Lloyd then got a slight break as the others diced, with Lloyd leading in the closing stages until Brabham’s race-winning move on the final lap heading into Turn 1. Joseph Mawson chipped away all race long gaining positions and came within millimetres of pipping Lloyd for second, with Chris Farkas also climbing up the order late with fourth and Kovacic in fifth.

“When I crossed the finish line it was more of a relief that I was still there than it was happiness about winning,” said Brabham.

“It was a pretty tough race with everyone fighting for the lead. I knew that I had to lead the last lap because this track is pretty easy to block the guys behind you.

“I covered the first three corners on the last lap and then had a look to see that I had a small gap which was enough to give me confidence over the final half a lap.”

Brabham also finished in fifth position in the Junior Clubman category as National Champion James Kovacic claimed the victory ahead of Gold Coaster Chris Hays.

Kovacic made it two victories for the weekend by also taking out the Junior National Heavy class.

In the Senior classes, Tony Kart driver Grant Smith upstaged the National Champion James Sera in the Leopard Light category. Smith took over the lead mid-way through the final and went on to claim the win ahead of Sera and Queenslander Adam Mercer.

Sydneysider Jason Hryniuk proved too good in the highly competitive Clubman Heavy category to take the win ahead of Toowoomba’s Brendan Nelson. He also finished second in the Rotax Light class behind David Whitmore.

The Championships provided the opportunity for local Port Macquarie drivers, including Brad Caldon, Rebecca Brown, Lincoln Kirkness and Luke Horton, to test their skills against the best drivers in the country.

Caldon was running strongly to be placed inside the top ten in the tough Clubman Light category but was unfortunately eliminated by a late race incident.

Brown’s also had a hard luck story with mechanical failure eliminating her out on the opening lap of the Rotax Light Final. She finished 22nd in the 33-kart field of Senior National Light.

Overall, the Event was hailed a tremendous success for the Port Macquarie-Hastings region with many of the visitors rating the circuit as one of the most challenging track they have ever competed at.

“This event was the culmination of months of hard work by a lot of people on the Port Macquarie Kart Club and was a huge success,” said Port Macquarie Kart Club President Tracy Stewart.

“It couldn’t have happened without the support of the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council along with our major sponsors PDL Electrical Solutions and Sargents Pies along with many business within the Hastings region.

“All of the visitors to the circuit rated our track as one of the toughest and best that they have ever competed on. The aim is to continually improve our facilities to ensure we continue to attract major karting events to region.”

nsw state karting championship
Above: Three of Australia's top drivers, Jason Hryniuk, Kel Treseder and Matt Wall
pic - Cooper's Photography

The Top Five finishers and race notes from each of the Championship Finals can be found below.


2008 NSW KARTING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sponsored by PDL Electrical Solutions


RESULTS: TOP FIVE
*All results are provisional

SENIOR NATIONAL HEAVY
1. #76 Nathan Sinclair 14 laps
2. #37 Shaun Cleary
3. #66 Adam Pisula
4. #41 Luke Oxford
5. #78 Nijel Williams

It was a three-way tussle for the win in Senior National Heavy and in the end it was Nathan Sinclair from nearby Newcastle that steered his Arrow to victory.

Sinclair, Corey Lean and Shaun Cleary all took turns of the lead over the course of the 14-lap final. Sinclair took the lead heading into Turn 1 on the final lap and when Lean tried to regain the lead at the next corner the result was Lean spinning off, leaving Cleary to try and wrestle the lead from Sinclair.

Entering the Boral Elbow Cleary looked a good chance, carrying good momentum aboard his Monaco, but the Auto Action and MOTOR journalist could not find a way past Sinclair’s Arrow in the final two corners. Adam Pisula was third ahead of Luke Oxford and Nijel Williams.

JUNIOR CLUBMAN
1. #1 James Kovacic
2. #97 Chris Hays
3. #66 Tyler Greenbury
4. #4 Adam Lindstrom
5. #83 Matthew Brabham

nsw state karting championship
Above: Adam Lindstrom and Kayne Hughes working hard behind the wheel in Junior Clubman
pic - Ash Budd, www.photowagon.com

Starting from pole position James Kovacic proved why he is the National Champion by grabbing the lead at the green light and immediately opening a handy buffer over second placed Chris Hays in his Vodafone-backed Tony Kart.

As the leading duo paced themselves the battled for third place became intense with Max Johnston, Tyler Greenbury, Adam Lindstrom, Ben Jurczak, Garry Jacobson and Matthew Brabham running nose to tail for third through to eighth position.

In the end it was Kovacic who seemingly cruised to victory ahead of Hays. Third place went to Greenbury followed closely by Lindstrom and Brabham.

LEOPARD LIGHT
1. #14 Grant Smith 14 laps
2. #94 James Sera
3. #41 Adam Mercer
4. #92 Thomas Phillips
5. #4 Geoff Urhrane

The start of the Leopard Light final saw two of the pre-race favourites both experience mechanical difficulties on the grid, with David Sera suffering ignition failure. His crew set about changing the Leopard chain guard and ignition coil assembly but could not do so before the field was given the green. Brendan Nelson was also delayed and had to make a visit to the mechanical breakdown lane, but was able to make the start.

James Sera led away with Thomas Phillips close behind, Grant Smith, who had tangled with Deepal Kandola at the start as Kandola spun off, was third and had great pace aboard his Tony Kart.

Smith stalked Sera’s Kosmic, chasing him down gradually and making his move into the lead with five laps to go. Sera simply did not have the pace to stay with Smith and as a bonus to the Tony Kart team Adam Mercer coming through the pack to get third, not far behind Sera. Phillips was fourth and Geoff Urhrane made it two Kosmic chassis in the top five.

nsw state karting championship
Above: Dubbo driver Phil King pushing hard in his Kosmic kart at Port Macquarie
pic - Ash Budd, www.photowagon.com

CLUBMAN SUPER HEAVY
1. #67 Matthew Bailey
2. #27 Bruce Otter
3. #15 Simon Cuzens
4. #12 Phil Straughen
5. #8 Nathan Coleman

Matthew Bailey and Bruce Otter were the pace setters all weekend and this trend continued in the Championship Final.

The pair pulled clear of the field during the opening few laps and left their opposition to battle for the minor positions. Bailey took the win ahead of Otter with Simon Cuzens finishing in third spot, some distance behind the leading duo. Victorian Phil Straughen finished fourth, narrowly ahead of Nathan Coleman.

ROTAX HEAVY
1. #33 Rick Pringle 14 laps
2. #35 Matt Greenbury
3. #2 Andrew Torville
4. #1 Kel Treseder
5. #88 Daniel Stein

Pole sitter Rick Pringle simply proved too good for his opposition in the final of Rotax Heavy at Port Macquarie.

The Victorian CRG driver led from the green light to the chequered flag to maintain a four-kart length gap over second placed Matt Greenbury in his Tony Kart.

PCR’s Andrew Torville had an uneventful race in third place. Current Australian Champion Kel Treseder lost some ground on his fellow front-runners during the opening lap when he was caught up with a spinning Simon Meyer.

JUNIOR NATIONAL HEAVY
1. #2 James Kovacic 14 laps
2. #55 Garry Jacobson
*3. #71 Nathan Morcom
4. #88 Joseph Mawson
5. #16 Jarryd Ebzery
*Result under appeal

James Kovacic took out a tight Junior National Heavy final in a four-way dice for the NSW title, taking the lead from Garry Jacobson late in the race and defending his lead to claim the win.

Nathan Morcom and Joseph Mawson led the field away, with a four-kart freight train soon pulling away from the field. Amongst all the lead changes, Jacobson weighted until mid-race to take the lead and once there held P1 until the penultimate lap, when Kovacic rose to the top of the order.

Kovacic drove a smart, defensive line over the final lap, not allowing Jacobson the chase to get the lead back, with Morcom and Mawson right there as well.

ROTAX LIGHT
1. #57 David Whitmore
2. #45 Jason Hryniuk
3. #49 Jordie Lindstrom
4. #8 Zeke Edwards
5. #29 Kyle Ensbey

David Whitmore was never seriously challenged on his way to victory in the Rotax Light final at the New South Wales Championships sponsored by PDL Electrical Solutions.

After starting from second position the Intrepid driver went around the outside of pole sitter Jason Hryniuk in the opening turn. After opening a three-kart length gap within a matter of laps Whitmore maintained his focus and edged his way further ahead to claim the victory.

Hryniuk was forced to settle for second position, a spot he was never challenged for, as Jordie Lindstrom finished third narrowly ahead of Zeke Edwards and Kyle Ensbey.

ROOKIES
1. #6 Andreas Chronis 14 laps
2. #7 James Hughes
3. #4 Jonathon Venter
4. #5 Dylan Higgins
5. #16 Michael Potter

nsw state karting championship
Above: The finish of the Rookies category was the closest of the day.
pic - Cooper's Photography

Andreas Chronis took the lead with three corners remaining and held on to win a sensational Rookies final in Port Macquarie. The young drivers and their small karts turned on a show at the long, fast circuit with the podium getters greeting the chequered flag three abreast.

Polesitter James Hughes led the majority of the first half of the race aboard his Tony Kart, with three Top Karts shadowing his every move. Chronis held his nerve in the first half of the race but in the closing stages he made his move and jumped to the lead. Hughes regained the lead on the last lap, but Chronis was able to replicate the same move that had got him the lead a few laps earlier at ‘The Bowl’ section at the far end of the circuit and hold on to win. Jonathan Venter and Dylan Higgins followed them home, with Michael Potter leading home a huge pack of karts battling for fifth.

CLUBMAN HEAVY
1. #45 Jason Hryniuk 14 laps
2. #70 Brendan Nelson
3. #77 Daniel Baker
4. #1 Shayne Piper
5. #21 Remo Luciani

nsw state karting championship
Above: Jason Hryniuk kept his best for the final of Clubman Heavy
pic - Ash Budd, www.photowagon.com

Former two-time Australian Champion Jason Hryniuk delivered on his potential during the Clubman Heavy final. All weekend the CRG pilot appeared to have superior speed but he didn’t show his true pace until it mattered most – the Championship Final.

After Brendan Nelson got the jump in his Tony Kart the experienced Hryniuk shadowed his every move as current National Champion Shayne Piper slotted himself into third spot. Hryniuk made his move for the lead at the end of the back straight on lap eight, only to have Nelson regain the lead one corner later.

Within a lap Hryniuk had again moved into the lead, which he never relinquished and he crossed the line several kart-lengths clear of Nelson.

Daniel Baker made a last lap pass on Piper for the final podium spot. Veteran driver Remo Luciani proved that he has lost none of his touch by claiming fifth spot. After failing to finish the pre-final Matthew Wall started from 25th position before charging through the field to finish 11th.

nsw state karting championship
Above: CRG driver Jason Pringle was on of the stars in Clubman Heavy over the weekend
pic - Ash Budd, www.photowagon.com

JUNIOR NATIONAL LIGHT
1. #83 Matthew Brabham 14 laps
2. #94 Jordan Lloyd
3. #88 Joseph Mawson
4. #86 Chris Farkas
5. #9 James Kovacic

Matthew Brabham took out another state title with a tight win in Junior National Light, passing Jordan Lloyd on the final lap and then holding the lead to the flag. Brabham led early while main rivals Lloyd and James Kovacic were shuffled back at the start, but remained in the lead bunch.

Kovacic was quickly back up the order and into the lead, with Brabham, Lloyd and Cameron Waters all taking turns at the lead, the latter going from fourth to first in just a couple of corners.

Brabham and Lloyd then got a slight break as the others diced, with Lloyd leading in the closing stages until Brabham’s race-winning move on the final lap heading into Turn 1. Joseph Mawson chipped away all race long gaining positions and came within millimetres of pipping Lloyd for second, with Chris Farkas also climbing up the order late with fourth and Kovacic in fifth.

CLUBMAN LIGHT
1. #96 David Sera 14 laps
2. #1 Bart Price
3. #20 Cian Fothergill
4. #48 Ben Stewart
5. #13 Matthew Waters

nsw state karting championship
Above: Another title for Deadly Dave
pic - Cooper's Photography

With an all Arrow front row it was David Sera got the jump at the start ahead of Deepal Kandola and National Champion, Bart Price, who started on the outside of the front row. By mid race Sera opened a four kart-length lead over Price who was closely followed by Pacific Kartsports driver Ben Stewart. Price closed the gap on Sera during the middle section of the 14-lap race, as Cian Fothergill did the same on Stewart.

In the end Sera proved to have superior pace and claimed the win by three kart-lengths ahead of Price. Fothergill crossed the line narrowly ahead of Stewart to claim the final spot on the podium. The top seven karts were all Australian-made brands with Joel Smith in his Tony Kart the first European-made chassis in seventh place.

nsw state karting championship
Above: Gold Coaster Ben Stewart was impressive in Clubman Light
pic - Ash Budd, www.photowagon.com

LEOPARD HEAVY
1. #77 Daniel Baker 14 laps
2. #3 Matt Greenbury
3. #2 Nathan Mills
4. #7 Mathew Erdmann
5. #88 Daniel Stein

Daniel Baker had a heap of speed aboard his Kosmic chassis, but in the opening laps of Leopard Heavy it was Nathan Mills who shot to the front of the field. Matt Greenbury, Baker and Mills diced over the early laps, with Greenbury eventually getting a small gap as Baker and Mills ran side by side for several corners.

Baker then used his strong pace to chase down the former Australian champ and make his move into P1 at Turn 3 with just a few laps remaining, pulling away to grab the victory.

RESULTS: PRE-FINAL

ROTAX LIGHT
1. #45 Jason Hryniuk
2. #57 David Whitmore
3. #29 Kyle Ensbey
4. #8 Zeke Edwards
5. #69 Shae Davies

Pole sitter Jordie Lindstrom got the jump at the start in his Tony Kart but when he ran wide on lap three it allowed David Whitmore to take over the lead in his Intrepid kart. At mid race CRG driver Jason Hryniuk showed superior pace to move to the front of the field and pulled clear to claim the victory by several kart lengths.

JUNIOR NATIONAL HEAVY
1. #71 Nathan Morcom
2. #2 James Kovacic
3. #88 Joseph Mawson
4. #55 Garry Jacobson
5. #21 Andrew Roffey

As expected the Junior National Heavy pre-final was a hard fought affair. The top five of Garry Jacobson, James Kovacic, Nathan Morcom, Max Johnston and Darsey Kondopirakis exchanged positions on a number of occasions during the first half of the race. When Johnston and Kondopirakis came together on lap six it ended their race and they will start from the back of the field in the final.

ROTAX HEAVY
1. #33 Rick Pringle
2. #2 Andrew Torville
3. #35 Matt Greenbury
4. #89 Matt Solman
5. #1 Kel Treseder

PCR driver Andrew Torville got the jump at the start as Matt Greenbury made a good move into turn one to slot into second spot. The top four opened a gap over the field and by mid race the CRG of Rick Pringle was looking strong. Pringle took over the lead and opened a four-kart length gap to claim pole position for the final.

SENIOR NATIONAL LIGHT
1. #48 Ben Stewart
2. #13 Corey Lean
3. #46 Daniel Foot
4. #4 Aaron Borg
5. #1 Matthew Waters

Gold Coaster Ben Stewart took full advantage of his pole position to lead the way early but as is expected during Senior National Light racing the lead changed on a number of occasions during the race. Stewart crossed the line two kart-lengths clear of a three way battle for second.

CLUBMAN SUPER HEAVY
1. #67 Matthew Bailey
2. #27 Bruce Otter
3. #65 Bradley Moody
4. #12 Phillip Straughen
5. #2 Wayne Marsh

Matthew Bailey simple proved too good on his way to victory in this pre-final. He crossed the line several kart lengths clear of Bruce Otter and Bradley Moody.

LEOPARD LIGHT
1. #1 James Sera
2. #14 Grant Smith
3. #96 David Sera
4. #92 Thomas Phillips
5. #2 Brendan Nelson

David Sera and Grant Smith started the Pre-Final from pole, but it was James Sera who grabbed the lead early, with Smith shuffled down the order through Turn 1. Smith recovered and briefly took the lead, but James Sera soon took back the ascendancy and took the win ahead of Smith and David Sera.

JUNIOR CLUBMAN
1. #1 James Kovacic
2. #97 Christopher Hays
3. #24 Max Johnston
4. #66 Tyler Greenbury
5. #55 Garry Jacobson

National Champion James Kovacic led from start to finish with Christopher Hays in his Tony Kart holding down second place about three kart-lengths behind the race leader. Max Johnston held on for third after a tight tussle with Tyler Greenbury and Garry Jacobson.

SENIOR NATIONAL HEAVY
1. #76 Nathan Sinclair
2. #14 Corey Lean
3. #37 Shaun Cleary
4. #66 Adam Pisula
5. #78 Nijel Williams

The Senior National Heavy Pre-Final was a four-way affair with the top four crossing within two kart-lengths of each other. In the end it was Nathan Sinclair who claimed the narrowest of victories

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