Qld Rotax MAX Challenge Wraps Up At Toowoomba

press release

Across the weekend, the Toowoomba Kart Club played host to an impressive field in the 5th and final round of The Advance Australasia Queensland Rotax Max Challenge.

Once again round 5 was run under a qualifying format and there was non-stop action the whole day. Damien Ward put his stamp firmly on pole position for Rotax Light, Kane Rowsell took p2 and Troy Bretherton rounded out the top three qualifiers. 

Above: Yarwood and Greenbury do battle

In the Heavy field William Yarwood once again showed he is a class-act taking pole.  Matt Greenbury took p2 and Cameron Harch put himself on p3.

In Rotax Light, Brendan Nelson was dealt a blow during qualifying with his transponder not registering a time and some rather unsympathetic officials declaring that he would have to start at the rear of the grid.  On old rubber Brendan charged in the heats and pre final to start pole in the final.  This was an impressive drive from Nelson considering the pace of the top 4 drivers in the Light field. 

Above: Brendan Nelson

In the final Nelson and Ensby made a break early and it looked like Ensby had the pace to get the job done but Nelsons consistency managed to keep him at bay. Nelson took the chequered with Ensby 2nd, Kane Rowsell put down some fast times and crossed the line 3rd ahead of Damien Ward.

Rotax Heavy also delivered spirited and thrilling racing.  After the heats and pre-finals in Rotax Heavy William Yarwood proved once again he was the benchmark and wanted that prize money and the glory.  But Greenbury on his home track was fast and was not going to sit back and let Yarwood away with an easy victory.

William Yarwood held the start with Greenbury sitting just millimetres off his rear bumper for the entire race.  The two drivers swapped fastest lap times each lap and were circulating at only 3-4 tenths slower that the Rotax Light field.  On the third last corner Greenbury went for an inside pass on Yarwood, there was contact and it almost opened the door for Robbie Daniels to slide through and take the victory.

Above: Yarwood in the pits

But in the end it was Yarwood 1st, Greenbury 2nd and Daniels 3rd.  The drive of the day had to be by Robbie Daniels who has been putting in massive efforts all year and it showed.  Robbie was the only other driver apart from Yarwood and Greenbury to crack lap times under the 43 second mark in the Rotax Heavy field.

JNR Max also ran as a support class for the day and attracted a field of 9.  The racing by these young drivers was amazing and is a good sign of things to come for the class.

Above: Chris Hays

With all the results tallied and with worst rounds dropped from the series table it was time to announce the winner of the coveted series Belt, the overall series placing were:-

• Rotax Light: Damien Ward 1st, Brendan Nelson 2nd , Kyle Ensby 3rd
• Rotax Heavy: William Yarwood 1st, Matt Greenbury 2nd, Lane Moore 3rd

Above: Rotax Light champions

Above: Rotax Heavy champions

Series co-ordinator Ken Bensley said “It was great to see such a fantastic turn out at each and every event and the support for the Rotax Class.  The racing was edge-of-your-seat and it was really great to see the drivers enjoying themselves on and off the track, and in turn delivering awesome racing action for the supporters and spectators. Stay tuned for bigger and better things for 2009”

A big thanks to all our series sponsors Advance Australasia, Work Force International, Custom Decals, Rotax, Totalkarting.com.au, the drivers and the members of the Toowoomba Kart Club for a great weekend. A special thanks to John and Teresa Galos for supplying and running the timing system for the series and to Geoff Salmon from Sports Voice for his great Commentary of the racing.

Above: Lane and Trent Moore

Above: Tyler Greenbury

Above: Kane Rowsell

Above: Team Moore

Above: Cameron Harch

Above: Jack Howard, Jnr MAX

Above: Matt Greenbury

Above: Rotax Heavy on the grid

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