Ward Brothers Win & Pittam Doubles Up At NT Titles

press release

The Ward household on the Gold Coast will be a happy one this week with brothers Damien and Lucas Ward both securing victory at the Northern Territory State Karting Championships today.

For Damien, 17, today’s victory in Rotax Light marks the second state crown of his karting career, his previous win coming in the Rookies category six years ago. During the heat races Ward was challenged by New South Wales driver David Whitmore, who appeared to have the pace to match it with the Pacific Kartsport Arrow driver.

Above: Damien Ward
pic - photowagon.com.au

When Whitmore dropped back to fifth place during the opening lap of the final it allowed Ward to open a commanding lead and go on to claim the win. Whitmore recovered for second spot ahead of West Aussie Nathan Davis.

Not to be outdone by his older brother, Lucas Ward led from start to finish in the final of the Junior Clubman category. Local driver Kevin Norman was impressive during his second event in the higher-powered Clubman class aboard his Arrow kart, however, when he lost ground during the opening lap of the final it provided Ward with a handy buffer.

Above: Lucas Ward
pic - photowagon.com.au

Norman charged his way through the field to be running second just after half race distance but a mechanical issue brought his campaign to an end shortly after allowing Victorian Travis Kodric to take the runner-up spot.

South Australian Paul Pittam made it two wins in the Top End in as many years in the Clubman Heavy category before also getting the better of a weekend-long battle with Craig Stauner in Rotax Heavy to claim his second victory of the weekend.

Stauner was the early pace setter in his Top Kart, however, it was Pittam who found the extra speed aboard his Australian-made Omega kart to claim the win in today’s final. Local driver Patrick Hamon finished third.

Above: Paul Pittam
pic - photowagon.com.au

Darwin drivers dominated the podium in the Leopard Light category with Royce Nott taking the win ahead of defending Champion Chris Gatt and Palmerston resident Tony Willes.

The final lap of the Junior National Light class was intense to say the least. New South Wales Tony Kart driver Chris Corbett led the way over the closing stages but with five drivers in close proximity the title was far from being decided. After a number of passing manoeuvres it was South Australian Todd Hazelwood who crossed the line first ahead of Lachlan O’Relly, Caleb Wilson and Corbett. A post race stewards hearing saw the top two finishers reversed, handing O'Reilly the win.

Bunbury’s Jake Wright claimed a narrow win in the Midgets category from local drivers Bryce Fullwood and Jordan Smith.

A last corner pass by Adelaide’s Tyler Morrison appeared to have secured his maiden State Championship over Victorian Jake Klein. However, officials later reversed the finishing order due to the last corner incident, handing the win to Klein.

Travis Kodric proved too good in the Junior National Heavy class to add another State Championship to his ever growing resume while West Aussie Ashley Pittard proved too good for local star Jake Meyer in Clubman Super Heavy.

Dual National Champion Matthew Waters was only headed in one event during the Clubman Light proceedings - the opening heat race. Waters led home South Aussie Matthew Panella and Gold Coast-based Kiwi Scott McLaughlin.

2009 NORTHERN TERRITORY STATE KARTING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The view the full results please click here.

Midgets
1 Jake Wright WA Arrow
2 Bryce Fullwood NT Tony Kart
3 Jordan Smith NT Monaco

Rookies
1 Jake Klein Vic Arrow
2 Tyler Morrison SA Arrow
3 Damon Strongman Vic Arrow

Junior National Light
1 Lachlan O’Reilly NSW Azzurro
2 Todd Hazelwood SA Arrow
3 Caleb Wilson Qld Monaco

Junior National Heavy
1 Travis Kodric Vic Arrow
2 Daniel Oosthuizen NSW Arrow
3 Matt Trawinski WA Arrow

Junior Clubman
1 Lucas Ward Qld Arrow
2 Travis Kodric Vic Arrow
3 Adrian Wright Qld Tony Kart

Clubman Light
1 Matthew Waters NSW Arrow
2 Matthew Panella SA Arrow
3 Scott McLaughlin Qld Arrow

Clubman Heavy
1 Paul Pittam SA Omega
2 Julian Laws Qld Monaco
3 Michael Baker NT Arrow

Clubman Super Heavy
1 Ashley Pittard WA Monaco
2 Jake Meyer NT Top Kart
3 Thomas Janusz Qld Tony Kart

Leopard Light
1 Royce Nott NT Top Kart
2 Chris Gatt NT Kosmic
3 Tony Willes NT Omega

Rotax Light
1 Damian Ward Qld Arrow
2 David Whitmore NSW Top Kart
3 Nathan Davis WA Arrow

Rotax Heavy
1 Paul Pittam SA Omega
2 Craig Stauner NSW Top Kart
3 Patrick Hamon NT Monaco

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