Double Win For Yatala Kart Team

press release

Although not ideally how the Team would have liked to see the 5th and final round of the 2009 Clubman Gladiators Inter Club Challenge end, Doyle’s Racing Kartsport came away with the Round win and also the outright Clubman Heavy Series win.

The Ipswich Kart Club fielded over 200 nominations for the day’s racing on August 2, when it hosted the final rounds of both the Queensland Rotax ICC and the Clubman Gladiators ICC together with a full complement of club based classes.  Ultimately over stretched for time, the meeting was declared complete at the end of the 2nd round of heats.  Having banked some solid results in the preliminary heats the DRK team drivers luckily found themselves within the Round’s Top 5 before the meeting was declared, unlike other strong contenders for the Series.
Nonetheless, the Harrington Doyle supported Doyle’s Racing Kartsport team were exceptionally pleased to win both the outright round honours and the overall series for the Clubman Heavy class.

Above: Robbie Beetham, 2009 Clubman Gladiators Series Winner.
pic Ash Budd, www.photowagon.com.au

Clubman Heavy - Brendan Nelson (Kosmic # 70)
Although posting some very quick laps in the morning’s timed qualifying sessions, 17yo Nelson and fellow Clubman Heavy competitor Shay Mayes would have to re-qualify via a standalone lap due to their transponders not being electronically registered against their nominations prior to the original qualifying session.

Overcoming this initial frustration Nelson followed Matthew Goddard home in Heat 1, with Klinton Hancey in pursuit.  Mayes whilst very much in centre of the leading pack in the opening laps, dropped back through the field and regrettably DNF’d the heat.  2 ½ hours after the first Heat, Nelson and the Clubman Heavy competitors would take to the track for Heat 2.  The 17yo DRK team driver convincingly won the race ahead of Hancey and Goddard.  Mayes scored a 2nd DNF in Heat 2.

Clubman Heavy – Robbie Beetham (CRG # 30)
Entering into the final round as the current Clubman Heavy Series leader, DRK team driver Robbie Beetham knew that the other competitors would be hot on his tail in an effort to leap frog him in the series points table.  “I knew I had to finish strongly in this round and that there was still a good chance Shay was going to overtake us for the outright Series win”, said Beetham.  “We worked hard during the week in the lead up to the event to ensure we had the best Kart and set-up we could.  We knew with my team mate Brendan Nelson and other competitors like Shay Mayes, Matt Goddard and Klinton Hancey in the mix, that we’d have some really tough competition.   Shay’s unfortunate DNF’s in the last round’s heats added to the early declaration of the meet and my solid results throughout the Series were enough for us to take the outright Gladiators ICC series win.  It’s an awesome feeling and I’m thrilled to have won!”

Above:

Robbie Beetham (Source: Craig Doyle, DRK Team Archives)

From a quality 18 strong Clubman Heavy field, Beetham collected a credible 5th place in Heat 1 and similarly convincing 5th in Heat 2 of the fifth and final Round of the Clubman Gladiators Inter Club Challenge series.  Not only did Beetham win the outright Series and Trophy, but he also won a new KT100S engine, a set of tyres and a front sprocket.  A terrific result from a terrific regional Series.

Clubman Over 40’s – Trevor Beetham (CRG # 12)
DRK Team mate and older brother Trevor Beetham also went into the final round of the Gladiators ICC series in a strong 2nd place in the Clubman Over 40’s class.  Heat placings of 5th and 6th in the Ipswich round slipped Trevor back in the Series Points Table to finish 4th overall and just off the podium in the five round Inter Club Challenge Series.

“We’re exceptionally pleased with Robbie, Trevor and Brendan’s results in the Gladiators Series this year”, said DRK Team Manager, Craig Doyle. “For the second year in a row our blue/green Team Karts and drivers have featured on the podiums throughout this regional Series.  Brendan won the overall Series in 2008 and DRK driver James Greenwood placed 2nd in the Series.  For Robbie to take the outright win in 2009 and Trevor to finish 4th is a tremendous result for both of the boys and our Team.  Shay, Klinton and all of the Gladiators competitors certainly drove hard and made the Series a winner.  Congratulations to all of those who organised, supported and made Gladiators 2009 a success!”

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