3 x Supercheap Podiums For Doyle's Racing Kartsport
press release
The X-treme Racing Apparel supported Doyle’s Racing Kartsport Team achieved 3 podium results today at the most recent round of the 2010 Supercheap Auto Kart Series, held at Greer Park Raceway, Toowoomba. James Greenwood took a convincing 1st in Clubman Pro, with team mate Brendan Nelson 3rd, and DRK Junior, Mitchell Gee grabbed his debut win in the Junior Clubman class.
James Greenwood (right, Roxanne Beetham, DRK Team Photographer) lead the blue / green charge in the Pro Clubman class with a compelling win in all three of the 18 lap main races on Sunday, after a solid qualifying in 3rd on Saturday. Team mate Brendan Nelson wasn’t anywhere near the front after a bad qualifying round on Saturday, only managed to get his Kart across the line with the 12th fastest time.
“The Kart was just ugly on Saturday,” said Nelson. “We didn’t get it sorted in time for the qualifying session and I’ll now start deep in the grid. Although it’s a 9 Kart advantage I didn’t want to give to James, it is my home track, so I’m not really concerned.”
Brendan was on the money about his home track knowledge, as he made his way past five karts in the opening few corners of Sunday’s Race 1 and had positioned himself securely in 3rd by the 18th and final lap. He started Race 2 from P3 line astern his team mate, Greenwood, but the pair was challenged from the onset by Brenton Simmonds in the TRACKSA Team Clubman. Simmonds looked to have speed at the end of the main straight on each occasion and the three changed positions throughout the race several times. Ultimately Greenwood lead home Simmonds and Nelson in hot pursuit.
Race 3 late in the afternoon was a dead set cracker. The lead 3 karts of Greenwood, Nelson and Simmonds were swapping places up to 4 times in a single lap, with a full pack of other hungry Clubman drivers only a few lengths behind. Greenwood and Nelson looked to have a blue / green 1, 2 wrapped up with 4 laps to go, when Alexandra Whitley smartly played her card from what was a consistently fast 4th place and broke the Harrington Doyle drivers strangle hold apart. Nelson followed Whitley across the line, as Greenwood greeted the chequered flag to take the win.
Having his first drive in a Junior Clubman Kart, 13yo Doyle’s Kartsport driver, Mitchell Gee was looking to achieve at best a 3rd place overall for the weekend against Sam Lumsden, Jarred Lane and the other Junior Clubman competitors. Having qualified 2nd on Saturday, the Sunshine Coast youngster surprised himself as to how quickly he had adapted to the added power and different driving style of the Clubman from his familiar Junior National Kart.
In Race 1 Gee acquitted himself quite well by crossing the line in 2nd place, having made and kept a good gap over the 3rdplace competitor. Although a little bruised and weary after 18 long laps, he climbed aboard his # 13 Tony Kart to start from P2 in Race 2. After an initial duel with the Lumsden and Lane, Gee made it to the front of the freight train and crossed the line for his maiden win in the class. Starting from Pole in Race 3, Gee was immediately under attack in the first corners by Lane. The pair went at it for much of the race, but eventually Gee bridged a gap and started to build it even further. Lane was determined to fight on and drove a hard race to finish 2nd behind Gee on lap 18.
“The boys and the Team provided me with a great Birthday gift today when they put the Harrington Doyle blue / green Karts at the front of their respective fields,” said Team Manager, Craig Doyle. “It’s great to see them all doing so well, especially young Callum Walker racing strong in Junior National Light as well.”
Brendan and Mitchell will put their Clubman Karts aside now for the next 3 weeks, as they join their respective F100 and Rotax Teams to compete in the F100 Queensland State Titles (21 & 22 Aug) and the Rotax Nationals (4 & 5 Sep) at Ipswich.
On the same weekend as the Rotax Nationals, James and Callum will head north to Gladstone for Round 5 of the 2010 Supercheap Auto Kart Series.
The 4 Doyle’s Racing Kartsport drivers will be back together on 12th September at Warwick, for Round 4 of the Southern Star Series, before heading to Tamworth for the NSW State Open Championships.
