Next Generation of Karting Stars Set To Make Their Mark

press release

During the late 1990s and last decade names such as Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom, Ryan Briscoe, James Courtney and Michael Caruso dominated the headlines in Australian karting.

Between the group, four of which hail from the suburbs of Sydney, they amassed two World Karting Titles and six CIK Stars of Karting crowns during their formative years.

Above: Mark Winterbottom in 100cc Formula A, 2001

With Australia’s elite karting series, the CIK Stars of Karting Series, set to kick off for 2011 at Ipswich in Queensland later this month (February 26/27), the next generation stars are looking to make their mark in Australian motorsport.

Leading the way for the budding teenagers is Pierce Lehane (Castle Hill, NSW), who dominated last year’s Pro Junior (KF3) championship on his way to his maiden Australian title aboard a CRG chassis.

After defeating the best young drivers in Australia, Lehane headed to Italy last November where he impressed many onlookers from the factory European teams with his blistering speed and mature attitude during his two race appearances.

Above: Pierce Lehane is the reigning Pro Junior (KF3) Champion in the CIK Stars of Karting Series
pic - KartX/Budd

“To get the opportunity to race in Italy was a great experience and to show that I could match it with the best young drivers from all across the world was a fantastic feeling,” said Lehane.

“I learnt a lot throughout last year’s series and also in my trip to Italy, all of which should put me in a good position as I try to defend my championship in what I think will be an even tougher year with more top drivers joining the series.”

Lehane credits a lot of his development over the past couple of years not only to the dedication and support shown by his family but also his mentor Brian Lindsay. A long-time karting mentor and engine tuner, Lindsay has been the driving force behind many of the country’s top young drivers during their formative years – including Courtney during the early 90s and Briscoe on his way to back-to-back Pro Junior (KF3) crowns in 1995 and 1996.

“Brian is a great influence on me, he not only builds my engines but he is great with kart set-up and really understands what you need to do to be successful in the sport. He’s been around for a long time and helped a lot of good drivers develop themselves,” said Lehane.

Set to line up on the grid alongside Lehane in the battle for the Pro Junior (KF3) crown will be fellow Sydneysider (Hinchenbrook, NSW) Joseph Mawson.

The pair have been the star performers in the junior ranks over the past couple of years, sharing the top honours in many of the blue ribbon events across the country.

Above: Joseph Mawson will race with the Kart 1 Racing team, and has switched to a Top Kart chassis for the CIK series.

“Pierce and I have had some great battles over the past few years but this year I think our rivalry will go up another step as we battle to win the CIK Stars of Karting Series,” said 14 year-old Mawson, who will compete in the series aboard a European-made Top Kart.

“I’m a bit young to have seen the likes of Winterbottom and Courtney race a kart but I’ve certainly read about what they won during their careers in karts. Jamie Whincup has really inspired me over the past couple of years, he went from a small team, then to be out of a drive to where he is now – a dual V8 Supercar Champion.”

More than 20 of the countries top young drivers are expected to line up for Australia’s elite karting series, to be held across five rounds in 2011.

Along with Lehane and Mawson, names such as last year’s series runner-up Brock Plumb (Forest Lake, QLD), Jake Klarich (Perth, WA) and New Zealand Champion Aaron Marr are expected to figure prominently throughout the year.

For the first time in many years, Australian karting will have three young female competitors lining up in the elite series with Queenslander (Kuraby, QLD) Renee Gracie, Victorian Isabella Thomas and Kalgoorlie’s Holly Patrizi set to take the fight to the boys.

Round one of the 2011 CIK Stars of Karting Series will be hosted by the Ipswich Kart Club on February 26/27.

Above: Michael Caruso was a the 1997 Junior CIK Champion when the class ran as 100cc JICA

Above: 1996 Junior CIK final at Oran Park

CIK Stars of Karting Series Champions

Pro Light (KF1)
2010 – Cian Fothergill (Kosmic/IAME)
2009 – Hayden McBride (Gillard/IAME)
2004 – Barclay Holden (Trulli/Parilla)
2003 – Barclay Holden (Trulli/Parilla)
2002 – Adam Graham (Arrow/Rotax)
2001 – Mark Winterbottom (Tony Kart/Vortex)
2000 – Neil McFadyen (Top Kart/Comer)
1999 – Jamie Whincup (Tecno/Parilla)
1998 – Ryan Wlodzinski (PCR/PCR)
1997 – David Clark (Tecno/Atomik)
1996 – Jeremy Lohmann (Tony Kart/Vortex)
1995 – Darrell Smith (PCR/PCR)
1994 – Phillip Scifleet (Haase/Italsistem)
1993 – Richard McLeod (Azzurro/Fox)

Pro Gearbox(KZ2)
2010 – Matthew Wall (BRM/TM)
2005 – Bart Price (Arrow/TM)
2004 – Bart Price (Arrow/TM)
2003 – Tyson Pearce (Omega/TM)
2002 – Jason Burns (Mac Minerelli/TM)

Pro Junior(KF3)
2010 – Pierce Lehane (CRG/Vortex)
2005 – Joshua Scott (BRM)
2004 – Kristian Lindbom (Top Kart/Comer)
2003 – Kristian Lindbom (Top Kart/Comer)
2002 – Ben Chong Sun (Top Kart/Comer)
2001 – Tim Slade (Top Kart/Comer)
2000 – Andrew Thompson (Tony Kart/Vortex)
1999 – Adam Graham (Tony Kart/Vortex)
1998 – Neil McFadyen (Top Kart/Comer)
1997 – Michael Caruso (Tony Kart/Vortex)
1996 – Ryan Briscoe (CRG/CRG)
1995 – Ryan Briscoe (CRG/Parilla)
1994 – Christian Jones (CRG/Rotax)
1993 – Mike Hazelton (CRG/Parilla)

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