A1 Engines Score At Nationals
press release
Two national titles and five podium finishes rewarded the efforts of the five drivers from A1 Engines who travelled to Cockburn near Perth for the 49th AKA National Championships over Easter.
Above: A1 Engines drivers with their haul of trophies from the recent AKA Nationals - (l to r) Todd Hazelwood, Nicholas Ellen, James Golding, Ashley Quiddington
James Golding (Warragul, Victoria), claimed his first national title winning Junior National Light. Golding was virtually unchallenged all meeting in his A1 Engines/Wright kart combination. Fastest qualifier and winner of both heats and the prefinal, he started on pole for the final. After a first lap challenge, he passed then drove away from the rest of the field to record a convincing win.
A second green plate for A1 Engines rewarded a determined drive from Nicholas Ellen (Traralgon, Victoria) in Senior National Light. Qualifying second, with a heat win and a second in the prefinal, Ellen was running second in the final just off the leader’s pace until a mid race shower of light rain. Adapting better to the changed track, Ellen caught then passed the leader and drew away in the final stages to win his first national title.
Ashley Quiddington (Ballarat, Victoria), claimed his first national podium placing 4th in Senior National Light, then went two better to place second in Senior National Heavy after qualifying second earlier in the weekend. Nicholas Ellen ran third behind Quiddington in Heavy.
Todd Hazelwood (Adelaide, S.A.), was fastest qualifier and heat 1 winner in Junior Clubman. In a hard fought final, he had to settle for fifth place after leading early then challenging for most of the race. Hazelwood repeated this performance in Junior National Heavy gaining his second podium for the meeting.
At his first Nationals, Dylan Howell (Adelaide, S.A.), qualified a creditable 11th, then drove consistently well throughout the heats and prefinal to place in the front half of the field. Unfortunately his final ended on lap 4 due to an incident with other competitors.
A1 Engines congratulates all its drivers on their efforts and performances at the 2011 Nationals.
