Spectacular Racing at Australian Kart Championship Opening Round


from karting.net.au 5 April 2015
 

The round one winners were crowned in the Australian Kart Championship presented by Jayco and Castrol EDGE in Melbourne today.

In the KZ2 Gearbox class, West Aussie Jake Klarich took his first ever Australian Championship round win in a terrific final. Local Praga Kart driver, Troy Woolston led the first 17 laps of the race before Klarich made his move at turn one. Woolston made a rare mistake running wide opening it up for the youngster to charge through for the win from Jason Pringle and a resurgent Chris Hays.

It was a five kart freight train for much of the race which also involved fourth placed Matthew Wall. 2014 V8 Utes Champion Kris Walton crossed the line fourth, while Woolston recovered for 10th.

Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport V8 Supercar driver, Nick Percat scored a sensational eighth placed finish after dropping back to 15th at one stage early in the race.


Above: Footage of today's live stream from Melbourne

Liam McLellan has got his Championship chase underway in the perfect possible way for the Holden-supported JC Kart team by taking the $1,000 victory in today’s first round with team boss, James Courtney on hand.

McLellan dominated the weekend setting the pole time and then winning every single race on offer in the KF2 class.

He was followed to the line by Pepsi Max supported Arrow pilot, Scott Sorenson with Championship debutante Bradley Marsh-Stepney third.

In the top junior category, KF3, Victorian Oscar Piastri continued the great form of yesterday to take his FA Kart to victory in convincing fashion, 5.1 seconds the margin. Not so convincing was the battle for second which included four drivers and raged from the opening lap.

All four had stabs at second but in the end it went the way of Reece Sidebottom, who led the early stages over Canberra brothers, Zane Morse and debutante, Alec Morse with Joshua Denton having his best ever KF3 outing near the front of the field.

In the X30 class, Brad Jenner continued his good form to win over Bradley Stewart and Brendan Nelson after a spirited battle but all eyes were further back in the pack on Daniel Rochford.

After having to pull in with a bodywork issue in heat one and crashing out of heat three, Rochford started from 25th position on the grid for the final. He pushed his way forward to finish a stunning sixth place in a tightly packed field.

In the KA TaG class Formula K’s Adam Lindstrom’s run from yesterday continued winning by 2.7 seconds over Ricciardo Kart Victorian Dean Foster and Rick Pringle bringing his CRG home in third.

The KA Junior class – a new class to Australian karting using an IAME KA100 motor – produced some outstanding racing right throughout the weekend.

Cooper Murray emerged on top in his Arrow kart over Angelo Mouzouris and Cory Arnett. Benito Montalbano worked his way up to fourth after being deep in the field for much of the weekend whilst Jack Doohan dropped back to fifth after being at the point for much of the weekend.

In the KA12 category using the Vortex Mini-ROK engine a surprise winner emerged in Emerson Harvey. For drivers between 9 and 12 years of age, KA12 produced some of the most intense racing throughout the weekend. Harvey came out on top from Tex Starr-McCoy and Jay Hanson.

The KA1 class – also using the IAME Reedjet 100cc  – was one of the highlights of the weekend.

Victorian Matthew McLean emerged on top taking a narrow victory over James Sera. Sera, the Victorian karting legend, dropped down the order before charging back setting fastest lap after fastest lap.

He was able to get his way past Matt Wall and Leigh Nicolaou who had been battling in the front pack for most of the race.

Braydon North scored third placing in front of Justin Francis.

Overall, the Australian Kart Championships, presented by Jayco and Castrol EDGE produced some outstanding and tight racing.

The next round will take place in Monarto, South Australia over the weekend of May 22-24.

  • Full results on CMS HERE

Home



kartsportnews promo banner