Pro Tour The Grandest Of This Weekend's Finals


press release 30 September 2015

“Sheep Stations on the line for this weekend’s Rotax Pro Tour Grand Final”

Grand Final fever is truly upon us this week, with three major sporting Grand Finals all set to stage the biggest and best contests of the year. In the AFL, the Hawthorn Hawks will take on Perth’s West Coast Eagles at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In the NRL, for the first time in history two Queensland teams – the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys - will play-off in their premiership decider at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium. But the big HOO-HAA…the one that we have all been waiting for…the Rotax Pro Tour Grand Final, hosted at the Ipswich Kart Circuit, will be this year’s ultimate decider!

With 12 Australian tickets to the Rotax World Finals on the line, and this year’s Series Points being closer than they have ever been for a Top 3 ranking, Finals day on Sunday will no doubt be a hard-charging and emotional day.

Adding to the depth of Australian talent entered for this weekend will be Dutch star Marijn Kremers who headlines an International fleet of drivers, including New Zealand’s Madeline and Ashleigh Stewart, Dylan Drysdale, Samuel Wright, Jayden Ransley, Matthew Payne and Brendon Hart. In addition to crowning this year’s Rotax Max Australian Challenge Champions, the Rotax Pro Tour Grand Final will also decide the Queensland State Champions and the Manufacture’s Cup Champions.

Micro Max

In its first year as part of the Pro Tour and of Karting in Australia, Micro Max has already seen a wealthy base of competitive racing amongst the youngest drivers in the series. A core group have formed part of the first round of the category, which began at Warwick in June. On the line this weekend for the class, as with the others, will be the Queensland State Title and the inaugural winner of the Australian Rotax Pro Tour Series for Micro Max.

Oscar Targett has been a consistent performer through the initial rounds as heads into this weekend as the favourite, though Jack Westbury will buoyant on the back of his strong form last time out at Puckapunyal. The pair are the current series points leaders with Adrian Haak and Ryan Tomsett sitting third and fourth and all within 1,000 points of each other, hence within striking distance of an overall victory.

Oscar Targett leads the Micro Max points entering this weekend’s final round which marks the conclusion of the first year of the class racing in Australia
Above: Oscar Targett leads the Micro Max points entering this weekend’s final round which marks the conclusion of the first year of the class racing in Australia
pic - Coopers Photography

Mini Max

The Mini Max class has gone from strength to strength in first year in Australian Karting, kicking off at the first round in Melbourne, it has been to witness to over 20 karts at each event with the young drivers already forming healthy rivalries amongst each other and many stars already standing out as drivers to watch for the future. Since Bayley Douglas’ first round win in Dubbo, he has elevated himself to become the marquee driver in the class and the one to chase, holding a healthy points lead entering the final round.

Kai Allen sits second in the points and while a round win has eluded him so far, his performances have all but earnt him a spot on top of the podium and however this weekend remains to be seen as to whether Kai can break his hoodoo.

Jaiden Pope is a close third position in the series points and he is one driver that has stood out as one to catch having taken back to back round wins in Warwick and Eastern Creek. This weekend will however be Bayley Douglas’ home round and he will be looking to use that to his advantage to cement himself at the top of the points at the end of the year.

An overall round win has eluded Kai Allen so far this season, though he currently sits second in the series standings
Above: An overall round win has eluded Kai Allen so far this season, though he currently sits second in the series standings
pic - Coopers Photography

Junior Max Trophy

After having claimed to trip to the Rotax Pan American Challenge as a result of leading the points for Junior Max Trophy at the conclusion of the penultimate round at Puckapunyal, Reece Cohen will be out to lock out the double and pick up the overall win for the series in Ipswich. The season has been successful for Cohen, likewise for New Zealander Matthew Payne. The Kiwi returns after a mixed run last time out on the back of regular round wins and will be joined by fellow countrymen Jayden Ransley and Samuel Wright for their first appearance on Australian soil.

After his success at Eastern Creek and ongoing good results throughout the year, Lucas Lichtenberger still remains amongst the favourites for the win at Ipswich this weekend. Licthenberger, along with West Australian Aaron Love are two drivers that are quite capable of picking up the number one result at the end of the weekend.

New Zealand’s Matthew Payne has made the trip across the tasman throughout this year has been rewarded with strong results in Junior Max Trophy
Above: New Zealand’s Matthew Payne has made the trip across the tasman throughout this year has been rewarded with strong results in Junior Max Trophy
pic - Coopers Photography

Junior Max

This weekend will see yet another oversubscribed field for Junior Max, marking the seventh time from seven rounds in the 2015 season that the class has exceeded track capacity. Reigning Australian Champion Zane Morse enters the event as the favourite, holding a commanding lead in the points as he looks to become the first driver to achieve back to back Australian Championships in Junior Max. Morse has although sewed up a spot at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals which will be his first appearance for Team Australia in his career.

Victorian Reece Sidebottom is another driver that has all but locked his place into an International debut in Portugal, sitting second in the points. As with other drivers in the series, despite not having claimed an overall round win to date in the 2015 season, Sidebottom has achieved a raft of consistent results that have earnt him his place in the second for the season. The battle for the third and final seat comes down to a race between four drivers who all hold a realistic chance of claiming the third and final ticket for Junior Max this year. Joshua Car, Thomas Hughes, Aaron Cameron and Joshua Fife will all do battle for the spot.

Joshua Car is one of four drivers vying for the third and final seat in Junior Max for Team Australia
Above: Joshua Car is one of four drivers vying for the third and final seat in Junior Max for Team Australia
pic - Coopers Photography

Rotax 125 Light

Sydney’s Pierce Lehane has been the dominant force throughout the 2015 Rotax Pro Tour season in Rotax Light, holding a commanding lead in the points heading into the final round. While the opportunity to become the Rotax Max Australian Challenge Champion is still up for grabs for Lehane, his seat for Team Australia as a result of leading the points, if he does so following this weekend, will be passed on to the next placed driver with Pierce having qualified for the Portugal event through his results in Rotax Max Euro Challenge Series for Strawberry Racing. Daniel Rochford is Lehane’s nearest competitor as he looks to make another appearance on the International stage.

Brad Jenner is currently third in the points and enters the event as the defending Australian Champion. While he looks to make it back to back entries to the World finals, with Lehane’s European qualification, it opens up the opportunity for the third seat to at least three drivers; Nicholas Andrews, Cody Gillis and Nathan Tigani who are all within 400 points of each other.

Dutchman Marijn Kremers will make an appearance in the Rotax Light class as the first of three race events downunder for the factory BirelART driver. The 17 year-old who holds numerous titles throughout the World will be competing in Australia under the guidance of former V8 Supercar and Porsche Carrera Cup driver, Michael Patrizi. Kremers will have plenty of strong opposition and it remains to be seen how quickly he can adapt his skills and experience to the Ipswich circuit.

Brad Jenner, Nicholas Andrews and Daniel Rochford are three drivers who will be looking to lock in a trip to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals this weekend
Above: (L to R) Brad Jenner, Nicholas Andrews and Daniel Rochford are three drivers who will be looking to lock in a trip to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals this weekend
pic - Coopers Photography

Rotax 125 Heavy

The largest field to date for the Rotax Heavy class for the 2015 season will be on show at Ipswich this weekend. With this come’s local Chris Farkas looking to hold his points lead and become the Rotax Max Australian Challenge Champion for the first time. Farkas has claimed both the Victorian and NSW State Titles on his way to his points lead approaching the final round and will be looking to end the season on a high. Fellow Queenslander Regan Payne is within 800 points and will be looking to upset the run of the series leader with both drivers holding extensive experience at the circuit.

Clem O’Mara and Scott Simpson sit third and fourth on the points respectively and will both battle for the third placing in the series overall. Daniel Richert will expand his driving commitments to double duties at Ipswich, adding Rotax Heavy to his regular appearance in DD2 Masters where he holds the points lead. In addition, Brendan Nelson makes a return and can be guaranteed to be amongst the front runners come race time.

Regan Payne’s consistent season has rewarded him, sitting second in the Rotax Heavy series points
Above: Regan Payne’s consistent season has rewarded him, sitting second in the Rotax Heavy series points
pic - Coopers Photography

DD2

Jason Pringle holds a considerable lead in the points for DD2 entering the final round at Ipswich and has all but locked in his place to become both the Rotax Max Australian Challenge Champion and thus earning himself a return to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Portugal, a setting that has been a regular showcase for the Victorian driver’s talent against the best in the World. Entering the event, just six points separate second and third for Ryan Kennedy and Troy Woolston with the pair both looking to return to the World Finals for the second year in a row, though for Kennedy it would be his first time in DD2 after forming part of the Senior Max team in 2014.

Following on from his success in Spain last year, Jordan Boys is well within striking distance of another overseas trip with a margin of just 300 points separating the current World Number 3 to Woolston. As with Boys, Lee Mitchener is also a realistic chance of clinching one of the last seats for Team Australia and it remains to be seen if he is able to wear the green and gold for the first time at the Grand Finals.

Victorian Jason Pringle has again been the standout performer in DD2 this season, holding a convincing lead in the overall points
Above: Victorian Jason Pringle has again been the standout performer in DD2 this season, holding a convincing lead in the overall points
pic - Coopers Photography

DD2 Masters

Geelong based Daniel Richert has been the dominant performer in DD2 Masters in season 2015, having opened up a comfortable margin in the series standings after six of the seven rounds. For Richert, a return regular competition in the Pro Tour has proven to deliver fruitful results.

On the back of claiming the number one placing at the end of last season, Adam Hunter has shown glimpses of the dominance that was witnessed last year, however the Sydney driver hasn’t had it all his own way.

Klinton Hancey will be on driver to keep an eye on throughout the weekend with the Queenslander again being home soil. Following his success at the only other round of the year in the sunshine state at Warwick, Hancey will be looking to end the year on a high and pick up not only the Queensland State Title but also his first appearance at the World finals. With the top three fairly settled, consistent strong performers Jason Hryniuk and Scott Howard will enter the event looking to unsettle the season’s front runners and pick up their own piece of silverware to cap off the year.

Sydney’s Adam Hunter will be looking to end the year on a high while Scott Howard will be hoping a home track advantage can help to return him to the podium
Above: Sydney’s Adam Hunter will be looking to end the year on a high while Scott Howard will be hoping a home track advantage can help to return him to the podium
pic - Coopers Photography

Manufacturers Cup

On the back of their win in the Manufacturers Cup in 2014, Tony Kart hold a commanding lead in the points for the race of Kart brands approaching the final round of the series. The competitiveness amongst Kart brands has been reflected by the high rate of growth of makes that have formed part of the 2015 season. As many as 14 different chassis types have hit the circuit this year and while Tony Kart holds a considerable lead, Praga have earnt a healthy amount of points to sit second with the remainder of the top five being formed by CRG, BirelART and Kosmic.

Round 7, the Grand Final of 2015 Rotax Pro Tour takes place at Ipswich, Queensland from 2-4 October.

 

 

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