words - Jonathan Males photos - Brad Segda, Seggiesnaps |
7 March 2013 |
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Twelve new Club Champions crowned at Launceston Kart Club Titles at Round 3 of the 2013 Tasmanian Statewide Series
The third round of the 2013 Tasmanian Statewide Series proved to be a complete contrast to the previous round with only three drivers scoring clean sweeps and most classes seeing more than one winner during the heats. The weekend’s results have really shaken up the series standings with some drivers putting themselves into unassailable positions in the championship whilst others saw their points advantage disappear. Racing was held in perfect conditions with the weather providing two warm, sunny days and the Launceston Kart Club complex once again showing why it’s amongst the best in the country.
The Launceston Kart Club also debuted their new track safety lighting system with great effect. All those behind the implementation of these lights should be proud of their efforts as they are very effective and make racing much safer for all the competitors.
TAG Restricted Heavy is proving to be one of the most hotly contested titles in this year’s series with Matthew Clark and Jason Close doing battle. Clark went into the round with a five point advantage over Close but left with a four point deficit. With both drivers having Burnie as their home track this should go right down to the wire. Taking the club title at Launceston though was Clark aboard his Wrigley’s Karts and Parts Intrepid from Close and Andrew Sherriff who was having his first race for some time bringing his Deloraine Signs backed Monaco home in third.
Above: Daniel Hinds getting some air in the TaG Restricted first corner
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
Once again it was the Dalton versus Lamont show in the Cadets class with the two resuming their series long battle at the front. Although this time they had young William Reeve snapping at their heels in his best performance to date. Dalton took his third pole position in a row and looked to have the pace required to get the job done. This proved to be the case with the only hiccup being the third heat when Lamont found a way past to get the win. In the final though, Dalton got to the front and took a comfortable win from Lamont and Ethan Wyllie joined them on the podium in third. Burnie should once again see these two young drivers competing for the win in series, no doubt whoever comes out on top will be a very worthy winner.
Clubman Heavy was shaping up to be another Mitchell Evans benefit after taking pole and the first race win. However, Troy Stone had other ideas and from heat two he took over and never looked back. Second on the day went to the enigmatic Michael Jones who made his father Darrell very proud. The resurgent Jonathan McDonald came home in third, happy to be back at the front of the field. Fifth place in the Final means Evans now has a twenty two point buffer over Stone going to Burnie. No doubt he will be hoping to recapture the form that saw him very nearly win a blue plate in this class at this track only five months ago.
Above: Mitch Evans (66) and Troy Stone leading the Clubman Heavy form up
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
With five new drivers competing in the TAG Light class it promised to keep the regular competitors on their toes. However Mitchel Evans once again proved to be too fast for his competitors and he took yet another clean sweep with pole position and all the race wins. Jade Waddington got the better of his duel with Steven Wrigley who took second and third respectively in the Final.
Senior National Heavy delivered one of the three clean sweeps for the weekend with Johnathan Males taking pole, three heat wins and the Final. Murray Dadson once again proved consistency is the key with second placing and he now takes a twenty two point advantage into the title decider at Burnie. Big improver in this class was James Pinfold who took third on the day after improving his times to such a degree that he shadowed Dadson for the whole final race.
Above: Two thumbs up from Jono Males who took a clean sweep of Senior National Heavy
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
Nathan Zuj got off to a good start in the Clubman Light class with Pole Position but struggled somewhat from that point on. Brody Appleby took over from the first heat and showed great pace aboard his Tasman Metal Industries Arrow. Unfortunately for him though contact in the Final resulted in a DNF. In the end the win went to young Nicky Richards who broke through for his first win in seniors. He led home Luke Sapwell, Nathan Zuj and Tabatha Badger who put in her best drive to date in fourth place in her TB Photography backed Tony Kart.
Tayla Heath returned to top form in the Rookies class and clawed back the points advantage Brock Evans enjoyed going into the round. She now leads Evans by a solitary point and no doubt Evans will want to use his home track knowledge to provide a strong showing at the next round and wrestle the title lead back. Justin Murphy put in his best performance for sometime and took strong results from the heats. In the Final though, Heath narrowly got the win from Evans and the ever improving Mitchell Kerrison.
Above: Justin Murphy ahead of Brock Evans, Rookies
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
Gemma Wyllie once again proved to be the pace in Senior National Light. She took pole position and three of the race wins. This included the final and fittingly the fast femme took her first club title as a senior. Providing her with strong competition were her team mates Kelsey Sapwell and Keenan Slater who rounded out the podium. Stuart Wells had his first run in the series and he showed he still has the pace to run at the front with a very strong performance in his Wells Wagons Arrow finishing a very close fourth.
Junior National Heavy is shaping up to be a battle between Morgan Jakobovski and Wade McLean with only nine points separating the two after the third round of the series. Jakobovski took pole position and three race wins including the all important final race to create his slight points buffer. However Burnie is McLean’s home track so things could get interesting in this class. On the day Jakobovski took the Launceston Kart Club Title from McLean with Jairus Holmes helping his top three aspirations in the series with third place.
Junior National Light saw Johnah Slater and Brodie Evans battling it out at the front. Evans took pole position and three race wins but Slater snuck past in the final and held on to take the title. Xavier Todman showed the pace to match it with the front two but a missing transponder in qualifying meant he had to play catch up in the heats. Todman took a close third in the final from Lachlan Newman in fourth. Only thirty four points separates these four in the title race so anyone can still win it at Burnie.
Above: One lap to go and it was tight all the way to the line in JNL with Johna Slater (67) coming out on top over Brodie Evans
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
Troy Sheehan made it three pole positions in a row in Senior National Over 40’s Super Heavy class. On this occasion he edged out Scott Wrigley and Alistair Fairley for the five points on offer. However, he could only manage third in the first heat as Greg Wood took the win. Normal service was resumed for the rest of racing however with Sheehan taking wins in the remaining three races. In the final it was Sheehan taking the win and a massive points advantage into the final round from Rod Bender and Greg Wood who got the upper hand on Darren “Big Ted” Williams.
Senior National Over 40’s Pro had two new faces at the front with Fred Cocca and Graham Hoar having their first serious run in the series. Cocca simply dominated the day with lap times consistently half a second faster than his nearest rivals. Hoar was his closest opposition and he took second in his Tasman Metal Industries Tony Kart. Breaking his podium drought was Peter Jessup who took a very well deserved third placing. Another solid day leaves Tim Hinds with a seven point lead in the series going into the final round at Burnie.
Above: It was a big Over 40's J class, Alfredo Cocca (44) and Graham Hoar on the front row
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
The series now moves on to round four to be held at the North Western Kart Club’s Titles at their Highclere circuit on the 23rd and 24th of March. With the Burnie track considered a real drivers track things should get interesting with all driver’s trying to get the win in their class.
Cadets
1st Lachlan Dalton
2nd Brock Lamont
3rd Ethan Wyllie
Rookies
1st Tayla Heath
2nd Brock Evans
3rd Mitchell Kerrison
Junior National Light
1st Jonah Slater
2nd Brodie Evans
3rd Xavier Todman
Junior National Heavy
1st Morgan Jakobovski
2nd Wade McLean
3rd Jairus Holmes
Above: JNH battle for the title between Wade McLean (35) and Morgan Jakobovski (2)
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
Senior National Light
1st Gemma Wyllie
2nd Kelsey Sapwell
3rd Keenan Slater
Senior National Heavy
1st Johnathan Males
2nd Murray Dadson
3rd James Pinfold
Senior National Over 40’s Pro
1st Fred Cocca
2nd Graham Hoar
3rd Tim Hinds
Above: Graham Hoar leading the huge field of Over 40's in his first 'J race in over 18 months
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
Senior National Over 40’s Super Heavy
1st Troy Sheehan
2nd Rod Bender
3rd Greg Wood
Clubman Light
1st Nicky Richards
2nd Luke Sapwell
3rd Nathan Zuj
Above: Aiden Shelton #89 aboard his home made 'BRUV' kart in Clubman Heavy. He started from the rear as a late entrant but showed some pace and was proud of throwing huge moves as he made his way through the field. Alastair Lee (39) and Matthew Freeman (70) follow.
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
Clubman Heavy
1st Troy Stone
2nd Michael Jones
3rd Jonathan McDonald
TAG Restricted Heavy
1st Matthew Clark
2nd Jason Close
3rd Andrew Sherriff
TAG Light
1st Mitchel Evans
2nd Jade Waddington
3rd Steven Wrigley
Above: TaG Light first corner, Mitchell Evans leads Jade Waddington, Matthew Distill and Steven Wrigley
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
Above: Kelsey Sapwell leading Gemma Wyllie, SNL. Wyllie would take the win.
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
Above: Lachy Dalton made it his day at his home track in Cadets. Brock Lamont (10) and William Reeve follow
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
Above: Michael Jones (6, leading Jonathan McDonald) showing the field he is also quick on Sundays!
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
Above: Nicky Richards driving away from Nathan Zuj and Luke Sapwell in the Clubman Light final
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps
Above: The Waddington (93) / Wrigley battle in TaG Light
pic - Brad Sgeda, SeggieSnaps