Southern Stars Series Kicks Off in Canberra
| from Craig @ Sport Radio | 25 March 2013 |
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- Commentary audio is currently available on demand at Sportradio.com.au
Beck Connell (NSKC) starts southern stars series with a solid win. Connell took three wins including the Pre-Final and Final to take the victory in the Tag 125 light championship after the first round in perfect conditions at Canberra last weekend. She leads Logan Reiter (SKRC) by four points as the series will move to Wagga in two months time. Reiter won the first heat, but could only manage second place over the final three races. Harrison Knight (Canb) the only other heat race winner took the final step on the podium.
Tag Heavy was won by John McCabe (Canb) who took wins in Heats 2 & 3 along with the Pre-Final. But a poor Final saw Robert Hogan (Canb) and Kristopher Centofanti (Grif), the eventual Final winner, take vital championship points from him. McCabe has a 3 point lead over Hogan who won heat 1 and is 1 point ahead of Centofanti.
Super Heavy had a consistent Nathan Jess(Canb) with one win and four 2nd place finishes win ahead of Greg Williams (Canb) whose DNF in Heat 1 cost him the victory, when he followed up with 4 subsequent victories including the final. Paul Cirillo (Griff) started the weekend well with a win, but up and down results across the rest of the weekend found him 3rd on points.
Shannon Mclaine (NKRC) dominated the Open Performance Light winning all but one heat, finishing the weekend 12 points ahead of his nearest rival Canberra’s Harrison Knight, Martin Villari (NSKC) was taking the fight up to McLaine winning Heat 2, but a mechanical failure in Heat 3 cost him any chance on the top step of the podium.
Bruce Otter (Canb) started the weekend with two 2nd places in Open Performance Heavy, but was able to turn it on in the final 3 races of the weekend to win his way to the victory. Steve Martin’s (Canb) two victories were nullified when he spun in the Pre-Final and had to drive through the field in the Final to grab his third 2nd place finish. Robert Harnas’ (Canb) had a solid weekend taking 3rd overall.
Sportsman Restricted Light saw Michael Siders (CDKC) with 4 wins take a handy victory 9 points ahead of Johnathon Dawson (Canb) and Michael Hogan (Canb). Kevin Reid (Canb) almost had the perfect weekend with four wins and one 2nd place finish, he now has a 10 point lead in Sportsman Restricted Heavy, heading into the 2nd round of the seiries over Geoffery Bell (Canb) and Damian Murphy (Canb).
Clubman Light was dominated by Brodie Tilbrook (Canb), winning 4 from 5 across the weekend. 12 points the difference between him and Mitchell Croker (CDKC). Beck Connell (NSKC) was the only other winner in the class finishing on the Podium tied on points with Robert Amess (Gren).
Clubman Heavy saw the visitors dominate with Michael Hazelton (CDKC) winning the class by 6 points over Trevor Whitby (Grif) whose win in Heat 3 set him up to ensure a good start in the Pre-Final, leading many laps before Hazelton re took the lead. Richard Drooger (Gren) grabbed the final spot on the podium on a count back from Albury’s Scott Harding.
Clubman Super Heavy was dominated by Bruce Otter (Canb) only a mechanical problem which left him on the sidelines in Heat 3 soured the weekend, winning 4 from 5. Robert Miller’s (Wagg) Disqualification in heat one was costly, while Garry Schultz (Wagg) drove well to secure 3rd place.
Senior National Light was the one of only two classes which was a clean sweep, Kieran Doran (Wagg) dominating with 5 wins. Scott Harding (Alb) was 2nd while Warren Hodder (CDKC) performed solidly to take 3rd.
Senior National Heavy Michael Hazelton (CDKC) with 4 wins and a DNF to win the weekend, over Kurtis Dickson (OKC) and Braden Boots (Grif) tied on points but Dickson’s 3rd place in the final got him the 2nd place trophy.
Junior National Light’s final was cut short after a nasty accident saw Luke Wrigley (Dubbo), Joshua Fife (Canb) and Cameron Longmore (Wagg) heavy impact the inside wall on the start finish straight, all 3 drivers able to walk away from the crash after the first aid officers attended the incident. Canberra driver Zane Morse won the weekend over Lachlan Chancellor (Canb) and Sean Shibutare (Canb) Morse who was consistent with one win, two second places a third and four, held a two point advantage of Chancellor who had two wins.
Junior National Heavy saw some fantastic driving through the big fields, Zane Morse (Canb) and Jarod Whitty (Grif) both making big gains in the first two heats to set them up for a Pre-Final and Final shoot out which was eventually won by Morse. Alex Waters (CDKC) who found the speed to mix it with Morse in the Final on Sunday was 3rd overall.
Junior Max, was Zane Morse’s third victory of the weekend, with 4 wins and a second place had the speed to keep Joshua Hemphill (Canb) the only other winner in the class finished 2nd battling all weekend with Morse. Gus Flynn also had the speed but a DNF in Heat 1 set him on the back foot, eventually taking 3rd place.
The Rookies was dominated by Grenfell’s Thomas Sargent who was never challenged in the 13 kart field. Tyler Everingham (OKC) was fast all weekend, finishing 2nd in 4 races. Tommy Harradine (CDKC) found his rhythm in the latter part of the weekend to grab 3rd place.
Cadets were dominated by Orange driver Cody Burcher but taken to the wire by Josh Haynes (Canb) eventually winning the weekend by two points after finishing 2nd in the final. Another count back for third had Harrison Burchett (CDKC) on the podium over Joshua Sargent (Gren).
