Rankings The Focus as Pro Tour Gympie Approaches
| press release | 7 July 2013 |
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As the 2013 Rotax Pro Tour begins to wind down, the Rotax rankings are the focus for many as the final two events of the season will determine who forms Team Australia for the 2013 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in New Orleans in November.
The competition for placings in DD2 Masters for the New Orleans event remain at a premium, while 2012 Team Australia member Hamish Leighton currently leads the rankings, impressive performances and a multitude of podiums in past rounds for both Adam Hunter and Daniel Richert have them vying to complete the top three. After his round win in Newcastle, Michael Robson remains a real challenger for the final seat. Hamish Leighton admits he will need to secure further success in Gympie to lock in his trip to America.
Above: With its undulating corners, Gympie provides a challenging and technical track
pic - IKD
“Gympie is a fantastic track to drive with the biggest elevation changes all year and some exciting high speed corners. The ranking points are getting very close going into the final round and I’ll be trying hard to finish this year’s Pro Tour on a high,” Leighton said.
With just one seat available in New Orleans for a Rotax Heavy driver to compete in DD2, it continues to go down to the wire at each event as to who will take home maximum points. Current rankings leader Rick Pringle has used his consistency to consolidate his top positioning, though he hasn’t secured a round win to date; he maintains a slender lead over Queensland’s Brendan Nelson. Hot on the heels of Nelson is 2012 Rotax Heavy World Final qualifier, Troy Woolston who still remains a chance of making the trip. Pringle affirms that a win in Gympie would help to ensure he remains in a good position of racing at the World Finals.
“I'm just really happy to be leading we've had such a consistent year so to be on top of the points is a reward for that, I would love to break through for a win before the year is out, I have been so close a few times now so I would really love to get up there to cement my points position,” Rick Pringle said.
While the overall series winner of the Sodi Junior Max Trophy Class doesn’t form part of Team Australia for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, their top place finish will secure them the Sodi Kart package for free. The racing in all rounds leading up to Gympie has been a display of the current strength of Junior Karting in Australia. Current rankings leader Zane Goddard admits the experience has been crucial to his development as a driver.
“Going into the last round of the Rotax Pro Tour, I now believe I am ready to step up and race alongside some of the best in Junior Max, this wouldn’t have been possible without the continuous close racing in the Sodi Junior Max Trophy Class,” Goddard said.
Above: Tyler Greenbury at Gympie in 2012 where he was the round winner. Greenbury will be looking to capitalise on local knowledge to score valuable rankings points
pic - IKD
The inclusion of a pair of New Zealander’s has added even more interest to the Rotax Light rankings. Victorian Daniel Rochford has used his season’s consistency to hold down a strong lead; and this comfortable margin isn’t matched for the final two seats. Fellow Victorian Andrew Carey currently sits second ahead of Brad Jenner, Tyler Greenbury and Pierce Lehane. Daniel Connor and Daniel Kinsman from New Zealand have both challenged for the podium across the year, with Connor still in striking distance of representing Australia in New Orleans, and Kinsman will be looking to back up his podium performance from the 2012 Rotax Nationals in Dubbo with another successful result in the last two events.
“After my success at Gympie last year, I’m looking forward to returning there and facing the tough competition that Rotax Light is known for. I’m hoping to come away with another podium and look to secure my seat for the World Finals,” Rochford said.
Comprising some of the best junior drivers in the country, Junior Max has showed that the future of Australian motorsport is encouraging, with an array of different round winners across the six events to date. English-born Joseph Burton-Harris retains a slim lead over fellow Sydney driver James Abela in the build-up to the Gympie event. The competitiveness for the final seat in the category in New Orleans remains at a premium, with Ipswich round winner Nicholas Andrews, and Victorian duo Liam McLellan and Jordan Boys all within striking distance, each helped by numerous round successes across the season. Burton-Harris admits however the pressure will be on with the final round approaching.
“I'm at the stage going into the last round where we have a lot of work to do to get our pace back where it should be, however I believe that with some hard work we can get the result we are capable of so I can propel myself towards New Orleans,” Burton-Harris said.
DD2 continues to incorporate some of the best known drivers in Australian karting, and the level of competition has risen further again in the 2013 rankings season. While a fleet of young guns continue to challenge their more experienced opposition, the battle for the two World Finals seats available continues to be a fight down to the wire. Victorian Jason Pringle currently leads the rankings by a small margin over 2011 Team Australia Junior Max driver, Michael Stewart. Both Pringle and Stewart will be out to make their mark in Gympie, though Queensland’s Troy Bretherton and reigning National DD2 Champion Lucas Ward continue to follow closely, along with Victorian Travis Millar. Jason Pringle admits he has work to do to maintain his position at the Gympie event.
Above: DD2’s Jason Pringle will be looking to maintain his lead in the Rotax Rankings to secure his position on the 2013 Rotax Max Grand Final Australian team
pic - IKD
“I’m really out to look for another strong result; I’m down a meeting compared to some of the other drivers due to missing the Lithgow event. I need to put in the work to ensure a good lead in the run up to the Nationals, and hopefully grab the number one spot in my home state.
Current Rotax Rankings – Top 5
DD2 Masters (Top 3 Qualify)
1 – Hamish Leighton (VIC) – 8,438
2 – Adam Hunter (NSW) – 7,998
3 – Daniel Richert (VIC) – 7,454
4 – Mick Robson (NSW) – 6,272
5 – Cameron Harch (QLD) – 5,929
Rotax Heavy (1st driver qualifies for DD2)
1 – Rick Pringle (VIC) – 8,266
2 – Brendan Nelson (QLD) – 7,454
3 – Troy Woolston (VIC) – 7,059
4 – Matthew Greenbury (QLD) – 6,626
5 – Shay Mayes (QLD) – 6,244
Rotax Light (Top 3 Qualify)
1 – Daniel Rochford (VIC) – 9,215
2 – Andrew Carey (VIC) – 6,780
3 – Brad Jenner (VIC) – 6,329
4 – Tyler Greenbury (QLD) – 6,317
5 – Pierce Lehane (NSW) – 5,838
Junior Max (Top 3 Qualify)
1 – Joseph Burton-Harris (NSW) – 8,522
2 – James Abela (NSW) – 8,312
3 – Nicholas Andrews (QLD) – 7,105
4 – Liam McLellan (VIC) – 6,893
5 – Jordan Boys (VIC) – 6,582
DD2 (Top 2 Qualify)
1 – Jason Pringle (VIC) – 8,044
2 – Michael Stewart (ACT) – 7,935
3 – Troy Bretherton (QLD) – 6,908
4 – Lucas Ward (QLD) – 6,880
5 – Travis Millar (VIC) – 6,374
Further information regarding Rotax rankings is available here; www.rotax.com.au/rankings.htm
Round seven and the final round of the Rotax Pro Tour takes place in Gympie, Queensland from the 12th – 14th July. Qualifying/Racing will commence on Saturday from 9am AEST and entry for spectators is free.
The Gympie round is followed by the highest point scoring event of the season, the Rotax National Championships in Puckapunyal on 29-31 Aug / 1st September 2013.
To follow either event online throughout the weekend, like Rotax Pro Tour on Facebook, follow Rotax Pro Tour on Twitter and tune into the live audio commentary via Ustream at www.ustream.tv/user/internationalkarting.
