New Winners Highlight Finals at Rotax Nationals
| IKD press release | 1 September 2013 |
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A string of new winners have taken the spotlight as the 2013 Rotax Nationals have concluded at Victoria’s Puckapunyal track, while Australia’s best twelve drivers were announced to take on the World in New Orleans in November. The event was opened with a stunning rendition of Waltzing Matilda and the Australian National Anthem, performed by the 4th 19th Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment Band, growing from the Defence Force theme of the event.
After taking a clean sweep of Saturday’s heat races, Victorian Daniel Richert didn’t have enough to get over Adam Hunter in the 14 lap pre-final in DD2 Masters. Hunter took the chequered flag over second placed Hunter in a healthy battle to the line. Danny Wright continued his string of third places to finish behind Hunter and ahead of Brent Coghlan in fourth and Kip Foster in fifth.
Above: Daniel Richert took the win in DD2 Masters and will join Team Australia
pic - Cooper's Photography
The roles were reversed in the longer 20 lap final as Daniel Richert drove to take the win in the DD2 Masters final. Richert continued his battle with Hunter throughout, though he was able to take the victory with a hard charging Coghlan on return to the seat completing the podium. Danny Wright went on to finish fourth while Kip Foster settled for fifth.
After his win in the final heat on Saturday, Sydney’s Michael Saller went on to take victory in the Rotax Heavy pre-final. The young gun fought hard to take the lead and held on over his experienced opposition with Lee Mitchener taking second, Kel Treseder in third, Shay Mayes in fourth and Rick Pringle in fifth.
Saller continued his run into the final as he broke away to an early lead before the train behind him slowly narrowed the gap. The Tony Kart pilot fought out for the entire race to go on and take his first ever National Karting title over Mitchener and Treseder in a mirror of the top three from the pre-final. Victorian pairing Rick Pringle and Dylan Collett finished off the top five.
Above: Michael Saller scored his first National Karting title on bitumen in Rotax Heavy
pic - Cooper's Photography
On the back of a clean sweep of qualifying and the heat races on Saturday, Kyle Angel was able to secure the win in the Sodi Junior Max Trophy Class pre-final. The Sydneysider took the win from fellow statesman Joshua Car and Glen Ormerod. Chris Bregonje and New Zealander Madeline Stewart went on to round out the top five.
It was another strong performance from Kyle Angel in the final that saw him go on to take the win in the first appearance for the Sodi Junior Max Trophy Class at a Rotax Nationals event. Glen Ormerod improved his position from the pre-final to take second behind Angel with Joshua Car in third ahead of Timothy Colombrita and Jordan McGregor.
Above: Kyle Angel continued his clean sweep and took the win in the Sodi Junior Max Trophy Class
pic - Cooper's Photography
With National glory in his sights, David Sera took the pre-final victory in Rotax Light from pole position through to the chequered flag in a dominant performance. Sera finished ahead of heat polesitter Brenton Mountjoy and New Zealand’s Daniel Kinsman. Andrew Carey and Jordan Ford went on to complete the top five.
In one of the best races seen in the Rotax season so far, David Sera went on to equal Jon Pizzaro’s record of 15 Australian National Karting titles by taking victory in Rotax Light. The Victorian didn’t have it all his own way by his own admission as many challenges were placed upon him throughout the race. Current New Zealand National Champion Daniel Kinsman fought his way to second and reeled in the lead of Sera which saw the two fight down to a last corner battle seeing Kinsman take second by just 0.02 of a second. Brenton Mountjoy was successful in making the podium and taking third place ahead of Pierce Lehane and Tyler Greenbury.
Above: David Sera made it National title number 15 in Rotax Light
pic - Cooper's Photography
Following a blistering display in Saturday’s heat races, James Abela was able to secure a comfortable pre-final win in Junior Max. Abela took the victory over a hard charging Zac Soutar in second, with Liam McLellan in third, Isaac Vaccarella in fourth and Russell Whittaker in fifth.
Abela continued his impressive performance into the final, though he didn’t have it his own way mid-race with eventual second place driver Callum Walker sprinting to the lead in patches, the Sydney driver took the win from Walker with McLellan bringing home third ahead of Soutar and Whittaker.
Above: James Abela secured the win in the capacity grid in Junior Max
pic - Cooper's Photography
On double duties in Rotax Heavy and DD2, Bundaberg’s Kel Treseder secured victory in the pre-final for the gearbox category. Treseder went on to take the win over fellow Queenslanders Troy Bretherton and Lucas Ward. Joshua Crossingham and Troy Woolston went on to round out the top five.
After his win in the pre-final, Kel Treseder was able to secure the outright victory in DD2 over the 20 lap race. On the back of his DNF in the pre-final due to fuel line issues, Jason Pringle drove through the field to take second behind Treseder with Jaie Robson improving from seventh in his pre-final to take third in the final. Joshua Crossingham backed up from his fourth in the pre-final to replicate that finish in the final while Travis Millar finished fifth.
Above: Bundaberg’s Kel Treseder scored the victory in DD2
pic - Cooper's Photography
With the Rotax Pro Tour season now complete, attention now turns to the 2013 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals for twelve lucky drivers who will represent Australia at the Nola Motorsports Park in New Orleans, USA. With three seats on offer in DD2 Masters, Rotax Light, Junior Max, two seats from DD2 and the winner from Rotax Heavy qualifying through to DD2, it was a battle down to the end.
2013 Team Australia – Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, New Orleans, USA
DD2 Masters
Adam Hunter (NSW)
Daniel Richert (VIC)
Hamish Leighton (VIC)
Senior Max
Daniel Rochford (VIC)
Pierce Lehane (NSW)
Tyler Greenbury (QLD)
Junior Max
James Abela (NSW)
Joseph Burton-Harris (NSW)
Liam McLellan (VIC)
DD2
Jason Pringle (VIC)
Lucas Ward (QLD)
Rick Pringle (From Rotax Heavy) (VIC)
The BlackBerry Junior Development Award for professionalism, commitment and overall presentation as judged by race officials was presented to Victorian Zac Soutar.
In addition to the National Championships, the Manufacturers Cup was awarded for its second season, with Ultimate Karting accepting the award as a dealership on behalf of Exprit Australia. Tony Kart Australia were a close second with CRG claiming third.
The Sodi Junior Max Trophy Class official rankings were also decided with Queenslander Zane Goddard taking top honours. Goddard graduated through to the open Junior Max category during the year, with Nationals winner Kyle Angel taking second and Stephanie Stones in third.
Final rankings will be available in full on Monday 2nd September.
