Kinsman Brothers Best Of The Kiwis In Australia
| press release | 4 September 2013 |
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With reigning New Zealand Rotax Max Light champion Daniel finishing second in class and Mathew seventh it was the Kinsman brothers from Auckland who were the best performing Kiwi drivers at this year's Australia Rotax Nationals meeting at Pukapunyal in rural Victoria over the weekend.
Above: Daniel Kinsman ended up second in the premier Rotax Light class at Australia's annual Rotax Nationals meeting at Pukapunyal
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Fast Company/Ash Budd-AF Images
This year's meeting attracted a 10-strong contingent from New Zealand with Daniel Connor from Helensville joining the Kinsman brothers in the premier Rotax Lights class, reigning New Zealand Rotax Max Heavy champion Zack Zaloum from the Hawke's Bay contesting Rotax Heavy and Marcus Armstrong, Maddie Wise, the Joyes brothers Campbell and Thomas, and sisters Ashleigh and Madeline Stewart spread across the two Junior Max classes.
Armstrong, the reigning New Zealand Junior Yamaha class champion, had the best start to the meeting, qualifying his new Aluminos kart quickest in the main Junior Max class and shadowing eventual class winner James Abela in the heats. But the fast-rising young Christchurch driver ended up back in 15th place after a tangle in the Pre-Final and 16th in the Final after being barged out of seventh place within sight of the chequered flag.
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Above: The 10-strong Kiwi team at the meeting (back row from left) Daniel Kinsman, Mathew Kinsman, Zach Zaloum and Daniel Connor (and front row from left) Campbell and Thomas Joyes, Madeline and Ashleigh Stewart, Maddie Wise and Marcus Armstrong
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Fast Company/Ash Budd-AF Images
The hard-driving locals also made both Kinsman brothers work for their results, eventual race winner and 2013 Australian Rotax Max Lights title winner David Sera crossing the finish line in the Final rubbing wheels with Daniel to get the win by just 0.02 of a second, and Mathew only managing to finish one of the three heats after being taken out on the first lap of the other two.
Mathew persevered though and was able to work his way forward in both the Pre-Final (which he started from P29 on the grid but ended up 10th at the line) and the Final, eventually crossing the finish line in seventh place at what was his first kart race meeting in Australia.
Above: Top qualifier in the Junior Max class was Christchurch's Marcus Armstrong
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Fast Company/Ash Budd-AF Images
Best of the rest of the Kiwis was Wellingtonian Ashleigh Stewart who was contesting the Junior Max Trophy class with her sister Madeline. Madeline enjoyed the better run (from P13 on the grid to fifth at the flag) in the Pre-Final, but it was Ashleigh who ended up ahead in the Final, crossing the finish line in sixth place with sister Madeline back in 11th.
Former New Zealand Cadet and Junior Restricted 100cc Yamaha class champion Maddie Wise from the Hawke's Bay and Hamilton brothers Campbell and Thomas Joyes found the going tougher in the main Junior Max class, Wise ending up 26th, Thomas Joyes 38th and Campbell Joyes 40th.
Above: Mathew Kinsman finished seventh in Rotax Light
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Fast Company/Ash Budd-AF Images
Meanwhile Australia Rotax Pro Tour regular Daniel Connor had pace but found it difficult to convert it into placings, finishing 16th in the Rotax Light Final, while the other Kiwi Senior at the meeting, Zach Zaloum, had his work cut out after failing to finish the third heat and the Pre-Final, doing well to cross the finish line in 13th place in the Final.
Key class winners at the meeting were David Sera (Rotax Light), Michael Saller (Rotax Heavy), Daniel Richert (DD2 Masters) and James Abela (Junior Max).
