11th March 2012

VICTORIAN STATE CHAMPIONS CROWNED IN GEELONG

See bottom of article for images and video

Following three days of frantic action at the Beckley Park Raceway in Geelong the Champions in the Victorian Open Sprint Kart Championships were crowned this afternoon.

While they may be small in stature, the drivers in the Cadets category (aged between 7 and 11 years old) put on scintillating display during their 22-lap final.

The front-runners of Benito Montalbano, Harrison Hoey, Joshua Smith, Jack Doohan and Joel Jamieson battled within centimetres of each other while racing at speeds in excess of 80 km/h.

At one stage during the race, there was a nine-kart freight train at the front of the 26-driver field. When Hoey and Doohan had a slight coming together mid way through the race it separated the leading pack and allowed Montalbano, Jai Sparey and Smith to open a buffer over the field.

As the race progressed the leading trio exchanged the front running on a number of occasions which allowed Doohan, Jamieson and Sam Dicker back into contention.

Following a number of frantic laps, it was Smith who won the drag race to the chequered flag by 0.022 seconds ahead of Montalbano and Doohan.

In another hard fought battle it was Melbourne driver Leigh Nicolaou who held on for a narrow victory in the highly competitive Clubman Heavy category. Nicolaou shadowed Travis Kodric during the final stages before making his move on the last lap.

Despite the best efforts of National Champion Kip Foster, who used all the track and then some in an attempt to move into the lead on the last lap, Nicoloau held on for the win ahead of Foster, Matthew Wall and Kodric. South Australian Andrew Cash finished fifth.

“It’s a great feeling, I’ve been racing for 14 years and my last State Title came when I was a youngster in the Cadets category, so to finally break through for another title is just amazing,” said Nicolaou.

“Anything could have happened in that last lap. I passed Travis Kodric on the second corner on the last lap. I knew that I had to make a move then if I was going to stand any chance at the victory as guys like Kip Foster and Wall-e (Matt Wall) were ready to pounce as well.

“There was action of plenty during that last lap but I was so relieved to have gotten away with it in the end.”

In the Clubman Light category, it was a battle between three-time National Champions James Sera and Joseph Mawson.

The pair swapped the front running lap after lap before disaster struck for Sera on the penultimate lap when he dropped a chain ending his championship hopes. Sera’s demise allowed Mawson to cruise to victory while Andrew Mercuri held off Jason Burns and Andrew Carey for second place.

2012 VICTORIAN OPEN SPRINT KART CHAMPIONSHIPS
Geelong, Victoria

RESULTS
Championship Finals – Top Five

Junior National Heavy
1. Damon Strongman
2. Zac Phillips
3. Nicholas Rowe
4. Brock Plumb
5. Damon Schofield
Race Notes: After failing to finish the Junior National Heavy pre-final following an incident with Damon Strongman yesterday, it was Brock Plumb who was the big mover in the early laps of the 22-lap final. The Arrow driver steered clear of the opening corner fracas to charge from 19th into the lead by lap six.

The top four of Plumb, Zac Soutar, Nicholas Rowe and William Hawkes ran nose to tail during the middle part of the race. Soutar and Hawkes’ hopes of victory went out the door when they came together with five laps to go.

Rowe took the lead on the penultimate lap coming on to the straight with Plumb shadowing his every move. As the pair battled it allowed the duo behind them into the equation. As the leaders raced four wide towards the chequered flag, it was Strongman who took the win by 0.003 seconds.

Clubman Super Heavy
1.         Scott Simpson
2.         Ben McKinlay
3.         Jason Stania
4.         Phil Straughen
5.         Nathan van Hulst
Race Notes:
Scott Simpson continued his domination of the Clubman Super Heavy category with victory in the Victorian Championships.

Behind Simpson there was a scintillating battle for the minor positions between Jason Stania, Hayden Dodman,, Phil Straughen and Craig Arnett. Between the quartet there were a couple of incidents which led to Stania crossing the line second ahead of McKinlay.

Stania was given a one-place penalty for contact of karts during the race, handing second place to McKinlay.

Leopard Light
1. James Sera
2. Daniel Rochford
3. Justin Francis
4. Pierce Lehane
5. George Geranis
Race Notes:
FA Kart driver James Sera opened a handy buffer during the early laps of the Leopard Light final to be never seriously challenged for the victory. RJ Garage Doors Kosmic driver Daniel Rochford remained in contention but was never close enough to mount a serious challenge.

Justin Francis was consistent in third while Pierce Lehane charged aboard his Lewis Hamilton kart to finish fourth ahead of George Geranis.

Junior National Light
1. James Abela
2. Liam McLellan
3. Joshua Buggy
4. Bryce Fullwood
5. Alexander Peroni
Race Notes:
Kart 1 Racing’s James Abela and CC Racing’s Liam McLellan battled at the front of the Junior National Light final before being joined by Bryce Fullwood in the final few laps. When McLellan ran wide on lap 18 it allowed Fullwood to close in on the rear bumper of Abela.

Abela retook the lead on the penultimate lap and despite the best efforts by McLellan, he held on for a narrow victory.

Brayden North was a big charger throughout the 22-lap journey to charge his way from 31st to sixth place at the finish.

Rookies
1. Josh Rogers
2. Dylan Hollis
3. Reece Sidebottom
4. Thomas Bennett
5. Joshua Car
Race Notes:
Early in the 22-lap final of the Rookies category it was Reece Sidebottom who opened a commanding lead, however, as the laps wore down Dylan Hollis and Joshua Rogers close in to challenge for the race lead.

When Hollis and Sidebottom squabbled for the minor positions it allowed Rogers to open a race winning lead. Hollis snared second ahead of Sidebottom.

Rotax Light
1. Daniel Rochford
2. Pierce Lehane
3. Josh De Maio
4. Renee Gracie
5. Bradley Jenner
Race Notes:
While Pierce Lehane led the way into turn one of the Rotax Light final aboard his CRG kart, it wasn’t long before RJ Garage Doors Racing’s Daniel Rochford asserted his dominance on the race.

The Kosmic driver crossed the line several kart lengths ahead of Lehane. Josh DeMaio had a lonely race for third place while Renee Gracie had a consistent weekend to finish fourth.

Clubman Heavy
1. Leigh Nicolaou
2. Kip Foster
3. Matthew Wall
4. Travis Kodric
5. Andrew Cash
Race Notes:
Early in the Clubman Heavy final it was a five-way fight at the front of the pack led by Matthew Wall and Brendan Nelson. Following a number of lead changes it was Pro Karting driver Travis Kodric who was leading Leigh Nicolaou with a slight gap back to Wall, Kip Foster and Andrew Cash.

Following a frantic final lap it was Nicolaou who crossed the line first ahead of Foster and Wall.

Junior Max
1. Joseph Burton-Harris
2. Jake Klein
3. Jordan Boys
4. Liam McLellan
5. Thomas Randle
Race Notes:
Polesitter Cameron Hill’s race was over almost before it began when he was involved in an incident on the initial start. The damage sustained to Hill’s Top Kart allowed Joseph Burton-Harris to lead the way into turn one on the second attempt.

Burton-Harris was never seriously challenged to claim the win ahead of Jake Klein and Jordan Boys.

Cadets
1. Joshua Smith
2. Benito Montalbano
3. Jack Doohan
4. Jai Sparey
5. Joel Jamieson
Race Notes:
A nine-kart freight train at the front of the pack in the Cadets category during their 22-lap final was one of the highlights of the day.

When Harrison Hoey and Jack Doohan had a slight coming together mid way through the race it separated the leading pack and allowed Benito Montalbano, Jai Sparey and Joshua Smith to open a buffer over the field.

As the race progressed the leading trio exchanged the front running on a number of occasions which allowed Doohan, Joel Jamieson and Sam Dicker back into contention.

Following a number of frantic laps, it was Smith who won the drag race to the chequered flag by 0.022 ahead of Montalbano and Doohan.

Clubman Over 40s
1. Remo Luciani
2. Steve Riddell
3. Phillip Smith
4. Bobby Bourke
5. Adam Bourke
Race Notes:
Remo Luciani was pressured early in the race but by mid race he had asserted his dominance on the Clubman Over 40s category.

The Monaco driver finished well clear of Steve Riddell and Phillip Smith.

Leopard Heavy
1. Lee Mitchener
2. Daniel Richert
3. Kris Walton
4. Paul Pittam
5. Scott King
Race Notes:
National Champion Lee Mitchener led the early running of the Leopard Heavy final but local driver Daniel Richert and Queenslander Kris Walton showed good speed to close the gap by mid race.

As the race progressed Mitchener edged away to win the championship ahead of Richert while Pittam pressured Walton over the final few laps before Walton held to claim the final spot on the podium.

Junior Clubman
1. Thomas Randle
2. Nicholas Rowe
3. James Golding
4. Brock Plumb
5. Jake Coleman
Race Notes:
In a great battle between some of Australia’s best young drivers, Thomas Randle fought back from an off track excursion – which dropped him from the lead to fifth place – to claim the second state title of his flourishing career.

Randle moved his way back into the lead with a handful of laps remaining to leave Nicholas Rowe and James Golding to fight for the minor positions. In the end it was Rowe who claimed the runner-up placing over Golding. Brock Plumb finished fourth ahead of fellow CIK Stars of Karting Series competitor Jake Coleman.

Rotax Heavy
1. Matthew Wall
2. Aaron Rintoul
3. Troy Woolston
4. Daniel Richert
5. Brendan Nelson
Race Notes:
Kerbrider’s Aaron Rintoul pressured Matthew Wall during the early laps of the Rotax Heavy Final but Wall proved too good as the race progressed to claim a comprehensive victory.

Rintoul had a lonely race for second place while National Champion Troy Woolston finished third. Daniel Richert fended off Brendan Nelson for fourth place.

Clubman Light
1. Joseph Mawson
2. Andrew Mercuri
3. Jason Burns
4. Andrew carey
5. Jordan Nicolaou
Race Notes:
Three-time Australian Champions James Sera and Joseph Mawson engaged themselves in a titanic battle at the front of the field in the Clubman Light final.

The pair swapped the front running lap after lap before disaster struck for Sera on the penultimate lap when he dropped a chain ending his championship hopes. Andrew Mercuri held off Jason Burns and Andrew Carey for second place.

A wrap of Friday’s action can be found by clicking here, and yesterday’s pre-finals here.

All the results are being uploaded to the AKA’s CM:S Results system as soon as pos.  To view them click here and then select Victoria and Geelong in the two drop down menus.

Information is being updated on the Australian Karting Association’s Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/AustralianKartingAssociation) and Twitter Feed (www.twitter.com/karting_net_au) all throughout the weekend.