16th November 2012

TRICKY CONDITIONS DURING QUALIFYING DAY AT TASMANIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

Competitors in the 2012 Tasmanian Karting Championships at Burnie’s Hardings Hotmix Kartway faced changeable weather conditions during qualifying today.

Two drivers who managed the weather conditions the best were Hobart’s Mitchel Evans and Launceston’s Troy Stone. The pair set the fastest and second fastest time respectively in the Clubman Heavy category and as a result will occupy the front row for the heat races.

Behind the Tasmanian pair it was Michael Saller and Leigh Nicolaou who set the third and fourth fastest times while Samm Harrington qualified fifth fastest in his first major event in more than five years.

Melbourne driver Michael Carless upstaged his more fancied rivals when he outpaced the TaG 125 category field to secure pole position. Carless’ time of 36.376 seconds was a mere 0.09 seconds ahead of recently crowned South Australian Champion Leigh Nicolaou and Launceston’s Zane Wyatt.

In the battle of the youngsters, it was Victorian trio of Jordan Caruso, Cooper Murray and Thomas Hughes who led the way in the Rookies category while State Champions Jordyn Sinni, Jai Sparey and Nathan Herne led the way in the Cadets category.

Two of the most travelled competitors at this weekend’s event – Bryce Fullwood (Darwin, NT) and Nicholas Rowe (Karratha, WA) – have made a great start to their campaigns by setting the pace in the Junior National Light and Heavy category respectively. Rowe also set the second fastest time behind Jeremiah Sheehan in the Junior Clubman category.

Melbourne’s Wayne Bourke proved too good during qualifying in Clubman Light ahead of Queenslander Brock Plumb. The Queenslander went one better in the Senior National category to secure pole position.

New South Wales’ Peter O’Neill (Over 40s), Joshua Herne (Clubman Super Heavy) and Scott Wrigley (Over 40s Super Heavy).

The opening round of heat races will be contested this afternoon before continuing tomorrow ahead of the pre-finals. The championship finals will be contested on Sunday.

2012 Tasmanian State Championships
Burnie, Tasmania

RESULTS: Qualifying Top 5

Rookies
1. Jordan Caruso 41.824
2. Cooper Murray 41.842
3. Thomas Hughes 42.093
4. Samuel Gala 42.156
5. Luis Leeds 43.351

Over 40s
1. Peter O’Neill 42.811
2. Steve Crocker 42.839
3. Michael Vaughan 42.966
4. John Schofield 43.237
5. Andrew Walter 43.240

TaG 125 Light
1. Michael Carless 36.476
2. Leigh Nicolaou 36.485
3. Zane Wyatt 36.526
4. Brock Plumb 36.539
5. Jake Rice 36.608

Junior National Heavy
1. Nicholas Rowe 41.615
2. Morgan Jakobovski 41.905
3. Zachary Phillips 41.972
4. Brodie Reading 41.990
5. Jordan Pxon 41.998

Cadets
1. Jordyn Sinni 42.985
2. Jai Sparey 43.194
3. Nathan Herne 43.143
4. Nathan Williams 43.235
5. Harrison Hoey 43.238

Senior National
1. Brock Plumb 42.298
2. Jamie Bricknell 42.310
3. Dale Beaton 42.317
4. Trent Rogers 43.320
5. Danton Evans 43.403

Clubman Super Heavy
1. Joshua Herne 39.408
2. Matthew Clark 40.023
3. Joshua Muskett 40.031
4. Bradley Lovett 40.109
5. Cory Brown 41.131

Junior National Light
1. Bryce Fullwood 40.835
2. Jacob Prestipino 40.866
3. Reece Sidebottom 40.945
4. Braydon North 41.020
5. William Hawkes 41.064

Clubman Light
1. Wayne Bourke 37.562
2. Brock Plumb 37.610
3. Ben Stewart 37.620
4. Nathan Zuj 37.678
5. Pierce Lehane 37.724

Over 40s Super Heavy
1. Scott Wrigley 43.534
2. Troy Sheahan 43.766
3. Gregory Wood 43.923
4. Rod Bender 43.931
5. John Lee 43.982

Junior Clubman
1. Jeremiah Sheehan 37.585
2. Nicholas Rowe 37.662
3. Damon Strongman 37.776
4. Matthew McLean 37.888
5. Nicky Rochards 37.934

Clubman Heavy
1. Mitchel Evans 37.915
2. Troy Stone 38.094
3. Michael Saller 38.278
4. Leigh Nicolaou 38.282
5. Samm Harrington 38.312

With limited internet access at the circuit, tweets and facebook will be minimal throughout the day, however, the results will be updated here as soon as possible after each run.

QUALIFYING



















HEAT ONE