TIGHT TIMES DURING PRACTICE IN NEWCASTLE

Live Streaming on speedcafe.com/kartinglive of Sunday’s finals from 8:30am with a preview show at 5:30pm Saturday

Scott Sorensen set the pace in the KF2 class (Pic: Coopers Photography)

If the lap times during practice at the CIK Stars of Karting Championship presented by Castrol EDGE are anything to go by, this weekend’s round in Newcastle will be a hotly contested affair.

There was little that separated the top drivers in each of the three CIK categories at the end of the five practice sessions with Andrew Kahl, Scott Sorensen and David Sera finishing fastest in their respective classes.

Kahl was the only drive to break the 49-second barrier in the KF3 class aboard his Karting World-backed Tony Kart with a 48.827 second lap around the Cameron Park circuit. Last round winner Zane Morse was second fastest (49.127), narrowly ahead of Exprit driver Chris Sandrone (49.211) and Darwin’s Bryce Fullwood (49.216).

Sorensen, who won the opening round of the Championship in Ipswich, narrowly edged out round two winner Josh Tynan at the top of the timesheets in the KF2 class.

In the KZ2 ranks, Sera steered his Deadly kart to the top of the timesheets in the second session of the day with a scintillating lap time of 46.920 seconds. Closely following Sera was Queensland teenager Brock Plumb (47.040), Matthew Wall (47.055), Kyle Ensbey (47.092) and Joey Hanssen (47.096).

Local driver Ryan Pike (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Local Newcastle drivers, Ryan Pike and Steeley Noda-Barnes finished with the fifth and seventh fastest times respectively in the KF3 and KF2 classes.

The pace shown by Pike was particularly impressive given the fact that he had his first taste of the high-horsepowered Vortex 125cc KF3 engine during the first practice session of the day.

“It has been somewhat of a mad rush over the last couple of days to get everything on track, so it felt really good to be able to get out there and show some good speed today,” said Pike.

“I’m really enjoying the extra horsepower produced by these engines and can’t wait to get out there over the weekend in the racing.

“To be fifth fastest today is a real boost. I came into the weekend with very little expectations, so to be right up there with the front runners in the championship is a great start to the weekend.”

Local driver Andrew Torville finished as the fastest driver in TAG 125 Heavy while David Whitmore was quickest in TAG 125 Light.

Tomorrow’s action will begin at 8:30am with qualifying followed by the heat races with the finals contested from 8:30am on Sunday.

The Newcastle Kart Racing Club is located on Cameron Park drive, Cameron Park. Admission for spectators is free.

CIK Stars of Karting Championship presented by Castrol EDGE – Round 4
Newcastle, NSW

RESULTS: Practice

KZ2
1. Dave Sera 46.920
2. Brock Plumb 47.040
3. Matthew Wall 47.055
4. Kyle Ensbey 47.092
5. Joey Hanssen 47.096

KF2
1. Scott Sorensen 47.450
2. Josh Tynan 47.496
3. Troy Loeskow 47.523
4. Nathan Tigani 47.576
5. Jarryd Ebzery 47.706

KF3
1. Andrew Kahl 48.827
2. Zane Morse 49.167
3. Chris Sandrone 49.211
4. Bryce Fullwood 49.216
5. Ryan Pike 49.238

TAG 125 Light
1. David Whitmore 49.347
2. Adam Mercer 49.569
3. Daniel Rochford 49.603
4. Aaron Borg 49.638
5. Stefan Stankovic 49.778

TAG 125 Heavy
1. Andrew Torville 50.444
2. Clem O’Mara 50.531
3. Paul Rodgers 50.552
4. Gaven Whitmore 50.648
5. Craig Stauner 50.761

For the Full Results, please click here.