SALLER, SERA AND ABELA CROWNED NATIONAL ROTAX CHAMPIONS

New South Wales pair Michael Saller and James Abela were joined by one of the all-time greats in Australian karting, David Sera in the winners circle at the Rotax Nationals at Puckapunyal in Victoria today.

For Saller and Abela, who won the Australian Championship in Rotax Heavy and Junior Rotax respectively, it was their maiden National title in Sprint Kart competition while Sera’s win in Rotax Light was the 15th of his career, moving him equal with John Pizarro at the top of the all-time winners’ list in the sport.

Saller’s lights to flag victory added to the Australian Speedway Kart Title he won in 2012.

Starting from pole position, Saller led the field through turn one of the 20-lap final, closely followed by Formula K driver Lee Mitchener and fastest qualifier Kel Treseder.

As the Karting World-backed driver edged away from the field during the opening half of the race, Mitchener and Treseder made contact at high speed on the main straight that led to Mitchener’s Formula K kart spearing off the circuit. Mitchener rejoined the track on the other side of the circuit, albeit down a number of positions.

By half race distance Saller had opened a commanding lead while Treseder had a small buffer over Rick Pringle, Mitchener and Travis Kodric. Saller went on to claim the win by just on half a second over Mitchener.

“I still can’t believe it. Words can’t describe how I feel right now. It’s certainly a huge ‘monkey off my back’ to make the first major win in this category a Nationals victory feels amazing,” said Saller.

“Winning on the bitumen has always been our main priority and to win it against such quality opposition is just unreal. It’s also a great present to provide Dad with on Father’s Day.

“When you look at the honour role in the class, it’s got some fantastic drivers in there and I’m honour to now be amongst them.”

After dominating the preliminary races, Abela was the favourite entering the Junior Rotax final, however, someone forgot to tell Callum Walker. After being relegated to 45th position in qualifying due to a ‘weaving’ infringement, the Queenslander showed true grit and determination during the heat races before finding himself in contention for the win during the final.

Abela took advantage of his pole position to lead Liam McLellan in the early laps. By lap five, the seventh starting Walker had made it a three-way battle for the lead. At half race distance Walker moved his Formula K kart into the lead on turn three. He and Abela then exchanged the lead while Zac Soutar, McLellan and Joseph Burton-Harris battled for third position.

While Walker pressured Abela intensely over the final stages, the New South Welshman held on to claim his maiden National crown.

“To be crowned National Champion is overwhelming. I’ve just moved into the Redspeed kart and while I thought I’d be competitive I didn’t imagine I would have so much pace all across the weekend,” said Abela.

“This win is a huge reward for everyone who has been so supportive over my years, especially my parents and mechanic Andy Kondopirakis and the team at Kart 1.”

Sera’s win in Rotax Light was by the narrowest of margins with he and New Zealand Champion Daniel Kinsman side by side as they crossed the finish line.

Sera, already a six-time Champion in the category, led the early laps and when fastest qualifier Brenton Mountjoy and Kinsman exchanged the runner-up spot it allowed Sera to open a buffer over the Kosmic driver.

Kinsman then came under pressure from Jordan Ford in his BRM and CRG driver Tyler Greenbury.

At half race distance Kinsman moved his Praga around the outside of Mountjoy entering turn one and set his sights on the rear of Sera’s Arrow kart. As the laps wore down Kinsman consistently sliced into Sera’s lead to be within striking distance with two laps remaining.

As Sera took a defensive line through the final turn Kinsman appeared to make contact with the rear of Sera’s kart setting up a drag race to the line, which Sera won by 0.021 seconds. Sera’s win moved him to a record-equalling 15 National Championships alongside Australian karting icon John Pizarro. Mountjoy was third ahead of a hard charging drive by outgoing Champion Pierce Lehane.

“At this stage the win hasn’t really sunk in yet, neither has the fact that I’ve matched John Pizarro on the all-time winner’s list. Just to be mentioned in the same breath as the greatest Australian karting driver of all-time is just an amazing feeling,” said Sera.

“The finish was so close I didn’t know if I had won until I got in the in-grid and they put the number one ticket on my engine.”

In the non-championship categories Kel Treseder was victorious in the DD2 category while Daniel Richert won DD2 Masters and Kyle Angel proved too good in the Sodi Junior Rotax Trophy Class.

The event also doubled as the final event on the Rotax Pro Tour with the announcement of the 12 representatives at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in November.  These are James Abela, Joseph Burton Harris and Liam McLellan in Junior Rotax, Daniel Rochford, Tyler Greenbury and Pierce Lehane in Senior Rotax, Jason Pringle, Lucas Ward and Rick Pringle in DD2 and Adam Hunter, Daniel Richert and Hamish Leighton in DD2 Masters.

2013 ROTAX NATIONALS
Eastern Lions Kart Club
Puckapunyal, Victoria

RESULTS – Final (Top 5)

Rotax Light
1. David Sera
2. Daniel Kinsman
3. Brenton Mountjoy
4. Pierce Lehane
5. Tyler Greenbury
Race Notes: The top eight drivers created a freight train at the front of the Rotax Light field during the final. Leading the way was six-time Rotax Light Champion David Sera, closely followed by New Zealand Champion Daniel Kinsman. When Mountjoy and Kinsman exchanged the runner-up spot it allowed Sera to open a buffer over the Kosmic driver. Kinsman then came under pressure from Jordan Ford in his BRM and CRG driver Tyler Greenbury. At half race distance Kinsman moved his Praga around the outside of Mountjoy entering turn one and set his sights on the rear of Sera’s Arrow kart. As the laps wore down Kinsman consistently sliced into Sera’s lead to be within striking distance with two laps remaining. As Sera took a defensive line through the final turn Kinsman appeared to make contact with the rear of Sera’s kart, setting up a drag race to the line, which Sera won by 0.021 seconds. Sera’s win moved him to a career total of 15 National Championships and equal with Australian karting icon John Pizarro. Mountjoy was third ahead of a hard charging drive by Pierce Lehane.

Rotax Heavy
1. Michael Saller
2. Lee Mitchener
3. Kel Treseder
4. Rick Pringle
5. Dylan Collett
Race Notes: Rotax Heavy polesitter Michael Saller led the field through turn one of the 20-lap final, closely followed by Formula K driver Lee Mitchener and Kel Treseder. As Saller edged away from the field during the opening half of the race, Mitchener and Treseder made contact at high speed on the main straight that led to Mitchener’s Formula K kart spearing off the circuit. He rejoined the track on the other side of the circuit, albeit down a number of positions. By half race distance Saller had opened a commanding lead while Treseder enjoyed a small buffer over Rick Pringle, Mitchener and Travis Kodric. Saller went on to claim the win by just on half a second over Mitchener.

Junior Rotax
1. James Abela
2. Callum Walker
3. Liam McLellan
4. Zac Soutar
5. Russell Whittaker
Race Notes: Redspeed driver James Abela took advantage of his pole position to lead Liam McLellan in the early laps. By lap five, the seventh starting Callum Walker, who started last in all of his heat races after he was given a penalty during qualifying for weaving, had made it a three-way battle for the lead. At half race distance Walker moved his Formula K kart into the lead on turn three. He and Abela then exchanged the lead while Zac Soutar, Liam McLellan and Joseph Burton-Harris battle for third position. While Walker pressured Abela intensely over the final stages, the New South Welshman held on to claim his maiden National crown.

DD2
1. Kel Treseder
2. Jason Pringle
3. Jaie Robson
4. Josh Crossingham
5. Travis Millar
Race Notes: After a false start, the DD2 final got underway with Queenslander Kel Treseder leading his Energy Corse stablemate Lucas Ward through the opening sequence of turns. When Ward, Troy Bretherton, Troy Woolston and Jaie Robson began to battle for the minor positions it allowed Treseder to open a commanding lead. At mid race distance Bretherton and Woolston came together ending their campaigns. Treseder went on to claim a comprehensive victory ahead of Jason Pringle who had charged his way from the back of the grid to finish second ahead of Jaie Robson.

DD2 Masters
1. Daniel Richert
2. Adam Hunter
3. Brent Coghlan
4. Danny Wright
5. Kip Foster
Race Notes: As was the case throughout the weekend in the DD2 category, Karting World’s Adam Hunter had superior speed during the early laps while being pursued by Exprit driver Daniel Richert. Behind the leading duo, a four-way battle raged between Danny Wright, Brent Coghlan, Kip Foster and Klinton Hancey for the final spot on the podium. Richert moved to the front with three laps remaining before the pair engaged in a spirited battle for the lead.

Sodi Junior Rotax Trophy Class
1. Kyle Angel
2. Glen Ormerod
3. Joshua Car
4. Tim Colombrita
5. Jordan McGregor
Race Notes: In the one-make Sodi Junior Rotax Trophy Class Kyle Angel led the early laps of the final, only to have Josh Car take over the front running on lap five. The leading trio ran nose-to-tail for the majority of the 20-lap journey before Angel completed his clean sweep of the weekend.

RESULTS – Pre-Final (Top 5)

Rotax Light
1. David Sera
2. Brenton Muntjoy
3. Daniel Kinsman
4. Andrew Carey
5. Jordan Ford
Race Notes: As chaos reigned supreme mid pack at the start David Sera led the way over RK Karts driver Bradley Jenner, who succumbed to the speed of Brenton Mountjoy in the early laps. The Kosmic driver then edged closer to the rear of Sera’s Arrow kart. New Zealander Daniel Kinsman was third ahead of Formula K driver Andrew Carey. Reigning National Champion Pierce Lehane charged his way from 25th place on the grid to eighth place at the chequered flag.

Rotax Heavy
1. Michael Saller
2. Lee Mitchener
3. Kel Treseder
4. Shay Mayes
5. Rick Pringle
Race Notes: Sydney teenager Michael Saller took advantage of his front row start to lead the way ahead of polesitter Kel Treseder. Arrow Karts driver Brendan Nelson then moved into second before Treseder fought back two laps later, at the same time Lee Mitchener followed Treseder through to relegate Nelson to fourth. While Saller was out front, an intense battle raged behind him with Mitchener eventually claiming second.

Junior Rotax
1. James Abela
2. Zac Soutar
3. Liam McLellan
4. Isaac Vaccarella
5. Russell Whitaker
Race Notes: A huge field of 46 karts faced the starter in the pre-final of Junior Rotax with polesitter James Abela leading them away. Tony Kart driver Joseph Burton-Harris moved to the front on lap three before Abela fought back two laps later. As Liam McLellan, Zac Soutar, Burton-Harris, Isaac Vaccarella and Russell Whittaker diced it out behind him, Abela drove off into the distance to claim the win.

DD2
1. Kel Treseder
2. Troy Bretherton
3. Lucas Ward
4. Josh Crossingham
5. Troy Woolston
Race Notes: CRG driver Jason Pringle got the jump at the start while being pressured by Kel Treseder in his Energy kart. When Treseder made a move for the lead just before mid race distance it forced Pringle wide and back into the hungry pack, shortly after he was forced out of the race. Treseder then came under pressure from Troy Bretherton and his Pacific Kartsport stablemate Lucas Ward over the remainder of the race before crossing the line five kart-lengths clear of Bretherton’s Birel.

DD2 Masters
1. Daniel Richert
2. Adam Hunter
3. Danny Wright
4. Brent Coghlan
5. Kip Foster
Race Notes: Polesitter Daniel Richert got the jump at the green light before Tony Kart pilot Adam Hunter relieved him of the lead on lap two. By mid race Richert had fought back aboard his Exprit as Hunter came under pressure from Danny Wright in his Praga. Richert held on the win ahead of Hunter and Wright. Brent Coghlan held down fourth while Kip Foster inherited fifth when the pair in front of him came together on the last lap.

Sodi Junior Rotax Trophy Class
1. Kyle Angel
2. Jsohua Car
3. Glen Ormerod
4. Tim Colombrita
5. Chris Bregonje

To view the full results please click here.