3rd April 2011

A WEEKEND OF FIRSTS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA (inc. video)

New winners in Pro Light and Pro Junior, David Sera dominates Pro Gearbox action

It was a weekend of firsts in round two of the 2011 CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE at the Bolivar Raceway in South Australia.

There were new faces that adorned the podium in each of the three pro categories – Pro Light (KF1), Pro Gearbox (KZ2) and Pro Junior (KF3) – as the series returned to the Festival State for the first time since 2005.

Despite competing in only his second event at the top level of Australian karting, Jake Spencer (Wantima South, Vic) showed he has got what it takes to mix it with the best drivers in the country on his way to victory in both Pro Light (KF1) finals.

After winning the first 34-lap journey Spencer lined up on pole position aboard his JAM Racing Kosmic kart with series debutant Daniel Rochford (Melbourne, Vic) alongside in his Gillard kart for the second final.

Unfortunately for Rochford his run came to a premature end when he was involved in an incident with local driver Ben Edwards (Salisbury East, SA) and Gold Coaster James Macken in the opening turn.

Spencer led the way during the early running but by mid-race the challenges were coming thick and fast with Matthew Waters (Horsley Park, NSW) being joined by the hard charging Adam Hughes (Mentone, Vic) and Cian Fothergill (Gladstone, QLD) – both of which failed to finish the opening final.

On lap 24 Hughes and Fothergill came together battling for the runner-up position which forced Hughes onto the sidelines, Fothergill was able to continue – albeit out of contention for the win.

Over the closing laps Waters chased down Spencer but was unable to find a way past and the Melbourne driver held on for the victory – and the South Australian State Championship. He also took over the lead in the chase for the James Courtney trophy (awarded to the Pro Light Champion).

“I came here not expecting too much, hopefully a podium, to walk away with a round win and the championship lead is awesome,” said Spencer.

“It is the toughest field I’ve ever raced in so it is good to come out on top.”

Fothergill crossed the line third, however, he weighed in under the minimum weight elevating Tony Kart’s (Cairns, QLD) Aidan Wright onto the podium.

Monster Energy-backed Arrow karts driver David Sera took a clean sweep of the proceedings in the Pro Gearbox (KZ2) category, however, the racing behind him was action-packed.

Local driver Scott Taylor (Athelstone, SA) showed some great speed across the weekend to secure second for the round – the same position he qualified in yesterday.

“All in all it has been a fantastic weekend,” said Taylor.

“When I heard that the series was coming to my home track here at Bolivar it was definitely exciting and to finished second behind David Sera is pretty amazing – especially when you look at his list of achievements in the sport.”

Western Australian Daniel Currey (Perth, WA) got the jump off the start line in the second final aboard his Top Kart. After being passed by Sera for the lead on the opening lap he maintained his place near the front of the field and crossed the line well clear of fourth placed Jordie Lindstrom (Greensborough, Vic).

It was a day to forget for reigning champion Matthew Wall (Sunbury, Vic) with a broken axle dropping him down the order in final one and subsequent engine dramas forcing him out of the second final.

After a number of podium finishes over the past 12 months Western Australian Jake Klarich (Mariginiup, WA) broke through for his maiden victory in the Pro Junior (KF3) category today.

The 15 year-old made a pass on pole sitter and early race leader Joseph Mawson (Hinchenbrook, NSW) mid way through today’s second final before holding on for the win.

“It is a great feeling to have won, it is the first time I’ve won and one I won’t forget for a long time,” said Klarich.

“I had the pace of the leaders all weekend and then in the final I managed to get ahead of them and then hold them off, there was a lot of pressure there but I was able to hold on,”

Championship favourites Mawson and Pierce Lehane (Castle Hill, NSW) finished second and third respectively ahead of Jake Coleman (Glenmore Park, NSW) who secured a career best fourth placing.

Mawson’s victory in the opening final of the day, and runner-up in the second, secured him the South Australian state championship for the category.

In the Yamaha Challenge categories Lydon Dodge fended off a spirited challenge by local driver Nicholas Holmes-Karavas to win the Clubman category.

Local driver Luke Marquis made a last lap pass for the victory in Junior National ahead of Jayden Sharrad, who finished on a podium for the first time in his career, and Stefan Stankovic.

DR Karts pilot Aaron Wilamowski won Sportsman SA 125 ahead of Simon Layne and Ross Miller.

Round three of the CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE will be contested in Melbourne on June 17-19.

To view the results from the weekend’s action please CLICK HERE, select SA followed by the Southern Sprint Kart Club in the drop down menu.

2011 CIK STARS OF KARTING SERIES
presented by Castrol EDGE
Round 2 – Bolivar, SA

Round Results – Top Five

Pro Light (KF1)
1. Jake Spencer (Wantima South, Vic) – Kosmic/IAME
2. Matthew Waters (Horsley Park, NSW) – Exprit/IAME
3. Aidan Wright (Cairns, QLD) – Tony Kart/IAME
4. George Geranis (Wheelers Hill, Vic) – Kosmic/IAME
5. Grant Smith (Patterson Lakes, Vic) – Tony Kart/IAME

Pro Gearbox (KZ2)
1. David Sera (Narre Warren, Vic) – Arrow/TM
2. Scott Taylor (Athelstone, SA) – DR Kart/TM
3. Daniel Currey (Perth, WA) – Top Kart/TM
4. Jordie Lindstrom (Greensborough, Vic) – DR Kart/TM)
5. Jason Pringle (Essendon, Vic) – CRG/Maxter

Pro Junior (KF3)
1. Jake Klarich (Mariginiup, WA) – Lenzo Kart/Vortex
2. Joseph Mawson (Hinchinbrook, NSW) – Top Kart/Vortex
3. Pierce Lehane (Castle Hill, NSW) – CRG/Vortex
4. Jake Coleman (Glenmore Park, NSW) – CRG/Vortex
5. Cameron Hill (Canberra, ACT) – Top Kart/Vortex

YAMAHA CHALLENGE
Clubman
1. Lydon Dodge
2. Nicholas Holmes-Karavas
3. Daniel Price
4. Rocco Ventra
5. Brooke Topp

Junior National
1. Luke Marquis
2. Jayden Sharrad
3. Stefan Stankovic
4. James Abela
5. Callum Walker

Sportsman SA 125
1. Aaron Wilamowski
2. Simon Layne
3. Ross Miller
4. Anthony Burke
5. Scott Kissock

CIK STARS OF KARTING SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS
Top Five after Round 2 of 5

Pro Light (KF1)
1. Jake Spencer – 138
2. Grant Smith – 120
3. Cian Fothergill – 110
4. Adam Hughes – 108
5. Matthew Waters – 107

Pro Gearbox (KZ2)
1. Kel Treseder 126
2. Tyler Greenbury 115
3. Matthew Wall 114
4. Scott Taylor 113
5. Jason Pringle 109

Pro Junior (KF3)
1. Pierce Lehane – 153
2. Jake Klarich – 141
3. Joseph Mawson – 132
4. Brock Plumb – 118
5. Jake Coleman – 113

YAMAHA CHALLENGE
Clubman
1. Lydon Dodge – 160
2. Aaron Borg – 112
3. Brett Robinson – 107
4. Brooke Topp – 101
5. Brenton Simonds – 100

Junior National
1. James Abela – 134
2. Stefan Stankovic – 126
3. Callum Walker – 106
4. James Duckworth – 96
5. Mitchell Kennedy – 93