18th March 2015

CAPACITY FIELDS SET TO TACKLE DUBBO PRO TOUR

In just it’s second event in Australia, Mini Max has received over 20 entries headlined by round one winner Nathan Williams. (Pic: IKD Media)

The Rotax Pro Tour returns this weekend with Round 2 of the 2015 series at Dubbo’s Lincoln County Raceway and following record entries at the opening round in Melbourne, over 220 drivers will converge on the western NSW city as they embark on the battle for critical series points for the respective category Championships.

In DD2 Masters Adam Hunter launched his defence of the number one plate in fine style at Pro Tour Melbourne, taking victory and cementing his position at the top of the points order. Former Team Australia driver Daniel Richert left his charge towards finals day in Melbourne, though his speed in the Kosmic DD2 Kart should see him as one of the lead challengers this season. Queensland’s Klinton Hancey showed strong pace at the opening round of the season, as he rounded out the top three. Danny Wright and Steve Ellery were also amongst the pace setters at the opening round and will most certainly look to build upon that form in Dubbo.

In the category’s first ever race meeting in Australian Karting, Mini Max provided some of the closest racing throughout the Pro Tour Melbourne event. As the youngest drivers on track, the enthusiasm and determination to display their talents amongst the biggest drivers and teams in the country was reflected in the heightened interest by those trackside. On home soil at Todd Road, Nathan Williams was unstoppable, claiming the first ever round win in the category. Bayley Douglas was William’s nearest challenger in the final, however the intense battle for position travelled throughout much of the field with Jaiden Pope, Sean Larkin and Kai Allen all being potential race winners this weekend.

Opening round winner in Rotax Heavy, Rick Pringle, will sit out this weekend’s second round of the series opening the door for another winner in the competitive field. While Canberra’s Bruce Otter returns to the seat following a hiatus from Pro Tour racing, Regan Payne will be hoping to return to the form that saw him run at the front of the field throughout much of the Melbourne weekend. Lane Moore, Scott Simpson and Clem O’Mara are expected to be further potential winners throughout the event.

The Intrepid Junior Max Trophy Class has received a large amount of entries for the second event in the new Freedom chassis. (Pic: IKD Media)

New Zealand’s Matthew Payne took the Intrepid Junior Max Trophy Class by storm at the season’s opening round, clean sweeping the large field and taking victory. Payne returns and will be joined on the track in the one-make category by a further 25 drivers, including Benjamin Bargwanna, son of former V8 Supercar driver and now Driving Standards Observer, Jason Bargwanna. Reece Cohen and Jace Matthews had the measure of Payne in the final and will be looking to return to that form in Dubbo.

On debut in a BirelART Kart in Melbourne, reigning Rotax Light Australian Champion Brad Jenner was unstoppable, taking victory in every race he contested in the oversubscribed category. The field yet again exceeds track capacity this weekend, and on the back of his success in Europe, Pierce Lehane looks set to be a real challenger to Jenner’s early season form. Daniel Rochford was amongst the regular front-runners in Melbourne after his return to a Kosmic Kart, which was responsible for much of his career success in recent years.

Josh Car took his first Pro Tour round win at Todd Road in Junior Max. (Pic: IKD Media)

Stones Kartsport RK Kart driver Joshua Car outclassed the Junior Max field in Melbourne, claiming his first ever Pro Tour round win. Car fought hard for the victory, with reigning National Champion Zane Morse looking strong for success throughout much of the weekend. Over 60 drivers will contest the Junior Max field in Dubbo, reflecting the strength in the category as some of the nation’s best young drivers look to gain critical series points on their way to a potential top three series finish and seat as part of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in November. New Zealand’s Dylan Drysdale made an impressionable beginning to the season aboard his Exprit machine, finishing inside the top five in Melbourne, however the exact composition of the top five podium on Sunday afternoon at Dubbo remains to be seen with a fleet of highly competitive races expected.

Praga’s Jordan Boys made a strong start to his Pro Tour season in Melbourne, taking the win on the back of his success at the Rotax World Finals in 2014. Boys took the round win just ahead of DD2 debutant William Brown who starred in his first event in the two-speed gearbox category, taking pole position for Saturday’s races. Jason Pringle again showed his experience, finishing on the podium, though as with many of the categories competing at Dubbo this weekend, a clear favourite is difficult to identify. Queensland’s Lucas Ward will attract a wealth of attention in Dubbo, as he becomes the first driver in the Pro Tour to compete in the James Courtney – JC Kart, developed by the current Holden Racing Team V8 Supercar driver, it again reflects the importance and involvement of Karting in drivers at the elite level of motorsport.

Round 2 of 2015 Rotax Pro Tour takes place at Dubbo, NSW from March 20-22.
To follow the event online throughout the weekend, Like Rotax Pro Tour on Facebook, Follow Rotax Pro Tour on Twitter and tune into the live audio commentary via Ustream at www.ustream.tv/channel/internationalkarting