Liam Carr leading the way in the KA2 class (Pic: Pace Images)
Liam Carr and Oliver Williamson have signalled their intentions towards SP Tools Australian Kart Championships in their respective categories at the third round in Newcastle on Saturday.
KA2 Championship leader Carr extended his lead with a maximum points haul – scoring pole position and all three heat race wins in his TWM Kart Republic entry – while his closest rivals had mixed days.
Hamish Campbell qualified on the front row, however his run was thwarted in the second heat with a carburettor issue, he bounced back to second placing in the third heat, setting the fastest lap time in the process aboard his Tony Kart.
Williamson was untouchable in Cadet 12. He came into the round 14 points behind leader, Jay Kostecki. Winning all three of his races and the pole position points would provisionally see him take the Championship lead after Kostecki didn’t see the top 10 all day. Round One winner, Jude Ammoun had a similarly difficult day.
TWM Driver Oliver Williamson was all smiles (Pic: Pace Images)
Cooper Clavell scored two heat race wins, while Brock Nolan had a solid day for Top Gun finishing with a pair of seconds and a win after an epic battle with Ollie Armitt.
Making a welcome return to a winning heat race position in KZ2 was former Champion Troy Loeskow. He bookended his days with heat wins, the second going the way of Championship leader, Dylan Guest.
It has been an incredible day for the West Australian twin, Guest. Qualifying saw three of his close Championship rivals relegated to starting from the rear of the grid.
James Golding’s water hose disconnected from the radiator spraying water on the track and the PremiAir Racing Supercars driver out of the session.
The first unsuspecting driver was last round winner Jac Preston who didn’t set a time. The next driver by – who was in front of Golding when his engine leaked the water – was Australian Champion, Sam Dicker.
With all three starting at the rear of the grid for the first two heats, they were able to advance themselves forward to potentially be in podium positions come the final tomorrow.
In the group heats for KA3 Junior, Braxton Regan has led the way taking both of his heats today. The round one winner is looking comfortable in his Kart Republic by TWM machine and will be the one to catch tomorrow. Other winners included Paddy Buckley (who was among the front runners in his second heat) and Pro Karting Kiwi, Zach Tucker.
Impressing also was Zander Watts with two top three finishes, similarly the resurgent Luke Nolan – who finished his races with a third and second position.
The battle for the TaG 125 title continues to intrigue – and change race by race. Leader, Jackson Souslin-Harlow took two wins – including a crucial one over reigning Champion Harrison Hoey, however the big story is the arrival of reigning KA3 Senior Champion, Mika Lemasurier. Missing the first two rounds then signing with Tony Kart Australia, Lemasurier has taken two dominant heat race wins – and proving – as many suspected the fly in the ointment of this Title race.
Perhaps the biggest loser was BirelART Kiwi, Kiahn Burt. The last round winner was second in the Championship, however ended his day with a fourth and second. Another contender in Amos Orr has finished with a third and second and still is in the fight – while local hope, Oscar Priest is showing a great deal of race pace after a tough practice day Friday.
In KA3 Senior, Christian Estasy has continued gaining consistent results with a win and second position in his two heats. Being largely a home track for him, Estasy is continuing to pile the pressure on Championship leader, Jett Adamson.
Adamson has been among the top five campaigners throughout the day, however Estasy was upstaged in heat two by Toby Spinks who took another narrow win. Other top runners in the Championship, Josh Elliston, Zac Heard and Will Thompson are within the top runners heading into Sunday Finals Day.
X30’s round three is shaping as a battle between Brodie Whitmore and Lewis Cordato. The former took the first heat race with Cordato behind, before they swapped positions in heat two.
Sydney driver, Tyler Howard didn’t finish the first heat, but ended third in the second, while Pip Casabene from the front dropped down the order in heat one, but showed pace in heat two setting up a fascinating finals day.
In Cadet 9, Felix Sim had it all going his way until heat three. He took comfortable wins in the opening two heats, while rivals, Milan Sami and Ryder Xiong had their own troubles individually in the first two heats – Xiong in the first, Sami the second, however both were able to fight their way through the field.
In the third, Sim and Xiong came together- the latter fighting forward to finish ninth, Xiong, 24th and Sami taking the win.
An interested spectator at Super Saturday was Federal Member for Hunter – Dan Repacholi. A five-time Olympian and three-time Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist in Pistol Shooting took in the action of Australia’s premier karting series.
Sunday’s action at the Cameron Park Raceway on Cameron Park Drive begins at 8am with the continuation of heats before heading to Finals. Entry to spectators is free.
The last group of heats and all the Finals will be covered Live and Free on 7plus under Karting Australia’s landmark agreement with the premier network through the App on a Smart TV or online at https://7plus.com.au/australian-kart-championship.
For the full results https://speedhive.mylaps.com/events/3069042
