AUSTRALIAN KARTERS TAKE WORLD HONOURS IN THE UAE (inc. video)

The Australian team celebrate their victory in the Nations Cup.

Australia’s team of kart racers has taken out the Nations Cup in the 2011 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final at the Al Ain Raceway in the United Arab Emirates.

Led by a trio of runner-up placings by Sydneysider Joseph Mawson and Victorians Dave Sera and Jason Pringle, the 11-driver team claimed karting’s highest honour as a team in the event.

A total of 265 drivers representing 59 countries were present at the event across four categories – Junior Max, Senior Max, DD2 and DD2 Masters – with Australian drivers recording four top five results.

Second place in the Nations Cup went to Canada, who had 21 drivers present in Al Ain – an event record, with South Africa finishing third.

Mawson’s second place behind Japan’s Ukyo Sasahara, who previously won the event in 2009, was the second successive year that a young Australian has finished on the podium in the Junior Max category.

“It’s a great feeling to be number two in the world, it was a long hard race there. Unfortunately I couldn’t catch Ukyo but I’m still very happy,” said Mawson.

“You really had the best drivers from all around the world here, to finish second in such a high class of drivers is a great feeling.”

Pierce Lehane, who finished third last year, was running fourth during the early stages of the 18-lap World Final before being involved in an incident and crossing the line 15th.

“It started out as a good weekend, then went downhill unfortunately,” said Lehane.

“It was a typical European style of final, got a good start but all of the guys up the front were blocking so I tried to make a move and got some dirt on my tyres which was costing me some time.

“A few more guys passed me and then someone hit me which dropped me well back. From there is was just a case of making sure I got to the end.”

Australia’s other representative in the Junior Max category, Michael Stewart, drove the ‘race of his life’ yesterday in the last chance qualifiers race. He then continued this form into today by moving from 31st at the start of the pre-final to be running as high as sixth in the final. However, unfortunately he pushed a little too hard and run off the circuit that dropped him to 24th.

Sera entered the weekend as one of the favourites for the Senior Max category – and he lived up to all expectations.

The Monster Energy-backed driver started from the outside front row for the final alongside 2008 winner Ben Cooper. While Sera diced with fellow Aussie Tyler Greenbury and England’s Sean Babington it allowed Cooper to opening a commanding lead.

Despite his best efforts, which saw him bridge the gap in the closing stages, Sera was unable to reel in Cooper to cross the line second.

“I’ve had some bad luck in the past, to get on the podium is a great result. It obviously would have been nice to win but to be second is very pleasing.

“I’d like to win at least one world title before I retire from karts, hopefully this can be next year.”

After being involved in several incidents, Greenbury crossed the line 19th but was later given a ten second penalty for one of the incidents, dropping him to 26th.

Victorian Josh de Maio was impressive on his way to sixth place, after starting 30th in the pre-final.

Pringle battled with 2007 Champion Pier-Luc Oullette and his fellow Canadian Nicholas Latifi in the DD2 final. Despite leading the way on several occasions, Pringle was unable to stop Oullette from taking his second title.

“It’s always great to win but there’s always got to be someone who finishes second,” said Pringle.

“I was really happy with the way in which the weekend has turned out. The whole team has done a great job this year and this shows by our victory in the Nations Cup.

“Everyone at this event is running the exact same equipment, there’s minimal adjustments, it’s really up to the guy in the seat to push that bit more – it’s probably some of the toughest racing you’ll ever experience.”

Gold Coaster Damian Ward showed some great speed to charge his way from 16th on the grid at the start of the pre-final to eventually be classified in fourth place.

Competing in the event for the first time, Queenslander Brendan Nelson finished 17th.

Brent Coghlan left all of his bad luck in heat one, where he crashed out before the start/finish line, to put in a determined drive to fifth place in the DD2 Masters category. Such was the closeness of the finish, Coghlan came within half a kart-length of the podium.

Unfortunately for James Macken, bad luck haunted him throughout the week with his event ending after he crashed out of the Senior Max category in the Last Chance Qualifier on Friday.

2011 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final
Al Ain Raceway, UAE

Nations Cup
1st Australia 1306pts
2nd Canada 1253
3rd South Africa 1223

Junior Max
1st Ukyo Sasahara (JAP)
2nd Joseph Mawson (AUS)
3rd James Singleton (UK)
15th Pierce Lehane (AUS)
24th Michael Stewart (AUS)

Senior Max
1st Ben Cooper (UK)
2nd David Sera (AUS)
3rd Hirotaka Sasaki (JAP)
6th Josh de Maio (AUS)
EXC Tyler Greenbury (AUS)
DNQ James Macken (AUS)

DD2
1st Pier-Luc Ouellette (CAN)
2nd Jason Pringle (AUS)
3rd Jari Huttunen (FIN)
4th Damian Ward (AUS)
17th Brendan Nelson (AUS)

DD2 Masters
1st Cristiano Morgado (RSA)
2nd Danny Brand (BEL)
3rd Guillaume Berteaux (FRA).
5th Brent Coghlan (AUS)

Full results can be found by clicking here.