FROM BELGIUM TO NEWCASTLE FOR PIERCE LEHANE

Pierce Lehane in action during the opening round of the 2013 Rotax Max Euro Challenge in Belgium (Pic: theracebox.com)

After lining up against the world’s best Rotax drivers two weeks ago in Belgium, Pierce Lehane returns to Australian competition this weekend in Newcastle, New South Wales.

Lehane is among the 159 entries received for the Rotax Pro Tour event to be hosted by the Newcastle Kart Racing Club at the Cameron Park circuit. The Newcastle venue is one that Lehane has enjoyed enormous success at previously and will undoubtedly start as one of the favourites.

While his final result at the opening round of the Rotax Max Euro Challenge in Belgium didn’t quite go to plan, Lehane was pleased with his first overseas event of 2013.

“The weekend started well but then I had an engine issue in the final practice session, which was a big bummer. In qualifying I couldn’t get a clear lap and could only manage 22nd fastest,” said Lehane.

“I had some mixed results in the heat races before coming through the field from 15th to 5th in the pre-final and confident of being able to mix it near the front of the field for the final.

“In the first corner I was pushed across the grass and was unable to rejoin the track where I left it, so under the European rules I was disqualified. While it was disappointing not to get the result I was hoping for, I had some really good speed and can’t wait to get back over there again for round two.”

Lehane will line up against the likes of Rotax Pro Tour points leader Daniel Rochford and last year’s Junior Champion Thomas Randle in the Rotax Light category.

Michael Saller, fresh from a third place finish in the New Zealand Championships, will start as one of the contenders in the Rotax Heavy category. The New South Welshman will face some tough opposition from the likes of 12-time National Champion Matthew Wall, Victorian Tory Woolston and Queenslanders Brendan Nelson, Kel Treseder and William Yarwood.

A number of the countries top junior drivers will be in action in the Junior Rotax category, along with the rising stars in the Sodi Junior Max Trophy class.

No less than 23 entries have been received for the DD2 category while 24 will suit up in the DD2 Masters category.

Practice will be held on Friday with heat races to be contested on Saturday and the finals on Sunday.