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4th September 2014

Ipswich Rotax Nationals: The Showdown for Grand Finals Glory

Over 200 drivers are preparing to hit the Ipswich Kart track across six classes for opening practice ahead of the 2014 Rotax Nationals today, with the event culminating the 2014 Rotax racing season after seven rounds of the Pro Tour. It will see not only the National Champions crowned but the announcement of the formation of Team Australia for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Valencia.

Karting World’s Adam Hunter holds a strong lead in the DD2 Masters rankings entering the Nationals (Pic: Coopers Photography)

DD2 Masters – Proudly sponsored by Lucky Bling
After his success at the 2013 Rotax Nationals and subsequent win at Pro Tour Geelong, Victorian Daniel Richert remains a favourite for the DD2 Masters category at Ipswich this weekend. Richert is sure to be under pressure to retain his number one plate from fellow Victorian Hamish Leighton who also currently sits second in the rankings as he marches towards a third successive appearance at the Rotax Grand Finals.

Karting World’s Adam Hunter will be looking to continue his unwavering success from the 2014 Pro Tour season into the Rotax Nationals and take his first ever career victory at the stand alone event. Hunter also currently leads the DD2 Masters rankings and will be looking to use it as a successful result this weekend to spring board himself towards strong results on the world scene at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals.

Queensland’s Klinton Hancey will be out to capitalise on his success from Coffs Harbour as a boost towards a Nationals podium, while the chase for the final places inside the top three in the series standings will go down to the wire with Steve Ellery, Lee Adams and Danny Wright all closing in on a trip to Spain.

Rotax Rankings – DD2 Masters – Top 5
1st – Adam Hunter – 17,306
2nd – Hamish Leighton – 14,714
3rd – Steve Ellery – 14,057
4th – Lee Adams – 13,994
5th – Danny Wright – 12,496

A strong list of drivers will battle for Rotax Heavy green plate at Ipswich (Pic: IKD)

Rotax Heavy – Proudly sponsored by IP Karting
The fleet of Queenslander’s in Rotax Heavy enter this weekend as some of the favourites to take out the green plate. Arrow driver Brendan Nelson, OTK’s Scott Simpson and Energy Corse pilot Kel Treseder will be in close contention for a podium, with Treseder also defending his victory in DD2 at last year’s event. Nelson will also join the Bundaberg driver in the two speed gearbox class, adding to their commitments across the two days of racing.

While local track experience will have the Queensland drivers in a good position, a strong fleet of Victorians headed by rankings leader, Rick Pringle will be out to claim victory on Saturday night. The CRG driver will be joined by Praga’s Paul Rodgers and Formula K’s Dylan Collett in a true display of state rivalry.

Rotax Rankings – Rotax Heavy – Top 5
1st – Rick Pringle – 8,555
2nd – Dylan Collett – 8,082
3rd – Paul Rodgers – 5,119
4th – Jack Woodfall – 4,523
5th – James Reid – 4,037

West Australian Brooke Redden will compete in the Trophy Class and open Junior Max category this weekend (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Junior Max Trophy Class – Proudly sponsored by Karting World
The Junior Max Trophy Class has continued to produce close racing throughout its second season in existence in the Pro Tour. As Australian Karting’s only one make class, it requires a strong setup and driver ability to be at the front on a regular basis. West Australian Brooke Redden took the class by storm in his first event at Todd Road in January, taking the win and since then has risen to lead the rankings and take subsequent round victories. Redden will also this weekend step up and enter the open Junior Max class.

After his success at the Lithgow round of the Pro Tour, fellow West Australian Samuel Dicker will be another who will be hard to beat in the Trophy Class. Karting World supported driver, Glen Ormerod has had a strong share of race and round wins in the Trophy Class this season and like Redden and Dicker, is sure to challenge for the top positions across the races. Local experience for Birel Kartsport Australia supported driver, Jye Hopkins and debutant, Harrison Hoey will hold them in good stead of taking a strong result at Ipswich.

Rotax Rankings – Junior Max Trophy Class – Top 5
1st – Brooke Redden – 15,893
2nd – Glen Ormerod – 13,877
3rd – Chris Bregonje – 12,788
4th – Jye Hopkins – 10,413
5th – Hudson Heath – 9,853

Deadly Kart driver David Sera will be looking to add to his record total of Australian National Karting titles this weekend (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Rotax Light – Proudly sponsored by KartSportNews.com
A field of in excess of 50 will line in Rotax Light this weekend, headlined by reigning National Champion, David Sera. The Victorian will make his first appearance in a Rotax event in his ‘Deadly Kart’, though it is his first time out in the Pro Tour season for 2014. Rankings leader Brad Jenner is sure to be amongst the front runners in his RK Kart as he looks to extend his lead in the rankings on his way to a first time appearance at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals. Fellow Victorian Andrew Carey currently sits second in the standings, and will also be looking to sure up his trip to Spain in November.

The battle for third place in the rankings will go down to the wire with Birel driver Ryan Kennedy holding a slender lead over Praga’s Jordan Boys who also sits second in the DD2 rankings. G-Force Karting’s Nicholas Andrews will be amongst a group of Queenslander’s whose experience at Ipswich should benefit them in the oversubscribed field, in addition to Pacific Kartsport pair, Adam Mercer and Luke Baldry; Cian Fothergill and Tyler Greenbury. Victorian Daniel Rochford will be looking to use his recent success in Rotax Light at the SA State Championships as a boost towards a podium at the Nationals.

Rotax Rankings – Rotax Light – Top 5
1st – Bradley Jenner – 16,775
2nd – Andrew Carey – 14,569
3rd – Ryan Kennedy – 12,276
4th – Jordan Boys – 11,909
5th – Brenton Mountjoy – 10,710

Exprit’s Jayden Ojeda will be out to complete a successful season with victory in Junior Max (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Junior Max – Proudly sponsored by Troy Farley Race Engines
Exprit driver Jayden Ojeda holds the lead in the Junior Max rankings entering the Ipswich Nationals, followed closely by FA Kart driver Bryce Fullwood. The pair are sure to challenge for victory, with the contest for the third seat coming down to the final races. Queensland pair, Callum Walker and Zane Goddard are split by just 700 points, with an overall victory offering 2,000 points. Fifth place driver, Isaac Vaccarella also remains a mathematical possibility of making the trip, dependant on the weekend’s results.

Victorian’s Aaron Cameron and Reece Sidebottom have had their share of podiums at selected rounds of the Pro Tour throughout the season and will be subsequently drivers to watch that could make the top five overall, while Birel Kartsport Australia pair Mitch Maddren and Hunter McElrea continue to improve and climb the order with the pair both inside the top ten in the overall rankings and on home soil for this year’s Nationals.
Rotax Rankings – Junior Max – Top 5
1st – Jayden Ojeda – 16,294
2nd – Bryce Fullwood – 15,243
3rd – Callum Walker – 12,980
4th – Zane Goddard – 12,248
5th – Isaac Vaccarella – 11,759

CRG Australia’s Jason Pringle leads the rankings but has not won at a Nationals since the 2011 event at Geelong (Pic: Coopers Photography)

DD2 – Proudly sponsored by Pacific Kartsport
After his success in 2012 at the Dubbo Nationals, Queensland’s Lucas Ward will be one of many sunshine state drivers that could take victory in the DD2 class. 2013 winner, Kel Treseder is another who will be capable of producing a successful overall result. Rankings leader Jason Pringle has delivered a strong display of driving throughout the season with the CRG veteran not having achieved a win at the Nationals since 2011 in Geelong.
Albury’s Jordan Boys will be looking to lock away his first appearance on the World stage in Spain in November with a successful result this weekend, while Troy Woolston needs to finish in the top five to ensure he can complete the trio in DD2 at the Rotax Grand Finals. Formula K’s Adam Lindstrom remains a mathematical chance of making the top three in the series standings, though finishing on the podium will be no easy task with local’s James Macken and Jaxon Evans looking to place their Birel Kart’s at the front. English born Joseph Burton-Harris returns to competitive Karting this weekend for his DD2 debut in a Karting World prepared Tony Kart, while Maranello’s Kyle Ensbey and Trophy Class graduate Chris Bregonje will feature as strong representatives for New South Wales in the class.

Rotax Rankings – DD2 – Top 5
1st – Jason Pringle – 16,851
2nd – Jordan Boys – 14,574
3rd – Troy Woolston – 14,484
4th – Adam Lindstrom – 12,912
5th – Mason Barbera – 10,309

In all categories, the podium will consist of the top five from the official classification.

The 2014 Sparco Rotax Nationals take place at Ipswich, QLD from September 4-6.

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