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11th March 2011

JAMES SERA SETS THE PACE AT VICTORIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

James Sera

James Sera was fastest in both the Leopard Light and Clubman Light categories. Pic: AF Images

Three-time Australian Champion James Sera set the pace during qualifying at the Victorian Karting Championships at Port Melbourne today.

Competing in both the Leopard Light and highly competitive Clubman Light categories, the 31 year-old set the fastest time in both divisions as he chases the 21st state championship of his illustrious career.

Local driver Adam Willison was second fastest in the Leopard division while Sera’s younger cousin David was a mere 0.124 seconds slower than the FA (Fernando Alonso) Kart pilot.

“It’s really the best possible start, now the hard work really starts to try and stay there as there is only one way to go from here,” said James Sera.

“Over the past few months I’ve done a heap of testing around here and with only a handful of FA karts here this weekend it’s great to show the potential of the chassis.

“This weekend is the first big event for the FA Kart team in Australia, to be competitive straight off the bat is very pleasing.”

Rochester’s James Hughes outpaced his more fancied rivals, including reigning national champion Joseph Mawson, to finish on top in the Junior Clubman category

“This is my seventh crack at a state championship but the first time I’ve qualified on pole position,” said Hughes.

“There is a lot of great drivers in the field this weekend. My best finish in a state title is second, which I’ve done three times – hopefully this weekend will be the time that I go one better.”

After qualifying second in the Junior Clubman category, Mawson gain the upper hand on nemesis Pierce Lehane in the Junior Max class.

In the battle of the youngsters, Wright Karts driver Jordan Caruso finished as the fastest qualifier ahead of South Australian Chase Wooley and Dylan Hollis. Wooley’s older brother Rhys topped the timesheets in the Rookies category ahead of multiple-time state champion Reece Sidebottom.

The opening round of heat races started this afternoon and will continue tomorrow ahead of the pre-finals. The Championship finals will be contested on Sunday.

To read about some of the behind the scenes action please Click Here to view Friday’s notebook.

2011 Victorian Karting Championships

QUALIFYING – Top Five

Clubman Super Heavy
1. Ben McKinlay 45.384
2. Jason Stania 45.400
3. Scott Simpson 45.406
4. Josh Brooker 45.490
5. Scott Ferguson 45.503

Junior Clubman
1. James Hughes 43.341
2. Joseph Mawson 43.363
3. Anton de Pasquale 43.549
4. Liam Morey 43.618
5. Todd Hazelwood 43.684

Clubman Heavy
1. Zeke Edwards 44.058
2. Brendan Nelson 44.194
3. Matthew Wall 44.235
4. Leigh Nicolaou 44.242
5. Bradley Fitch 44.272

Midgets
1. Jordan Caruso 49.139
2. Chase Wooley 49.507
3. Dylan Hollis 49.587
4. Cooper Murray 49.602
5. Cody Brewczynski 49.760

Rotax Light
1. David Sera 41.818
2. Luke Rochford 41.961
3. Adam Lindstrom 42.021
4. Ashley Quiddington 42.215
5. Bradley Jenner 42.234

Junior Max
1. Joseph Mawson 42.013
2. Pierce Lehane 42.079
3. Liam Morey 42.145
4. Chelsea Angelo 42.177
5. Michael Stewart 42.212

Clubman Over 40s
1. Remo Luciani 44.375
2. Phillip Smith 44.660
3. Chris Sanderson 44.839
4. Gavin Harvey 44.840
5. Mark Poole 44.893

Senior National Heavy
1. Glenn Riddell 48.097
2. Nicholas Ellen 48.301
3. Nathan Mitchell 48.429
4. Brett Dillon 48.514
5. Todd Stevens 48.659

Leopard Light
1. James Sera 41.007
2. Adam Willison 41.169
3. Iain McDougall 41.170
4. David Sera 41.229
5. Scott Kissock 41.241

Junior National Heavy
1. Anton de Pasquale 47.163
2. Todd Hazelwood 47.412
3. Nicholas Rowe 47.460
4. Matthew McLellan 47.471
5. Michael Potter 47.700

Leopard Heavy
1. Michael Griffiths 41.732
2. Shane Price 41.738
3. Bradley Fitch 41.806
4. Matthew Wall 41.896
5. Daniel Stein 42.121

Rookies
1. Rhys Wooley 47.966
2. Reece Sidebottom 48.010
3. Jayden Ojeda 48.107
4. Isaac Vaccarella 48.119
5. Nikola Mitic 48.181

Rotax Heavy
1. Paul Rodgers 42.765
2. Brendan Nelson 42.780
3. Zeke Edwards 42.783
4. Rick Pringle 42.863
5. Ben McKinlay 42.986

Senior National Light
1. Darsey Kondpirakis 47.638
2. James May 47.778
3. Nicholas Ellen 47.869
4. Todd Stevens 48.032
5. Thomas Allen 48.050

Junior National Light
1. William Hawkes 46.503
2. Luke Marquis 46.504
3. Jake Klein 46.512
4. Mitch Wilson 46.628
5. Dimitri Agathos 46.643

Clubman Light
1. James Sera 43.174
2. David Sera 43.298
3. Jordan Ford 43.305
4. Chris Hays 43.362
5. Macauley Jones 43.372

The full results from qualifying can be found by Clicking Here and then select Victoria and the Go kart Club of Victoria.