CAROLINE Springs youngster Jake Klein notched a memorable debut win at Geelong’s Beckley Park in the third round of the Castrol EDGE CIK Stars of Karting Championship.
Coming into the Pro Junior category this year, Klein put together a masterful race to get past fellow Victorian William Hawkes, with Damon Strongman making it a Victorian trifecta.
Earlier in the day, Strongman won the first final to put his title race back on track.
‘‘I really can’t put it into words how it feels,’’ Klein said last night.
‘‘I didn’t think I would be up the front this quickly but to win — especially in Geelong — is a great feeling.
‘‘The competition is very tough and it was a great race. I had to work hard to fight it out with William, but in the end we got the job done, so I amextremely happy for my entire crew.’’
In a day that had serious title implications across all three classes, junior championship leader Liam McLellan didn’t finish either of the finals.
In the Pro Light category, twice Junior Stars ofKarting champion Pierce Lehane made a successful return to CIK competition, winning both finals.
Lehane beat out resurgent Queenslander Brock Plumb and South Australian Ben Edwards, who had a hard- fought battle right to the line with Queenslander Mitchell Gee.
Like McLellan, championship leader Matthew Waters, of Sydney, didn’t have the best weekend. He was shuffled back in the pack and the last runner to come home.
This has handed the championship lead to Victorian Round 2 winner George Geranis.
In the premier six-speed Pro Gearbox category, Dutch World Cup champ Joey Hanssen didn’t let a change of chassis get in his way as he romped to his second round victory in succession.
Hanssen defeated karting veterans Kel Treseder, from Queensland, and Sunbury’s Matthew Wall to extend his lead in the championship race.
The Castrol EDGE CIK Stars of Karting Series moves on to Sydney at the end of next month before returning to Melbourne’s Todd Rd Circuit for its finale on September 21-22.
