MARQUIS LEADS THE LOCAL CHARGE TO CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

Luke Marquis taking victory in the Junior National Light pre-final. Pic: KartX/Carruthers

Pasadena teenager Luke Marquis has led the local charge in the Dunlop South Australian Karting Championships at the Monarto Karting Complex today.

Competing in the Junior National Light category for drivers aged between 12 and 15 years, Marquis qualified fastest yesterday before continuing his good run today during a race-long battle with New South Wales driver Joseph Burton-Harris and Victorian Brad Jenner in the pre-final.

Following numerous lead changes throughout the race it was Marquis who snared the victory to secure pole position for tomorrow’s championship final.

“I’m stoked,” said Marquis.

“This is only my second attempt at a state title, my first was in only my fifth ever race meeting, so to be starting on pole position for tomorrow’s final is an amazing feeling.

“I’m hoping for the weather to be fine tomorrow as I didn’t go too well in the wet this morning but in the pre-final I came from sixth on the grid to take the win.”

Marquis is also competing in the Junior Clubman category where his will start from 16th on the grid.

Another local driver to secure pole position in their category was Upper Sturt youngster Rhys Wooley.

Wooley snared the victory in the Rookies category by the slimmest of margins ahead of Reece Sidebottom and Tyler Morrison. Not to be outdone by his older brother, Rhys Wooley will also start from pole position for tomorrow’s championship final in the Midgets category.

Current Australian champion Joseph Mawson secured pole position in both the Junior Clubman and Formula JMA categories. Another driver to secure pole position in two categories was Remo Luciani who will start on pole position for both the Clubman Heavy and Clubman Over 40s.

Other drivers to secure pole position include Jordan Nicolaou (Junior National Heavy), Blake Mooney (Clubman Super Heavy), Grant Smith (Leopard Light), Scott Taylor (Leopard Heavy), Adam Lindstrom (Rotax Light) and Paul Rodgers (Rotax Heavy).

To view the notebook of some of the behind the scenes action please click here.