NEW FACES AT THE FRONT IN STARS OF KARTING OPENER

A pair of new faces led the way in two of the three Pro categories during qualifying day at Round One of the CIK Stars of Karting Series presented Castrol EDGE in Ipswich, Queensland today.

After qualifying second fastest in the Top Five Shootout, Exprit driver Chris Sandrone won his opening heat race in the Pro Junior (KFJ) category before backing this performance up with a pair of second places throughout the day.

As a result, the New South Welshman will start from pole position in tomorrow’s opening final with fellow debutant William Hawkes on his outside.

Local driver Callum Walker, who claimed his maiden heat race victory in the final 15-lap heat race this afternoon, will occupy third place on the Pro Junior grid.

“Coming into the weekend I was really nervous. I hadn’t done a lot of racing at this level and didn’t really know what to expect,” said Sandrone.

“To make the shootout was tops, but to then win the opening heat was even better. It’s already been a huge experience but tomorrow’s going to be really tough with the 25-lap races.”

Polesitter Kurt Kostecki had an engine failure on the opening lap of heat one before winning heat two and finished seventh in the final heat. As a result, he will start from eighth place in tomorrow’s opening 25-lap encounter.

In the Pro Light (KF) category Western Australian Lenzo Kart driver Luke Gabin snatched pole position from Harrington Doyle Racing’s Brooke Topp in the Top Five Shootout.

Gabin then continued this form into the heat races where he won two of the three events contested. Topp won the remaining heat and will start from position two tomorrow.

Master Karting’s George Geranis finished third in all three heat races and will start from third tomorrow ahead of a trio of Kosmic Racing Australia drivers.

In the Pro Gearbox (KZ2) category, Energy Corse Australia’s and Lenzo Kart Australia’s Joey Hanssen shared the victories. As a result, they will occupy the front row for tomorrow’s opening final. Behind them will be Troy Bretherton, Matthew Wall, Jason Pringle and Ricky Capo.

Birel Kartsport’s Jaxon Evans will start from pole position in the Dunlop TaG Light pre-final with Ben Stewart, who had two wins and an eighth placing, alongside. A trio of Queensland karting veterans, Brendan Nelson, William Yarwood and Kris Walton set the pace in Dunlop TaG Heavy.

In the TaG Restricted categories Kyle Henry-Smith (Light) and Michael Osmond (Heavy) will showed the way – as did Ryan Suhle in Rookies.

Tomorrow’s action will get underway at 9am.

To view the full results please click here.

Follow the action from Ipswich on the Series’ Facebook page and Twitter feed, both of which will be updated regularly throughout the weekend.