ABELA, LEHANE AND HANSSEN ON POLE FOR SYDNEY FINALS

Dutchman Joey Hanssen and local drivers James Abela and Pierce Lehane have secured pole position for tomorrow’s opening finals in Round Four of the CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE in Sydney today.

Abela, who is making his debut aboard a Redspeed chassis this weekend, was consistent throughout the three heats in the Pro Junior (KFJ) category with two second places and a third to secure the top spot for tomorrow’s opening final.

Karting World’s Andrew Kahl, who was victorious in the opening two heat races after setting the fastest time in qualifying, joined the Horsley Park driver at the front of the field.  Kahl’s only blemish of the day came in the third heat when a mechanical issue forced him to visit the mechanical breakdown lane, he returned to the circuit to finish 16^th and will start from third place tomorrow morning.

In between the pair on the grid tomorrow ill be championship leader Liam McLellan who charged his way through the field in every 15-lap race after failing to post a time in qualifying.

In the Pro Light (KF) ranks Pierce Lehane was the pacesetter throughout the day.  He qualified on pole position and won two of the three heats.  Cian Fothergill Karting’s Troy Loeskow upstaged the two-time Pro Junior (KFJ) Champion in the second heat for the win and will join Loeskow on the front row tomorrow.

Championship leader George Geranis had a day he would rather forget with an 11^th place finish in heat one before a DNF in heat two and failing to make the grid in the final heat.

Reigning champion Chris Hays set the pace in the Pro Gearbox (KZ2) category with two heat races victories, however, a DNF in the final heat has allowed the consistent Joey Hanssen to claim pole position for tomorrow’s opening final.

Fastest qualifier John Grother will start on Hanssen’s outside while Jason Faint and Jason Pringle will occupy the second row.

ART Grand Prix driver Aaron Borg will start tomorrow’s pre-final in the chase for the Dunlop Kartsport TaG 125 Light New South Wales State Championship from pole position with Queenslanders Adam Mercer and Ben Stewart second and third.

In the Dunlop Kartsport TaG 125 Heavy category Kris Walton claimed a clean sweep of victories after securing pole position in qualifying.

Victory in the second heat race secured Brodie Whitmore pole position in the Rookies category while Michael Sieders and Michael Osmond finished on top in the TaG 125 Resticted Light and Heavy classes respectively.

Tomorrow’s action begins at 9:00am and will continue throughout the day with two races per category.

The results can be viewed by clicking here (https://app.austkarting.com.au/aka/results/view/NSW/NSKC/2013-07-26/KFJ).

Regular updates will be posted on the series Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/CIKStarsofKarting) and Twitter feed (https://twitter.com/starsofkarting).