James Macken qualified fastest by 0.001 of a second in Rotax Light. Pic: AF Images
It was a case of every thousandth of a second counting at the Sandy Creek Raceway, located just outside of Warwick, during qualifying at the Queensland Sprint Kart Championships today.
Queensland pair James Macken (Gold Coast, QLD) and Tyler Greenbury (Toowoomba, QLD) were separated by a mere 0.001 seconds at the top of the timesheets during qualifying in the 125cc Rotax Light category.
Highlighting the competitiveness in the category, the next three of Ashley Quiddington (Ballarat, Vic), Bradley Jenner (Melbourne, Vic) and Michael Robson (Sydney, NSW) set times within 0.03 seconds of each other around the 993-metre circuit.
“It’s extremely close, you can’t actually get any closer than Tyler and myself at the top of the timesheets,” said Macken.
“We’ve had a bit of a rivalry going for a while now, so to get one up on him – even if it is only in qualifying – is a good feeling.
“I knew I had some good speed to be able to up near the front but to snare pole position was a bit of a surprise. The competition in Rotax Light is very tough and I’m really looking forward to some great racing across the weekend.
“The Warwick Kart Club have done a fantastic job getting the track to where it is and the recent extensions to the layout has been a great addition.”
Forest Lake teenager Brock Plumb secured a pair of pole positions during today’s qualifying action. In his first major event aboard an Australian-made Arrow kart Plumb set the fastest time in Junior Clubman ahead of Mitchell Gee (Sunshine Coast, QLD) and Mawson.
Plumb backed this performance up in Junior National Heavy when he outpaced National Champion Anton de Pasquale (Melbourne, Vic) and James Golding (Warragul, Vic).
Joseph Mawson on his way to pole position in Junior Max today. Pic: AF Images/Carruthers
Fujitsu Cool Scholarship driver Joseph Mawson (Hinchenbrook, NSW) snared pole position in the fastest Junior category – Junior Max. The Sydneysider was the only driver to break the 44-second bracket in the category with a time of 43.977 seconds.
Toowoomba driver Sean Butcher qualified fastest in the Senior National Light division ahead of Darren Harris and Chris Farkas.
In the Senior Clubman categories it was a Harrington Doyle Racing domination with Brooke Topp and James Greenwood claiming pole positions in the Clubman Light and Clubman Heavy categories respectively.
Garry Humphries, Department of Communities Regional Manager – South West Region, and Rugby League Legend Shane Webcke officially opened the proceedings at the championships.
Webcke, who was born in nearby Toowoomba and currently resides in Leyburn, was in awe of the championships.
”I’ve been coming past here (the Sandy Creek Raceway) my entire life but have never seen such a big event here – it is an amazing set-up,” said Webcke.
“It is a real credit to the club and all of the volunteers who have put this event together.
“As a local, you don’t even have to be a fan of motorsport to be a fan of this event and the flow on effect it is having for the local region.”
Garry Humphries, Department of Communities Regional Manager – South West Region, and Rugby League Legend Shane Webcke officially opened the proceedings at the championships. Pic: AF Images/Carruthers
Webcke was also amazed by the sophistication in the karts and the speed in which they race around the Sandy Creek Raceway.
“They really motor around here, it’s an amazing sight. I’ve been on the hire karts down in Brisbane a couple of times and they’re nothing like this,” said Webcke.
Heat races started this afternoon and will continue throughout tomorrow with the championship finals to be contested on Sunday.
The Sandy Creek Raceway is located on Sandy Creek Road, just outside of Warwick. Admission is free for spectators.
Results are being posted on the AKA results system as soon as possible at the completion of every session. To view these results please click here, select QLD in the drop down menu followed by the Warwick Kart Club.
2011 Queensland Sprint Kart Championships
Warwick, QLD
Qualifying – Top Five
Junior Max
1. Joseph Mawson 43.977
2. Liam McLellan 44.140
3. Pierce Lehane 44.140
4. Cameron Hill 44.173
5. Matthew McLellan 44.187
Rotax Light
1. James Macken 43.696
2. Tyler Greenbury 43.697
3. Ashley Quiddington 43.916
4. Bradley Jenner 43.917
5. Michael Robson 43.942
Rotax Heavy
1. Kris Walton 44.622
2. Brendan Nelson 44.658
3. Ben McKinlay 44.696
4. William Yarwood 44.749
5. Brett Sinkins 44.847
Clubman Over 40’s
1. Bevan Garioch 46.399
2. Remo Luciani 46.539
3. Neville Honeychurch 46.658
4. Brett Llewellyn 46.791
5. Paul Baxter 46.795
Junior Clubman
1. Brock Plumb 44.841
2. Mitchell Gee 45.118
3. Joseph Mawson 45.182
4. Luke Marquis 45.190
5. Jake Coleman 45.262
Senior National Light
1. Sean Butcher 49.628
2. Darren Harris 49.709
3. Chris Farkas 49.815
4. Luke Caputo 49.833
5. Jarryd Ebzery 49.835
Clubman Super Heavy
1. Bradley Moody 47.351
2. Scott Simpson 47.349
3. Joshua Herne 47.439
4. Jamie Penningh 47.466
5. Ben McKinlay 47.554
Leopard Heavy
1. Daniel Stein 43.729
2. Kris Walton 43.859
3. Lucas Price 44.273
4. Patrick Mather 44.315
5. Travis Martin 44.360
Junior National Heavy
1. Brock Plumb 49.419
2. Anton de Pasquale 49.702
3. James Golding 49.770
4. Jordan Boys 49.776
5. Joshua Smith 49.864
Clubman Light
1. Brooke Topp 45.245
2. Chris Farkas 45.279
3. Cian Fothergill 45.290
4. Macauley Jones 45.298
5. Ben Stewart 45.305
Senior National Heavy
1. Darren Harris 50.347
2. Oliver Etter 50.448
3. Todd Stevens 50.533
4. Joshua Crossingham 50.536
5. Jeremy Landt 50.563
Midgets
1. Chase Wooley 51.456
2. Ryan Suhle 51.474
3. Cooper Murray 51.526
4. Jordan Caruso 51.586
5. Joseph Black 51.714
Junior National Light
1. Jordan Boys 48.807
2. Roland Legge 49.018
3. James Abela 49.078
4. James Golding 49.093
5. Justin Francis 49.101
Leopard Light
1. John Grother 42.867
2. Cian Fothergill 42.894
3. Ben Stewart 42.933
4. Kyle Ensbey 43.104
5. Luke Lane 43.248
Clubman Heavy
1. James Greenwood 46.009
2. Shane Price 46.170
3. Clinton Marcon 46.243
4. Zeke Edwards 46.298
5. Brendan Nelson 46.334
Rookies
1. Jayden Ojeda 50.055
2. Damon Ash 50.091
3. Jordan McGregor 50.114
4. Joshua Wood 50.172
5. Rhys Wooley 50.233
