KIP’S KEEN FOR THREE IN A ROW IN THE TOP END (inc. qualifying results)

Kip Foster qualified fastest in Clubman Heavy as he chases three straight NT Titles (Pic: AF Images)

Western Australia’s Kip Foster is aiming to continue his love affair with the Hidden Valley Karting Raceway as he chases his third consecutive Northern Territory Championship this weekend.

The five-time, and reigning, National Champion made a superb start to his campaign in the Clubman Heavy category today by posting the fastest qualifying time around the 1053-metre circuit.

“I’ve been racing for around 30 years and I don’t think I’ve ever won three straight state championships in the same category,” said Foster.

“If I could win this weekend, it would be the perfect preparations for the biggest prize – the National Championships next weekend.”

Having competed at almost every karting circuit across Australia since he started his career 30 years ago, Foster rates the Hidden Valley tracks as one of the best in the country.

Local driver Bryce Fullwood qualified second fastest in the Junior National Light category (Pic: AF Images)

“I love this track, I reckon it’s the best track in the country and have really been looking forward to this weekend and also next weekend’s National Championships,” said Foster, who won his first State Championship in 1984.

“This type of circuit brings the best out in all of the drivers, you’ve got tight corners, big flowing sweepers and a pretty grippy surface that allows you to push hard. All in all I think there’s going to be some very interesting racing across the next two weekends.”

Berrimah’s Bryce Fullwood finished as the best of the local drivers when he posted the second fastest time in the Junior National Light category. The 14 year-old was toppled by Western Australian driver Nikola Mitic, who snared the pole position by a mere 0.049 seconds.

In the battle of the youngsters, it was Jordyn Sinni who qualified fastest in the Cadets category – narrowly ahead of Jack Doohan while Victorian Cooper Murray proved too fast during qualifying in the Rookies category.

New South Wales driver Sebastien Tolson upstaged his more fancied rivals by setting the fastest qualifying times in Clubman Light finished ahead of three-time National Champion Matthew Walters in the Clubman Light category

The top five qualifiers can be found below.

Jordyn Sinni leading jack Doohan in the Cadets category (Pic: AF Images)

Heat races will continue throughout the afternoon ahead of the pre-final and finals tomorrow.

The Australian Karting Association’s Twitter page (twitter.com/karting_net_au) and Facebook (facebook.com/AustralianKartingAssociation) page are being updated all throughout the weekend.

2012 NORTHERN TERRITORY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hidden Valley, NT
June 30/July 1

RESULTS: Qualifying (Top 5)

Junior Max
1. Andrew Kahl 49.092
2. Jake Klein 49.186
3. Jordan Murphy 49.192
4. Mitchell Gee 49.351
5. Tyler Morrison 49.362

Clubman Super Heavy
1. Scott Simpson 52.035
2. Joshua Herne 52.108
3. Ben McKinlay 52.111
4. Lee Foster 52.129
5. Thomas Janusz 52.164

Senior National
1. James Foster 55.326
2. James French 55.520
3. Matthew Waters 55.556
4. Aaron Borg 55.570
5. Nicholas Ellen 55.706

Junior Clubman
1. Jake Coleman 49.849
2. Lachlan McHugh 50.044
3. Luke Marquis 50.063
4. Mitchell Gee 50.185
5. Jake Klein 50.198

Clubman Over 40s
1. Shane Leahy 51.318
2. Darren Chilton 51.648
3. Adam Bourke 51.796
4. Sparky Marquis 51.801
5. Wayne Gough 51.847

Leopard Heavy
1. Brendan Nelson 49.326
2. Jason Hryniuk 49.391
3. Kris Walton 49.415
4. Bradley Fitch 49.519
5. Matthew Wall 49.545

Junior National Heavy
1. Luke Marquis 54.888
2. James Allen 55.058
3. Nicholas Rowe 55.031
4. Jesse Elliott 55.041
5. Zac Soutar 55.058

Cadets
1. Jordyn Sinni 56.151
2. Jack Doohan 56.396
3. Nathan Herne 56.602
4. Zak Hudson 56.630
5. Harrison Hoey 56.703

Clubman Heavy
1. Kip Foster 50.620
2. Kris Walton 50.961
3. Adam Levi 51.103
4. Shay Mayes 51.144
5. Jason Hryniuk 51.149

Rookies
1. Cooper Murray 54.984
2. Jordan Caruso 55.181
3. Brock Kenny 55.249
4. Brandon Elliott 55.533
5. Thomas Bennett 55.539

Leopard Light
1. Ben Stewart 48.262
2. Pierce Lehane 48.561
3. Nathan Davis 48.678
4. Adam Garnaut 48.736
5. Anthony Martin 48.813

Junior National Light
1. Nikola Mitic 53.887
2. Bryce Fullwood 53.936
3. Joshua Wood 53.939
4. Luke Marquis 53.949
5. Damon Strongman 53.994

Clubman Light
1. Sebastien Tolson 50.230
2. Matthew Waters 50.240
3. Jordan Ford 50.247
4. Lydon Dodge 50.289
5. Nathan Davis 50.307