KARTING STARS FIRE UP AT NEWCASTLE

Today Show presenter gets the karting bug

Cian Fothergill set the pace in Pro Light (KF1). Pic: AF Images/Budd

Australia’s elite kart racers fired up their engines for practice ahead of this weekend’s round of the CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE at Newcastle’s Mount Sugarloaf Raceway today.

Reigning Champion Cian Fothergill set the pace in the Pro Light (KF1) category. The Tracksa-backed driver finished the day with a fastest time of 47.202 seconds with Adam Hughes second fastest (47.349).

Damien Radosevic was third fastest (47.650), narrowly ahead of Tesa-tape Exprit driver Matthew Waters (47.747) and championship leader Jake Spencer (47.784).

Just like the championship points, the Pro Gearbox (KZ2) times were a close affair today. Top Kart’s Macauley Jones topped the times (47.629), narrowly ahead of Tyler Greenbury (47.659) and Kel Tresder (47.660). Vodafone-backed Tony Kart driver Chris Hays was fourth fastest with a time of 47.695 seconds followed by Tracka Racing’s John Grother (47.719).

Championship leader Scott Taylor, who is making his first start at the Newcastle venue, was ninth fastest on the combined times with a 47.919 second lap time.

CRG driver Jake Coleman mixed it with championship contenders Pierce Lehane and Joseph Mawson during today’s Pro Junior (KF3) practice sessions.

In the end it was Lehane who finished on top of the charts (48.156) ahead of Coleman (48.391) and Mawson (48.395).

Steve Jacobs in action during this morning's Today Show. Pic: AF Images/Carruthers

Prior to the five practice sessions, Channel Nine’s Today Show’s Weatherman Steve Jacobs caught the ‘karting bug’ when he got behind the wheel of a kart on the circuit.

Jacobs presented the weather crosses on this morning’s nationwide program from the circuit while explaining about karting and the different levels of the sport before getting behind the wheel of a kart himself.

After some tips from some of the drivers in the Pro categories, Jacobs took to the track for a slalom challenge in a 125cc Rotax kart before tackling the tricky 1056-metre circuit.

At the end of the morning Jacobs left the circuit with a smile from ear-to-ear and may very well be seen back behind the wheel of a kart in the near future.

“That was a real blast,” said Jacobs after hopping out of his kart.

“I only did a handful of laps, every time you go into a corner you want to go deeper under brakes and then faster down the straight. I take my hat off to all of these youngsters who race so close together.

“It’s amazing to imagine what it’s like to be racing with up to 40 competitors racing around you only centimetres apart.”

Qualifying and the heat races will be contested tomorrow ahead of the finals on Sunday. Admission is free for spectators.

The Mount Sugarloaf Karting circuit, home of the Newcastle Kart Club, is located on the corner of George Booth Drive and Cameron Park Drive, Cameron Park (just west of Newcastle).

CIK STARS OF KARTING SERIES
presented by Castrol EDGE

Round 4 – Newcastle, NSW

Practice – Top Five

Pro Light (KF1)
1. Cian Fothergill 47.202
2. Adam Hughes 47.349
3. Damien Radosevic 47.650
4. Matthew Waters 47.747
5. Jake Spencer 47.784

Pro Gearbox (KZ2)
1. Macauley Jones 47.629
2. Tyler Greenbury 47.659
3. Kel Treseder 47.660
4. Chris Hays 47.695
5. John Grother 47.719

Pro Junior (KF3)
1. Pierce Lehane 48.156
2. Jake Coleman 48.391
3. Joseph Mawson 48.395
4. Brock Plumb 48.662
5. Cameron Hill 48.684