AUSSIES SHINE BRIGHTLY DURING PRACTICE IN ROTAX GRAND FINALS (inc. video)

Timed practice got underway for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals at the Al Ain Raceway in the United Arab Emirates today.

Of the 11 Australian drivers competing across the four categories – Junior Max, Senior Max, DD2 and DD2 Masters – it was the DD2 category that saw them shine the brightest with all three entries near the top of the timesheets.

Brendan Nelson, Jason Pringle and Damian Ward all ran strongly with Nelson rounding out the day by setting the fifth fastest time in his group of 36 drivers.

Pierce Lehane started the day as the fastest driver in his group of Junior Max drivers before finishing the day with as the fifth fastest overall from the 72 competitors in attendance. Reigning Australian Champion Joseph Mawson and Michael Stewart also posted some impressive times throughout the day.

Dave Sera, who qualified fastest in the corresponding event four years ago, proved that he will be among the front runners across the weekend by setting the fifth fastest time overall in Senior Max. Tyler Greenbury’s day was hampered by an incident on lap three of the opening session while Josh de Maio and James Macken ran strongly throughout the day’s two sessions.

Brent Coghlan finished as the 13th fastest driver in the DD2 Masters category overall after posting the fifth fastest time in his final session of the day.

Each driver had two 15 minute sessions throughout the day, the timetable for the remainder of the week is available by clicking here. (The local time is AEDST -7 hours).

Full results from throughout the day can be found by clicking here.

Information throughout the week will be posted on the Australian Karting Association’s website – karting.net.au with an image gallery found here. The official event website that includes links to results, image galleries from each day of competition along with videos can be found here . The Facebook page for the event is being updated throughout the week here.

The racing will be shown live on www.kartracingnetwork.com across Thursday, Friday and Saturday with the broadcast schedule available by clicking here.

Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals – Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Australian Drivers

Junior Max
#180 Joseph Mawson (Hinchenbrook, NSW)
#169 Michael Stewart (Bywong, NSW)
#148 Pierce Lehane (Castle Hill, NSW)

Senior Max
#253 Dave Sera (Narre Warren, Vic)
#279 James Macken (Gold Coast, QLD)
#281 Josh De Maio (Shepparton,Vic)
#235 Tyler Greenbury (Toowoomba, QLD)

DD2
#374 Brendan Nelson (Gold Coast, QLD)
#375 Damian Ward (Gold Coast, QLD)
#355 Jason Pringle (Essendon, Vic)

DD2 Masters
#418 Brent Coghlan (Kurrajong, NSW)

Session One
Junior Max
1st (even no’s) – Pierce Lehane 58.747
8th (even no’s) – Joseph Mawson 59.084
10th (odd no’s) Michael Stewart 59.090

Senior Max
5th (odd no’s) Dave Sera 57.944
10th (odd no’s) James Macken 58.012
11th (odd no’s) Josh De Maio 58.014
35th (odd no’s) Tyler Greenbury 1:00.071 (incident L2)

DD2
1st (odd no’s) Jason Pringle 56.492
2nd (even no’s) Brendan Nelson 56.636
12th (odd no’s) Damian Ward 57.108

DD2 Masters
10th (even no’s) Brent Coghlan 58.001

Session Two
Junior Max
3rd (even no’s) – Pierce Lehane 58.682
9th (even no’s) – Joseph Mawson 59.064
29th (odd no’s) Michael Stewart 59.381

Senior Max
4th (odd no’s) Dave Sera 57.685
12th (odd no’s) James Macken 57.906
18th (odd no’s) Josh De Maio 58.017
20th (odd no’s) Tyler Greenbury 58.046

DD2
5th (even no’s) Brendan Nelson 56.561
6th (odd no’s) Jason Pringle 56.605
8th (odd no’s) Damian Ward 57.108

DD2 Masters
5th (even no’s) Brent Coghlan 57.625