A PAIR OF CHAMPIONS ELECT CROWNED IN MELBOURNE

Cody Gillis has wrapped up the X30 Australian Championship for 2018 (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Champions elect have been crowned in two classes at the Grand Final weekend of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship, presented by Castrol EDGE at Todd Road in Port Melbourne.

New South Welshman Cody Gillis added the X30 Australian Championship to last year’s win at the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals in Portugal after the first heat this morning. He had amassed enough points, despite his closest competitor, Harrison Hoey taking out the first heat.

This afternoon, Lewis Francis secured enough points to be declared Champion elect in the youngest category of racing, Cadet 9.

Despite the inclement weather that brought intermittent showers to the facility throughout the day, the racing across all categories has been nothing short of superb.

The KZ2 Australian Championship is alive and well with JC Kart’s Aaron Cameron extending his points advantage at the top of the tree with a 24 point advantage over Energy Corse’s Joshua Fife, who is a further three points in front of Ricciardo Kart’s Troy Loeskow.

Chris Hays had a stunning return to form in his BirelART, taking two heat race victories with heat two taken by reigning Australian Champion, Fife.

South Australian Kai Allen is well on his way to claiming the KA2 Championship and still in contention for the KA4 Title (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Mount Gambier’s Kai Allen came within two points of becoming Champion elect in KA2, entering tomorrow 33 points clear of Jaiden Pope, with Jay Hanson a further nine points back.

JC Kart’s Jai Brown dropped from third down to fourth after a horror day, not finishing any of his heat races.

Allen has kept interest going in KA4 Junior – his second category – by taking the fight right to runaway Championship leader heading into the weekend, Scuderia PCR’s Rhys Smith.

Allen secured the pole position and took all three heat races – including a rare show of aggression late in the third heat to cut Smith’s lead to just 24 points, with 37 up for grabs tomorrow. He scored double the points of Smith today.

The brilliance of KA3 Senior continues with the Matthew McLean versus James Sera showdown on again.

After trailing in the Championship by 13 points coming into the weekend, McLean has staged an outstanding performance in taking two wins and a second position.

He was aided by a rare mistake by five time and defending Australian Champion Sera in the second heat who was caught out by the wet conditions and spun – he was able to continue and secure at least a finishing point.

Last round winner, Benito Montalbano is still in with a mathematical chance of becoming Champion after winning the third heat race in his Shayne Piper Race Engines Arrow. He is just 22 points behind McLean with another heat and the final to go – and if past Championships in KA3 have proven anything – you can’t count anyone out until the final lap of the season.

Brendan Nelson is still on track to wrap up his third consecutive Australian TaG 125 Title – however his points lead to Cody Brewczynski has been cut to 15 points. Brewczynski has been ruthless in his attempt to close the deficit, whilst Nelson has appeared out of sorts on occasion. Only Brewczynski can challenge Nelson for the Championship, while Kody Garland has all but wrapped up third in the Title race.

Lachie Dalton has done his best to wrap up KA1 in the AWC Motorsport Academy Kosmic, however Broc Feeney and Josh Denton have been swapping the second and third placings. Both Feeney and Denton have a chance to chase down Dalton – all three drivers have taken wins today, however Dalton heads into tomorrow’s racing some 29 points ahead of Feeney.

Cadet 12 is still to play for with two group heat races to take place tomorrow.

Harry Arnett has assumed the lead after securing pole, a win and two seconds from his three performances today.

Nevertheless, leader coming into the weekend Jimmy Piszcyk is still there with Arnett with Marcos Flack, who took two wins in his Energy Corse kart, also in contention.

Tomorrow, racing starts at 8am with SP Tools Grand Finals expected to begin at 11:20am.

Entry to the Todd Road karting facility is free of charge to the public.

Livestreaming of the SP Tools Grand Final Day will take place on www.karting.net.au or on the Australian Kart Championship Facebook page at www.facebook.com/australiankartchampionship.