AUSTRALIA SECOND IN ROTAX’S NATIONS CUP

Albury driver Jordan Boys on the podium in DD2

Australia's contingent of drivers on the Nations Cup Podium in Spain (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Australia’s contingent of drivers at the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals have secured second place in the Nations Cup standings in Valencia, Spain.

It is the fifth consecutive year that Australia has finished on the podium in the Nations Cup standings at the event with Jordan Boys’ third place finish in the DD2 class one of the shining lights for the team from ‘Down Under’.

With torrential weather forcing officials to cancel the pre-final for all classes, the finals were held on a rain-soaked circuit.

Jordan Boys on the grid ready to go (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Boys started from the second row for the 18-lap final before splitting former winners of the event Ben Cooper and Sean Babington, who were representing the UAE and Canada rather than their native United Kingdom.

The Australian was passed by Cooper just prior to mid race and then remained in third place for the balance of the race as Babington went on to win the title. In his sixth straight appearance at the event, Victorian Jason Pringle finished 18th.

Former V8 Supercars driver Steven Ellery put in a sterling drive in the final of the DD2 class. After being forced to qualify through the last chance qualifying race on Saturday due to some incidents in the heat races, Ellery started from 33rd on the 34-kart grid.

After clearing his way through the lap one chaos, Ellery found himself up 14 places on the opening circulation. He was then setting lap times as fast as the race leaders before crossing the line in ninth position, which would become seventh after post race technical inspections and stewards hearings eliminated two of his fellow competitors – including Ireland’s Martin Pierce who crossed the line first.

Bryce Fullwood splashing his way up the order in the Junior MAX final (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Ellery’s fellow Australian Hamish Leighton was placed as high as 13th with four laps remaining before crossing the line 22nd. New South Wales driver Adam Hunter was a pacesetter early in the weekend, but unfortunately failed to finish the final.

In the Junior MAX class, Bryce Fullwood showed true class fighting back from an opening lap spin in the treacherous conditions that saw him drop to 33rd position. He charged his way up the order and crossed the line 11th, one spot ahead of fellow Australian Zane Goddard.

Queenslander Ryan Kennedy was the best of the Australian drivers in Senior MAX in 14th place. Brad Jenner was classified 26th and Andrew Carey 27th.

Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Final
Valencia, Spain

RESULTS: Final

Junior MAX
1. Jueri Vips (Estonia)
2. David Woodner (UK)
3. Max Timmermans (Belgium)
11. Bryce Fullwood (NT)
12. Zane Goddard (QLD)
DNQ Jayden Ojeda (NSW)

Senior MAX
1. Carlos Gil (Spain)
2. Bruno Borlido (Portugual)
3. Zachary Claman-Demelo (Canada)
14. Ryan Kennedy (QLD)
26. Brad Jenner (VIC)
27. Andrew Carey (VIC)

DD2
1. Sean Babington (UAE)
2. Ben Cooper (Canada)
3. Jordan Boys (VIC)
18. Jason Pringle (VIC)
DNQ Troy Woolston (VIC)

DD2 Masters
1. Mikko Laine (Finland)
2. Cristiano Morgado (South Africa)
3. Antti Ollikainen (Finland)
7. Steve Ellery (QLD)
22. Hamish Leighton (VIC)
DNF Adam Hunter (NSW)