CHAMPIONSHIP CHASE FIRES UP IN COFFS HARBOUR SUN

Video on demand of Saturday’s action on www.watchmysportlive.tv

Sam Dicker closed the gap to Championship leader Joshua Fife in KZ2 (Pic: Tim Francis)

The SP Tools Australian Kart Championship, presented by Castrol has hit a critical point during Saturday’s heat races at the fourth round in Coffs Harbour, with several potential title implications throughout the three rounds of heats.

The KZ2 Championship is well and truly alive with Australian Champion, Sam Dicker closing the gap to title leader, Joshua Fife to just seven points. Dicker shared heat race wins with fellow WA racer, Nik Mitic and title leader, Fife who protected his Championship advantage by winning with a late race pass on Mitic. Dicker admitted that a decision to save LeCont Tyre wear in heat one strategically cost him the race win.

The premier Junior category, KA2 has now closed to four points after an up and down day for Championship leader, Lewis Cordato. The Sydney-sider didn’t finish the second heat, meanwhile in form driver, Isaac McNeill has a points maximum converting pole into three heat race wins.

Kobe McInerney is still in contention just 44 points from the title lead with Sunday’s heat and finals up for grabs, along with a full event in Melbourne across the August 30-September 1 weekend.

Harrison Hoey leading the pack in TaG 125 (Pic: Tim Francis)

The biggest shift has come in TaG 125 with an outstanding performance by current Champion, Harrison Hoey. Hoey won all of his three heat races today, ending the day 15 points in the Championship lead after trouble befell season-long leader, Ben Holliday. Holliday didn’t finish heat two and was boxed around in heat three. South Aussie, Jacob Dowson jumped his statesman Holliday in the points, largely through a third heat race win this afternoon.

Mika Lemasurier has extended his lead in the KA3 Senior Championship as Benito Montalbano has moved into an outright second position. Montalbano entered the weekend equal on points with Josh Elliston, however after trouble in the third heat, Elliston dropped back to fourth behind Dominic Penman who won this afternoon’s final heat.

Jack Szewczuk extended his KA3 Junior lead to 31 points after entering the weekend 23 points in front. There has been a change for second though after a storming day for Isaac McNeill – ironically Szewczuk’s teammate. In their head to head encounter, it was the Championship leader that got the win, Szewczuk getting another two wins. McNeill got a heat win and was deposed to second behind Annabel Kennedy in heat one, who took the win in a last lap pass. Noah Enright was the other KA3 Junior heat winner.

The battle of the Olivers in Cadet 9 has continued this weekend, however it has moved the Championship the way of Williamson who held a slender lead over Armitt coming into the weekend. The former ended the day with two race wins and the pole position yesterday – the only points he dropped was to Jarvis Hindle in heat two.

A third race skirmish saw Armitt, along with Hindle having to fight their way through the field. Williamson’s lead is now 16 points over Armitt, Hindle five points behind him and Lucas Loeskow a further 34 points behind.

Jace Matthews enjoyed a clean sweep in the X30 Class (Pic: Tim Francis)

Brad Jenner can wrap up his third X30 Australian Kart Championship on Sunday, however has been challenged all weekend by reigning Australian Champion, Jace Matthews. The CXR racer has taken all three races and pole position over Jenner this weekend. Remarkably, the gap between the Jenner and Max Walton coming into the weekend – 102 points – remains the difference between Jenner and Matthews at the end of heat race Saturday.

The Cadet 12 Championship was close heading into this weekend, with Archie Bristow leading the way, however a perfect day for Bristow – converting pole position into three heat race wins – has seen him extend his Championship lead to 32 points. Jack Larsen – second heading into the weekend – has had an up and down day, however maintains his second position after Jay Kostecki has had a rough pointscoring weekend, ending Saturday with just five to his tally.

The action will continue on Sunday from 8am at the Coffs Harbour Kart Racing Club in the Coffs Harbour Sporting complex. Entry to the venue is free, as is parking in the adjacent medical facility.

Finals will begin late morning.

For those who cannot make the event in person, it will be covered on www.watchmysportlive.tv.