CHAMPIONSHIP FINALE FIRES UP IN MURRAY BRIDGE

Ricciardo Kart driver Troy Loeskow was dominant in the KZ2 class. (Pic: Pace Images)

The final round of the 2021 SP Tools Australian Kart Championship presented by Castrol EDGE kicked off at the Monarto Karting Complex near Murray Bridge in South Australia today.

With $100,000 in prizes up for grabs among the top finishers, the action came thick and fast across the eight classes.

Despite speed being shown by pole-sitter, Bailey Sagaidak and his fellow youngsters, Adrian Haak and Oscar Targett, Ricciardo Kart driver Troy Loeskow amassed enough points to head into tomorrow the Champion-elect in the KZ2 class after three dominant performances through the heat races.

The KA2 Championship looks set to be a two way affair between Leon Cordato and Costa Toparis. Both were exceptionally fast today, Max Walton taking out the first heat before striking trouble, then Peter Bouzinelos and Toparis completed the heat winners. Cordato’s consistency, which was been a key factor in his season, saw him end the day with a third and a pair of seconds.

Jace Matthews is in with a shot at winning a pair of titles but he’ll have to overcome a stellar field in X30 to take the Championship. He was supreme in KA3 Senior, winning all three heats today. Young star, Nicholas Sacco took to the category like a duck to water being among the top three in all heats and the wily fox – multi-Australian Champion James Sera is chasing yet another KA3 Title. It will go to the wire.

In X30, Matthews’ closest challenges will come from local, Jacob Dowson and defending Australian Champion, Brad Jenner who’s been right up there all day. Jackson Souslin-Harlow and Harrison Hoey (who didn’t start heat two) have shown significant pace.

The Title fight that has been the feature of the AKC over recent years in TaG 125 appears to be on again between Brendan Nelson and Cody Brewczynski. The pair have been right up the front all day, but a new contender in Reuben Goodall is well in the frame come tomorrow’s Grand Final. Goodall will have the advantage of local knowledge and home ground support being a South Australian.

Queenslander Ryan Macmillan has dominated the KA4 Junior class in his Parolin. He won all three heats with ease today and heads into tomorrow full of confidence. Although having a slender chance of losing the Title, Alex Ninovic has survived a troubled day to be crowned the Champion-elect. Qualifying 11th compromised his first two heats, however he has fought strong to breathe easy heading into tomorrow. The only driver that could beat Ninovic, Ben Munro, has thrown caution to the wind, grabbing all three second places today, doing what he could to maximise any opportunity.

Lewis Francis is Champion Elect in Cadet 12 (Pic: Pace Images)

The Cadet 12 Title is one of the most hotly contested and competitive categories on the bill and this year is no exception. Today, Victorian Lewis Francis did enough to head into tomorrow relaxed in the knowledge he has enough of a points advantage to be crowned Champion. Once confirmed, it will back up his 2018 Cadet 9 Championship. Jaxson Burns, in co-operation with his brother Jenson have done everything to try and keep the Championship alive, while William Calleja and Ky Burke have been in the mix as have Cooper Stapleton and Hamish Campbell.

Cadet 9’s Champion-elect coming into the weekend, Sebastian Eskandari-Marandi showed the form that has seen him dominate the category around the country over the last 18 months. He was never headed throughout the course of today’s qualifying and three races.

Dominic Mercuri is looking for his first podium – and the first podium in over a decade in the Australian Championship for local chassis, Omega after a solid day one and another to impress was Cruz Kelly – who had his highest finishing position in an AKC race.

This year’s SP Tools Australian Kart Championship, presented by Castrol EDGE ends tomorrow after four rounds following a hiatus since May due to COVID restrictions. Due to the on-going pandemic, Karting Australia Championship organisers elected to make the Championship a “best of three” scenario where drivers would drop their worst rounds due to competitors from some states not being able to make all rounds.

The full results from today’s action can be found on MYLAPS Speedhive with live streaming through the Australian Kart Championship Facebook page from 8am local time Sunday.

Entry to tomorrow’s event at the Go Kart Club of South Australia facility in Monarto, 3711 Old Princes Highway, Rocky Gully (just outside Murray Bridge), is free. The first race is at 8am with finals from 10:35am. Round presentations and Championship presentations will follow.