DE PASQUALE AND WYATT DOUBLE UP IN TASMANIA

Zane Wyatt on his way to victory in the Tasmanian Championships on the weekend. Pic: www.angrymanphotography.com.au

Australian Champion Anton de Pasquale and local ace Zane Wyatt were the big winners at the Hunters Products Tasmanian Sprint Kart Championships in Launceston, Tasmania on the weekend.

Competing in both the highly-competitive Clubman Heavy and the Senior National Heavy categories, Wyatt was victorious in both – however, they were two distinctly different victories.

His victory in the Clubman category, Wyatt was engaged in titanic battle with Mitchel Evans throughout the championship final with the former making an impressive last corner pass to secure the victory.

Wyatt was ecstatic to have secured the win in Clubman Heavy.

“It is the most amazing feeling, I do everything on this kart, from preparing the chassis to building the engine, and a win in such a competitive category is the best possible advertising for what I do for a living,” said Wyatt.

Unfortunately Evans came in under weight at the completion of the race, elevating Stone to second place and Steven Wrigley into the final podium position.

In the Senior National Heavy Final, Wyatt found his way to the front of the pack by the fourth corner and from there was never headed. He crossed the line ahead of Launceston’s Jamie Bricknell and Hobart driver Mitchel Evans.

The Junior Clubman class provided plenty of excitement for the crowd. De Pasquale led the field off the line, and looked set to cruise his way to the finish, until fastest qualifier Lachlan McHugh found his pace and mowed down the lead of the Victorian.

National Champion Anton de Pasquale in action across the weekend. Pic: www.angrymanphotography.com.au

After disappointments in the heat races, McHugh fought back to chase, catch and pass a number of fast karts, including Jake Klein and Justin Francis. While he had the pace to match and challenge de Pasquale, it was the reigning Tasmanian champion who emerged victorious ahead of McHugh and Klein.

Junior National Heavy continued the de Pasquale show, as the National Champion continued his stellar form to take out the final convincingly over fellow Victorians Jake Klein and Gus Robbins.

The racing in the Junior National Light category was not one for the feint hearted, with Hobart’s Morgan Jakobovski pushing reigning state champion Damon Strongman of Melbourne all the way through their 21-lap final. Strongman fought back against a move by Jakobovski that had elevated him to the lead, but Jakobovski found the edge of the track with his left wheels which slowed his charge and dropped him back into the battle pack of third, fourth and fifth place. He managed to keep a cool head and shake off the challenges of the pack, led by Hobart’s Nicky Richards, to take second place behind Strongman.

For the youngsters in the Midgets category, Victorian Cooper Murray and Queenslander Harrison Hoey traded blows for supremacy in the final. It was going down to the wire, with Hoey attempting a very brave move through the final sweeper, where he unfortunately made contact with the rear of Murray’s kart, which spun him around. Jordan Caruso, who had been charging through from grid 16, glided by to take second position, with Hoey recovering for third.

Murray was ecstatic with his first State title and blue plate, but considerably more excited about his large Tasmanian Devil soft toy, which was purchased on his behalf and on behalf of all the victors for a donation to the Save The Tasmanian Devil fund.

Other victories went to Nicholas Ellen (Senior National Light), Shane Wharton (Clubman Super Heavy), Reece Sidebottom (Rookies), Peter O’Neill (Over 40’s Pro), Ben Walter (TaG 125 Light) and Natahan Zuj (Clubman Light)

The Launceston Kart Club would like to thank event sponsors Hunters Products along with all of the class sponsors All State Towing, Auto Addiction, FortySeven Kart Tuning, FT Guy Bodyworks, GLB Constructions, CJ Marine & Karts, NRY Engineering, Precision Autos, Riverview Hotel, Wyllie Tiles and Kart City

2011 HUNTERS PRODUCTS TASMANIAN STATE KARTING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Final Results

Clubman Heavy
Fastest Qualifier: Mitchel Evans Hobart
Final:
1. Zane Wyatt – Launceston
2. Troy Stone – Launceston
3. Steven Wrigley – Launceston
4. Jamie Bricknell – Launceston
5. Alan Fitzpatrick – Devonport

Junior National Light
Fastest Qualifier: Damon Strongman – Victoria
Final
1. Damon Strongman – Victoria
2. Morgan Jakobovski – Hobart
3. Nicky Richards – Hobart
4. Justin Francis – Victoria
5. Wade McLean – Devonport

Senior National Light
Fastest Qualifier: Nicholas Ellen – Victoria
Final:
1. Nicholas Ellen – Victoria
2. Jay Baily – Hobart
3. Ashley Quiddington – Victoria
4. Kelsey Sapwell – Hobart
5. Thomas Allen – Victoria

Midgets
Fastest Qualifier: Jordan Caruso – Victoria
Final:
1. Cooper Murray – Victoria
2. Jordan Caruso – Victoria
3. Harrison Hoey – Queensland
4. Jordyn Sinni – Queensland
5. Tyler O’Leary – Victoria

Junior Clubman
Fastest Qualifier: Lachlan McHugh – Queensland
Final:
1. Anton De Pasquale – Victoria
2. Lachlan McHugh – Queensland
3. Jake Klein – Victoria
4. Justin Francis – Victoria
5. Zac Vassallo – Hobart

Clubman Super Heavy
Fastest Qualifier: Phill Straughen – Victoria
Final:
1. Shane Wharton – Victoria
2. Phill Straughen – Victoria
3. Joshua Muskett – Hobart

Senior National Heavy
Fastest Qualifier: Zane Wyatt – Launceston
Final:
1. Zane Wyatt – Launceston
2. Jamie Bricknell – Launceston
3. Mitchel Evans – Hobart
4. Ashley Quiddington – Victoria
5. Alan Fitzpatrick – Ulverstone

Rookies
Fastest Qualifier: Nicholas Cardamone – Victoria
Final:
1. Reece Sidebottom – Victoria
2. Alexander Peroni – Hobart
3. Jacob Prestipino – Victoria
4. Zane Morse – ACT
5. Zevie Eisentraut – Hobart

Over 40’s Pro
Fastest Qualifier: Peter O’Neill – NSW
Final:
1. Peter O’Neill – NSW
2. Fred Cocca – Launceston
3. Dale Madden – Hobart
4. Neville Young – Launceston
5. Stephen Johnstone – Launceston

Tag 125 Light
Fastest Qualifier: Dion Wyllie – Devonport
Final:
1. Ben Walter – Victoria
2. Waylon Sims – Burnie
3. Jake Rice – Burnie
4. Jade Waddington – Devonport
5. Alexander Hughes – Burnie

Junior National Heavy
Fastest Qualifier: Anton De Pasquale – Victoria
Final:
1. Anton De Pasquale – Victoria
2. Jake Klein – Victoria
3. Gus Robbins – Victoria
4. Zachary Phillips – Victoria
5. Zac Vassallo – Hobart

Clubman Light
Fastest Qualifier: Jordan Ford – Victoria
Final:
1. Nathan Zuj – Launceston
2. Brody Appleby – Devonport
3. Mason Thomas – Victoria
4. Evan Livingston – Hobart
5. Jobe Sims – Burnie