FIVE-WAY FIGHT FOR KZ2 CHAMPIONSHIP

Live Streaming of Sunday’s racing on karting.net.au

The five KZ2 Championship contenders with the Australian Kart Championship trophy
(Pic: Coopers Photography)

Western Australian Jake Klarich will lead a five-way fight for the National Title in the KZ2 class at the final round of the Australian Kart Championship presented by Jayco and Castrol EDGE in Geelong this weekend.

Klarich, who was victorious in the opening two rounds of the championship, holds a slender six-point lead at the top of the standings entering tomorrow’s qualifying action.

While he’s in the box seat to claim the Championship and etch his name on the John Pizarro Perpetual Trophy, the TB Kart driver is full aware one slip up will allow his opposition to pounce.

“I’ve never been in this position before so I’m a little bit nervous but at the same time I’m confident about the weekend ahead,” said Klarich.

“I had a good run in Western Australia last weekend to wrap up the WA KZ Series, hopefully I can make it two big wins in a row by winning my first Australian Championship this weekend.”

Queenslander Kyle Ensbey is six points adrift of Klarich in the standings and after a podium finish at the Race of Stars behind international drivers Davide Forè and Marijn Kremers will be out to steal the title from Klarich’s grasp.

“I’ve finished runner-up in the championship a couple of times now in the past few years, to finally win it would be a great feeling, however it’s not going to be easy,” said Ensbey.

“If practice today is anything to go by it’s going to be one hell of a tight battle but bring it on I say, it will go down the last race and I’ll be putting everything on the line to give it a decent crack.”

Third in the Championship chase is Melbourne driver Jason Pringle ahead of 2012 Champion Chris Hays and CRG driver Jaie Robson.

Championship leader Jake Klarich in action during today’s practice
(Pic: Coopers Photography)

Klarich set the pace during practice today with a scintillating 31.391 second circulation around the 758-metre circuit. Such is the competitiveness of the category the top 30 drivers were separated by less than one-second.

A total of 180 drivers will be in action across eight classes throughout the weekend with qualifying to be contested tomorrow morning ahead of the opening heat races. The finals will be held from midday on Sunday, all of which will be streamed live on karting.net.au.

The Geelong Kart Club is located on Broderick Road, Corio. Admission for Spectators is free.

About the John Pizarro Trophy
The winner of the Australian Championship in the KZ2 class will have their name etched on the John Pizarro Perpetual Trophy.

Throughout his illustrious career John Pizarro secured an amazing 15 Australian Championships.

Pizarro re-wrote the record books on numerous occasions since making his debut behind the wheel of a kart at Granville in New South Wales during the early 1960s.

After winning his first National Championships at Sunnybank in Queensland at the 1968 event, Pizarro went on to become the most recongisable names in Australian karting with an unmatched record at major events.

He became the first karter in Australia to hold an International Super Licence and was the first Australian driver to enjoy success at the Asia Pacific Championships.

Pizarro competed in five world championships throughout his career, his first appearance coming in 1975 at the Paul Ricard circuit, an event Pizarro describes as a ‘baptism of fire’.

Pizarro was a part of the DAP works team during the 1970s alongside the late great Ayrton Senna and Terry Fullerton, who Pizarro believes is the best kart racer he has ever seen.

For many years Pizarro has resided in the New South Wales country town of Parkes and has recently turned his hand to assisting some youngsters from the area who are in the formative years of their career.