NELSON DELIVERS SIX OF THE BEST IN IPSWICH

Brendan Nelson leading the X30 field in Ipswich (Pic: Coopers Photography)

The penultimate round of the Australian Kart Championship, presented by Jayco and Castrol EDGE has got underway in Ipswich with a number of Championship leaders having a difficult run, however local driver Brendan Nelson has had the perfect start in two separate categories.

Nelson has taken victory in six races across the TaG 125 and X30 categories. He’s chasing an unbeaten run tomorrow in the TaG 125 Final – having won the three finals conducted so far. In fact, the only blot on his copybook today was qualifying second behind CompKart’s Nicholas Andrews this morning!

The Gold Coast based racer has had some stiff competition in the form of Joshua Car and Lane Moore in TaG 125, however the one to watch tomorrow could be Troy Morrissey. The Pacific Kartsport Arrow driver suffered a clutch problem in qualifying, however in the final two heats today finished inside the top five.

In X30, Nelson is being pushed hard again by Car, however the New South Wales CompKart Australia-supported driver suffered a mechanical DNF in the third heat this afternoon. Last round winner, Dutch Ricciardo Kart driver, Marijn Kremers is showing pace however in this afternoon’s third heat, Adam Mercer came to the fore, shadowing Nelson and declaring himself a contender tomorrow.

X30 Championship leader coming into the weekend – and defending Australian Champion – Daniel Rochford has had a torrid day in his Arrow Kart, qualifying 16th, not finishing the first heat, but then rallying for a 10th and 7th in the remaining two races.

In the Junior KA4 category, Team CRG Australia driver, Zac Crichton has been ice cool in taking three clinical victories – his best performance in Australian Kart Championship competition.

Behind him though it has been nothing short of frantic, with a pack of up to 10 karts battling it out to the line. Jay Hanson has excelled, escaping the last lap chaos with a third and two seconds, whist Scuderia PCR Australia’s Benito Montalbano has been equally impressive with a second and two thirds.

Championship leader Travis Worton has been part of the pack and had mixed results (9,6,5) but is by no means out of the hunt come tomorrow – it is still anyone’s game for the final.

Marijn Kremers led the way in KZ2 (Pic: Coopers Photography)

In KZ2, last round winner Marijn Kremers has secured a pair of wins after securing the pole position. He has been pushed strongly by BirelART/Patrizicorse driver, Chris Hays who has kept him honest.

It is shaping as another battle between the Patrizicorse teammates, with local Ricciardo Kart pilot, Brock Plumb finishing two of his heats in third. CRG’s Pierce Lehane and Tom Williamson Motorsport Energy South Aussie, Jonathon Mangos also looking rapid.

Series leader David Sera hasn’t had the best day, qualifying down in ninth placing and in the second heat was involved in a turn one incident, which also involved a Championship contender in Troy Loeskow.

The elite Junior category, KA2 is building towards an explosive Championship crescendo at Todd Road come September.

The winner of the last two rounds, Jack Doohan took his Red Bull Kosmic to two heat race victories, however the middle heat of the day has been one of the big talking points.

Doohan and CompKart driver, Harrison Hoey – who is currently second in the Championship – were battling with the lead, the pair touching on several occasions early in the race.

A tap from Hoey sent Doohan into a spin and he was forced to watch Hoey sail to a comfortable win from the sidelines. However officials deemed Hoey as cause of the incident and penalised him – the Queenslander recording a 13th place finish.

Hoey’s ousting handed the heat two win to a flying Ricciardo Kart driver, Jace Matthews, who is threatening to be a fly in the ointment for both Championship combatants. In the third heat, he forged his way through to second in the final heat of the afternoon.

In KA3, Victorian Arrow pilot, Matthew McLean recorded three victories. Has had tough competition from the likes of FA Kart’s James Sera and Spencer Ackermann in his Tony Kart.

Sera crossed the line first in the final heat, however was handed a post race penalty for a starting infringement dropping to 13th place.

Championship leader Cody Donald has been solid after qualifying on pole with a third and two fourths.

In KA1, wins were shared between Marc Tulloch and Scott Sorensen. Tulloch staged a stunning run in the first heat, scything his way past four competitors in the space of three corners and then took off, opening up a lead of over three seconds in no time at all.

It was a similar story in the next heat when HDR Arrow Karts pilot Sorensen pushed his way to the front. His margin of victory was over five seconds.

Title leader Reece Sidebottom is doing what he needs to do to protect the Championship lead in his PCR machine finishing both heats in the top three.

Supercars Dunlop Series front-runner, Todd Hazelwood qualified on pole, however things haven’t gone that well – getting caught in an accident in heat one and being forced to retire then in the second heat suffered a deflating tyre, which removed him from the lead of the race.

Cadet 9 is proving to be topsy turvey with a good battle forming between Ryan Tomsett and Alex Ninovich – the top two in the Series chase coming into the weekend. Tomsett is proving the most consistent with two seconds and a win, while Ninovich took a win and a second, however finished 11th in the second heat, with Dominic Attard claiming the middle heat race.

Fletcher Harris took two wins in the tersely fought Cadet 12 heats today, with Kobi Williams winning heat number two. Polesitter Blake Purdie has been a challenger, regularly in the top group, whilst Shamick Racing CRG pilots, Kai Allen and James Wharton are staging their customary surge towards the front.

Tomorrow, heat racing continues before the penultimate round of the 2016 Australian Championship, presented by Jayco and Castrol EDGE comes to a conclusion with the Finals.

Livestream of the day’s proceedings begins at 8:30am AEST on karting.net.au.