PLENTY TO PLAY FOR IN PORT MELBOURNE

There is still plenty to play for on tomorrow’s Grand Final Day of the 2019 SP Tools Australian Kart Championship, presented by Castrol EDGE at Port Melbourne’s Todd Road Karting facility with just one category seeing a Champion-elect crowned at the completion of the first day of competition.

14-year-old Queenslander, Luke Pink became the first Australian Karting Champion of 2019 in the elite Junior KA2 category, amassing an unassailable 44 point advantage. It wasn’t easy for him with his closest rival heading into the weekend, Fletcher Harris winning two heat races.

The KZ2 Championship is alive and well with both Championship aspirants striking trouble throughout the day. Ricciardo Kart’s Troy Loeskow had a technical issue in the first race, while Jason Faint was handed a 10 second penalty for an incident in a post race investigation. The second heat saw Faint last just half a lap after he came together with Ricky Capo. Both Faint and Loeskow started down the order and scythed through in the third heat, with the advantage mildly going to Faint, who ended the day 13 points from the Championship lead.

Garry Rogers Motorsport Supercars driver, James Golding took out the third heat as his superb KZ2 season continued.

Local Formula K driver, Adam Lindstrom has got himself in the box seat for the Championship in TaG 125 having scored a maximum score today by virtue of setting pole and then taking all three heat races.

The Lindstrom family throughout three generations have stood on the podium at a National Title on 23 occasions collectively, but have never won a Green Plate – and if Sydney-siders Tyler Howard and Cody Brewczynski have their way, that record will remain.

With a further 37 points up for grabs from a further heat race and the 25 point final, Lindstrom leads Howard by 18 points, with Brewczynski a further two adrift.

Kobi Williams holds a 24 point advantage in the chase for the KA4 Junior title entering the final day of the Championship. The KA4 racing has been off the chart with up to 10 drivers all within the mix at the front of the field, Williams taking two wins and Cody Maynes-Rutty the other.

The X30 Championship has tightened to just 21 points. Championship leader, Brad Jenner was relegated to 23rd after a post qualifying penalty made him have a tough day at the office.

In the meantime, Jaiden Pope was at the front of the field and maximised his point scoring opportunities with two wins and a third placing.

Defending Cadet 12 Champion, Harry Arnett is in the box seat despite not finishing his third heat. His machine stopped running after flooding after a full course caution went back to green.

Arnett’s closest rival, Kristian Janev pushed hard to keep his Title hopes alive finishing with a pair of seconds and winning when Arnett was off to the side of the track.

Entering Grand Final Day, Arnett holds a 26 point advantage.

Queenslander Ky Burke has a 25 point gap heading into tomorrow in the Cadet 9 category. The young Energy Corse driver has been in the mix in the youngest category in the AKC, ending with a heat race win. His closest combatant, James Anagnostiadis has thrown caution to the wind in his bid for his first Australian Title, walking away with two race victories and is still in the mix come tomorrow.

The action on SP Tools Grand Final Day, presented by Castrol EDGE gets underway at 8am at the Todd Road Karting Complex, just off the Westgate Freeway.

Entry to the public is free.

If you can’t join the action live at the track, tune into the livestream on www.karting.net.au or the Championship’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/australiankartchampionship.