DOUBLE UPS THE WAY TO GO IN IPSWICH

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FA Kart driver James Sera leading the KA1 field (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Double heat race wins were the order of the day at the third round of the Australian Kart Championships, presented by Jayco and Castrol EDGE at the Ipswich Karting Circuit, however in all cases ‘dominance’ is a word best used with caution.

Of the eight categories, no less than six saw the one driver take victory in both heat races.

Championship leaders James Sera (KA1) and Jack Doohan (KA Junior) were the most prominent.

Sera – who is racing two categories this weekend – is locked in a battle with Championship rivals Toby Pope and Justin Francis. The pair of Victorians have shared the second and third positions and they are keeping the multiple Australian Champion extremely honest.

Jack Doohan took a pair of wins in KA Junior (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Doohan – who took the round win at round two to open a Championship lead of 21 points coming into this weekend – has been assisted by his closest rival, Cory Arnett qualifying in 20th place. Victorian Arnett has done his best to minimise the harm through approaching the top 10 – finishing 14th (after being as high as 10th) and 10th in his two races.

New South Wales driver, Tyler Everingham is pushing Doohan the entire way with millimetres separating the pair through today’s pair of races.

In KF3, Canberra racer Zane Morse in the Charman Earthmoving Tony Kart has doubled up today. After a difficult round in South Australia, Morse has done everything to get his Title back on track. Coming into the weekend, he was fourth on points, but has clean swept all sessions from qualifying this morning.

Queenslander Joshua Rogers is showing good form with a tight second placed finish in this afternoon’s second heat, whilst Aaron Cameron is showing his most promising performance of the year in his Arrow.

The X30 field lined up (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Local driver, Brendan Nelson is getting the job done in X30. The category has benefited from European Rotax Championship round winner, Pierce Lehane joining the fray and he is shadowing the moves of KAOS Karting Arrow driver, recording a pair of seconds.

Another Ipswich racer, Ben Stewart qualified on pole and has been right there with the duo in front of him.

The KF2 Title battle has continued today with Championship rivals Scott Sorensen and Liam McLellan locked in a delicately poised battle for supremacy.

The pair were line astern for much of the first heat, colliding on one occasion, that race falling the way of Pepsi Max-backed Harrington Doyle Racing driver, Sorensen. In the second, it looked like a repeat dose – with McLellan taking the lead early on. Just as Sorensen looked ready to pounce on the ninth lap, McLellan’s Holden Kart Team JC Kart came to a stop mid-lap. Sorensen’s HDR team-mate, Luke Flynn sent blood pressures through the roof – as his similarly liveried Arrow Kart also stopped on the ninth lap.

This opened up second for Zac Soutar – who’s having a top weekend so far and third for Kyle Henry-Smith who got one over his Scuderia PCR stable-mate Steeley Noda-Barnes in a tight tussle.

Nicholas Andrews leading the KA TaG field (Pic: Coopers Photography)

In KA TaG Nicholas Andrews’ great performances for BirelART Australia over recent times continues, taking comfortable wins in both of the heat races today. His Victorian team-mate, Brad Jenner is sticking with Andrews, however the last round winner suffered a catastrophic blowup on the front straightaway towards the end of the second heat. Championship leader, Adam Lindstrom is in the hunt aboard his Formula K Kart finishing second in the second heat.

The KZ2 category hasn’t disappointed as ever. A big field has turned out at Ipswich and the racing has been first rate. Last year’s round winner, and reigning Queensland Champion, Kyle Ensbey took the first race win in fortuitous circumstances.

The KZ2 field roar into action in Ipswich (Pic: Coopers Photography)

His fellow CRG-backed pilot, Jason Pringle was involved in a battle for the lead with a resurgent Troy Loeskow. The Ricciardo Kart driver and Pringle awkwardly touched which parted the seas for Ensbey. He was able to skip away to a dominant win.

In the second race, pole-sitter Brock Plumb was able to take a lights to flag victory. Plumb is showing some great form on home soil – and has had a change of number coming into this weekend – back to his familiar #15 following the retirement of Matthew Wall – and it is paying dividends thus far.

Championship leader, Jake Klarich managed just 12th in qualifying but has managed eighth and sixth respectively in his two heats, priming him for a big run in tomorrow afternoon’s final.

Finally, the KA12 category is proving to be anyone’s game at the moment. As has become customary there is a tight group battling one another which looks set to continue tomorrow.

The wins have been shared between Thomas Cooper and Jay Hanson – however it hasn’t been easy for either. Entering the last corner of the last lap in heat two, Hanson was third on the circuit, however pushed through for the win.

Newcomer Oscar Comley is showing some great pace in the massive field finishing the races third and second respectively after setting the pole position time.

Tomorrow, all competitors will undergo a third heat before a longer final will determine the round winners in the third round of the Australian Kart Championships.

To catch all the action if you can’t be in Ipswich tomorrow, point your browser to www.karting.net.au and follow the links to the Live Stream with thanks to Championship naming rights partners, Jayco and Castrol EDGE.

For the full results please click here.