RACE OF STARS DELICATELY POISED (inc. Video Highlights)

Paolo De Conto leading the KZ2 pack at the Race of Stars (Pic: Coopers Photography)

The Race of Stars on the Gold Coast is delicately poised with the pair of Italian superstars – current world champion, Paolo De Conto and Davide Forè both striking trouble in the opening heat.

The duo went no further than 200 metres into the first race when they got together with 16-year-old pole-sitter, Aaron Cameron. After a heated discussion between CRG’s De Conto and Cameron, all three were forced to watch on from the sidelines as World #10 Marijn Kremers stormed to a win in his Ricciardo Kart.

The Italians then staged a thrilling duel in the second heat race, Fore showing his prowess through the technical sections of the racetrack in his Maserati Brisbane Gold Kart, before De Conto pulled an unbelievable pass at 160kph heading into the first turn.

De Conto held on to win the second heat. The non finish in race one under Race of Stars rules will pit them mid field for tomorrow’s third heat.

14-year-old Gold Coaster, Tomas Gasperak stunned in his KZ2 debut bringing his Gold Kart to third in the opening race, whilst newly crowned Australian Champion, David Sera was another to strike trouble with a technical issue in the second heat.

Broc Feeney has continued his good form from the Australian Kart Championship in KA2 taking the pole and both races today.

Broc Feeney leading the Lochie Hughes (Pic: Coopers Photography)

The Kosmic Kart racer has been pushed strongly by Christian Pancione, who has been showing good form in his VCM Performance FA Kart, Lachlan Hughes (Exprit) and Jace Matthews (Ricciardo).

Gold Coaster Matthews is doing two categories this weekend and is right up the front of the new KA3 Junior class. After qualifying dead last, he’s scored a fifth and 10th and went on to win an exciting third heat.

Pancione is leading the points after a pair of wins earlier in the day and his third in the third heat race.

Others to be on the money and in the hunt for a winner’s surfboard include New South Welshman, Tommy Harradine and Oscar Priest – both of whom have been regular fixtures in the top group battles.

Thomas Davies in his PIRTEK-backed Arrow is heading the KA3 Senior category with pole position and a pair of wins. The New South Wales based driver and Jack Bussey have staged a strong battle throughout the day, however five times Australian Champion, Matthew Waters is starting to build some pace in his Redspeed machine.

Also impressive is Beck Connell. The Shayne Piper Race Engines backed driver from NSW has recently been signed as part of the Women of Australian Motorsport (WAMS) program and has finished all of her races today in the top five.

In KA4 Junior, Josh Smith has been the benchmark, taking his Shamick Racing kart to pole and two wins, while Brodie Davis and Emerson Harvey are well in the mix, along with Jackson Souslin-Harlow – who ended his first heat second and had an engine expire in the second.

South Australian Blake Purdie qualified fastest in Cadet 12 (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Cadet 12 as ever is wide open with the wins being shared by South Aussie Blake Purdie (Zanardi) and Oscar Comley.

Adrian Haak has had his EVO Kart in the front group, as has Marcus Flack, Liam Sceats (CRG) and Oscar Targett (JC Kart) – who has two-times World Karting Champion, James Courtney in his corner this weekend.

Australian Champion Brendan Nelson and Joshua Rogers are emerging as the favourites for the TaG 125 class. The class has been split into four groups due to the huge 45 kart entry list.

Both Nelson and Rogers were undefeated in their two heats today and are set for a showdown tomorrow morning when groups A and B meet for the first time.

Morgan Feast, defending Race of Stars Champion, Ben Finch, Marc Tulloch and James Litzow have been very quick throughout the course of the day as well.

Tomorrow’s racing will begin at 8:30am with a continuation of heat racing and the finals will start approaching lunchtime.

Entry to the Race of Stars – part of the Castrol Gold Coast 600 Superfest – is free to the public.

The event is being held at the Xtreme Karting Complex on Jacobs Well-Pimpama Road, Pimpama.