SPARCO ROTAX PRO TOUR SET TO LIGHT UP IPSWICH

The Sparco Rotax Pro Tour takes the third round of the series north where we will visit the first of two Queensland clubs on the calendar, Ipswich. State Championship “blue plates” are what all drivers will have their sights set on as they battle it out throughout the weekend. We see a change in the program at the halfway point of the series as drivers will be completing their finals on Saturday night under lights making it the only night race on the 2019 calendar. “Racing under lights just adds to the excitement, it’s not something drivers get to do often, some even have never so it’s a great opportunity to try something new and a way to mix things up” says Ipswich Kart Club President & DD2 Masters Driver, Scott Howard.

In the dying hours of entries closing it was brought to the attention of promoters that one of the inaugural inductees to the Karting Australia Hall of Fame had entered. This driver was the 1989 Reed Light Australian Champion, won two Oceania Championships in 1990 & 1992 & up until recently was the only Australian to have won a round of the European Formula Super A Championship. This driver has decided to contest the DD2 Masters category and will undoubtedly be watched by many over the weekend as he makes his return to National level racing. Welcome to the Sparco Rotax Pro Tour Jon Targett.

In Micro Max it will be Ipswich local and current series leader Jaxson Burns who will enter as the class favourite. After securing his first state title and blue plate at Round 2 in Eastern Creek Burns will be looking to add to the trophy cabinet and bank maximum points. Burns won’t have a clear run to the chequered flag however as twin brother Jenson sits second in the points and Round 1 winner James Anagnostiadis looks for another round win and to get his championship back on track after a disappointing end to Round 2. Marco Manson will be one to watch as the New Zealand based driver improves with every round.

The Mini Max field has grown ahead of the Ipswich Night Race and we see some new drivers making their debut to the Sparco Rotax Pro Tour, Connor Peacock and Aydan Lowery to name a few. Costa Toparis will look to further extend his lead in his race to another Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final (RMCGF) but its Pro Karting driver Kristian Janev who is edging closer to taking out the top step of the podium. With just 400 points between series leader Toparis and Aiva Anagnostiadis who currently sits in third it will be interesting to see who leaves the QLD State Title round in the lead.

Junior Max is guaranteed to offer the best wheel to wheel competitive racing from flag to flag. The battles amongst the top four are second to none. Luke Pink, William Seal, Beau Pronesti and Ethan Feather will be favourites to lead the battle pack around the 1080 meter circuit. We also see a collection of new drivers including TF Race Engines latest addition, female racer & New Zealander Breanna Morris who will be the second female in the class alongside Macey Cluderay. Local racers, Coby Govoni & Jarrod Hughes can’t be ruled out either as they look to earn their spot on the podium.

In what is the most competitive class to compete at the Sparco Rotax Pro Tour, Rotax Light again is filled with talented drivers. Regular front runners Cody Gillis and Brodie Whitmore will continue to battle it out across the weekend which is sure to provide a spectacle for spectators. Cody Brewczynski will continue running double duties for Velocity Kart Shop and TopGun Driver Training as he competes in both Rotax Light and DD2 across the weekend but it will be Pierce Lehane who drivers will be chasing, Lehane enters as series leader and will look to make it three from three for the season.

Rotax Heavy numbers this year have continued to remain strong and with one of the most competitive fields so far it really is anyone’s game as we approach the halfway point of the season. Lane Moore enters as series leader with a 202 point lead over Ben McMellan so we can expect these two to be battling out all weekend long for maximum points. Former Rotax Heavy front runners, Chris Farkas and Kris Walton are returning to the class alongside seven newcomers including Sam Van Leeuwestyn, brother of Zac who currently is positioned third in the points. Farkas will be tough to beat, Chris took the win and the QLD State Championship Status at Ipswich in 2018 and will be looking to go back-to-back QLD State Champion.

It’s hard to keep your eyes off the number 71 kart of Jonathon Marcusson. After making his debut to the gearbox class and winning the opening two rounds he will be one to beat. Brewczynski will be looking to add another state title to his collection but will have local and former Team Australia Captain, Ryan Kennedy to fend off. Troy Morrissey took the win at the Ipswich shakedown and will be looking to back that up in his Racehaus backed FA Kart. Taylah Agius makes her return to the Rotax Pro Tour for 2019. At the 2018 Ipswich round Agius set the pole in qualifying and has since circulated countless laps of the circuit and has her eyes set on a podium at her home track.

They have to be over the age of 32 to compete but that hasn’t slowed any of our DD2 Masters competitors. Running double duties for the weekend is Zed Corse Team Owner Kris Walton, Walton currently leads the points over fellow Queenslander Troy Bretherton who is looking to bounce back to winning form since the Ipswich shakedown and Victorian Paul Rodgers who unfortunately will miss this round due to work commitments. Ipswich Kart Club President, Scott Howard will be on the charge as he looks to get his points chase back on track in hopes to compete at the Rotax World Finals in Sarno, Italy later this year. Howard will be running a different race number for the weekend in support of Stu Marshall who was involved in a speedway incident and is still recovering. Danny Wright will be pushing his CRG to the limits at what he says is one of his favourite tracks and looking for that coveted blue plate. Velocity Kart Shop driver Terry Hanly will also be one to watch as the weekend plays out.

The Sparco Rotax Pro Tour visits Ipswich Kart Club on May 3^rd & 4^th. Entry to the public is free, if you cannot make it track-side tune into our live streaming on Saturday via the Rotax Pro Tour Facebook & YouTube Channel.