STARS OF KARTING SET FOR A GRAND FINISH IN MELBOURNE

David Sera and Matthew Wall on the front row of the KZ2 class (Pic: Coopers Photography)

Two of the Castrol EDGE CIK Stars of Karting Championships are set to go right to the wire tomorrow at Port Melbourne’s Todd Road karting facility – whilst Joey Hanssen has built an unassailable lead in the KZ2 class.

Hanssen – who announced he’d be racing in Europe next season – became Champion-elect at the completion of heat racing today.

His arch-rival in this year’s competition, David Sera was supreme throughout qualifying and heats one and three. A skirmish at turn one in the second heat saw Sera watching from the sidelines as Hanssen brought his Shamick Racing CRG home third.

The Dutchman has to get through tomorrow’s pair of Finals without issue and pass technical inspections to become the first ever back-to-back KZ2 Australian Champion.

One thing is for certain, Sera is not going to let Hanssen head back to Holland without making him earn it.

The story is far different in KF2 – with a handful of points separating the top runners.

Troy Loeskow has doubled the points lead he holds in the category, however the intensity between he and second placed man Nathan Tigani has rarely been seen in CIK Stars of Karting competition.

Scuderia PCR Australia driver Nathan Tigani leading Josh Smith (Pic: Coopers Photography)

After a hard fought heat race one victory, Scuderia PCR Australia’s Tigani had a difficult heat two, being shuffled back in the field and ending up fifth. It was a similar story in the final heat.

Tigani got the jump but in the mix of the mid-race he dropped back to sixth. He fought valiantly to fight his way forward only to cop a place penalty for a starting infringement.

Lucas Ward – who returns for the first time since round one and his Energy Corse Australia team-mate, out-going KF3 Champion, Liam McLellan have impressed.

The battle for third in the Championship is on as well between the Harrington Doyle Arrow pilots, Scott Sorenson and Jarryd Ebzery. Just seven points separate the two who have been virtually locked together for the entire season.

Exprit pair Chris Sandrone and Jayden Ojeda (Pic: Coopers Photography)

In the KF3 Junior category, Jayden Ojeda has skipped clear despite a rare mistake from the Exprit/IKD Race Department team during qualifying. Ojeda took to the damp track with wet tyres, whilst his closest Championship combatants – Bryce Fullwood (FA Kart) and Chris Sandrone (Exprit) gambled on slicks. The gamble paid off.

Showing true Champion quality though, Ojeda fought his way into the top five at the completion of each heat despite starting from the back of the pack on all three occasions.
Disaster hit for Darwin’s Fullwood in heat two, who lost a wheel early in the race. He was left to watch Sandrone surpass him in the Championship.

Going into tomorrow’s pair of finals, the points gap between the two Exprit team-mates is some 43 points.

Either way, all signs are pointing towards Exprit chassis team boss – well-respected Australian karting identity, Tim Craig racking up an eighth CIK Junior Championship win for his young charges.

In the support categories, the TaG Light Series will go to the wire – leader, Daniel Rochford (Monaco) has been trading blows with Kris Walton (FA Kart) throughout the day.

In the Heavy category, whilst the Series win is beyond doubt for the injured Brendan Nelson (Arrow), a fascinating round battle is brewing between Aaron Hindle (Kosmic), Rick Pringle (CRG) and Dylan Collett (Formula K) – the three head and shoulders above the rest.

Jack Doohan got the best of Joshua Smith in Rookies, whilst Jaymi Mackay got one for the girls in TaG Restricted, beating home her brother Mitchell Mackay in an intriguing inter-family battle.

Tomorrow’s action will take in the final heats of TaG Restricted and Rookies, as well as their Pre-Finals and Finals, so too those of TaG Light and Heavy.

The two finals of the Castrol EDGE CIK Stars of Karting Championship classes will bring the season to a thrilling conclusion.

The action can be followed all day long live and exclusive on www.speedcafe.com/kartinglive.