Saturday Pro Tour: Qualifying & Heat Races

SHAMICK RACING SLAMS ROTAX PRO TOUR HEATS

The Victorian Shamick Racing team has staged a ‘slam’ of the sub-junior categories at the penultimate round of the Rotax Pro Tour in Puckapunyal, Victoria today with its two Micro and Mini Max drivers dominating their respective divisions.

James Wharton, who has all-but confirmed his position in Team Australia for the Rotax Max Grand Final Challenge November 4-11 in Portugal, set pole in Mini Max and then went on to win all three races, whilst Harry Arnett – who held a commanding points lead coming into the weekend did exactly the same in the Micro Max category for drivers between the ages of 7 and 9.

James Wharton was undefeated in Mini MAX today (pic – Cooper’s Photography)

Wharton was under some extreme pressure from Praga racer, Hugh Barter throughout the course of the day, however that developed into an advantage to Wharton as Barter engaged in a fight for second with Jack Westbury.

No such issue for Arnett, who is looking for another round victory this weekend.

Whilst the early stages have seen a battle from his closest rival in the Rotax Rankings points, EvoKart’s Jake Rutkowski, it has taken little time for the youngest member of the Shamick Racing team to assert his authority over the field. He’s taken three commanding victories in the heat races today.

Harry Arnett dominated Micro MAX  (pic – Cooper’s Photography)

Another undefeated racer is Bradley Jenner. The runaway points leader in Rotax Light has been undefeated since round three’s Final in Ipswich, some nine races in succession. He kept his streak from Coffs Harbour alive of leading every racing lap as well.

Sydneysider Cody Brewczynski has been impressive throughout the day showing his strongest form aboard the Velocity Kart Shop CompKart, being well inside the top three throughout the day, strong too have been Cameron Longmore and Cody Gillis on his return to the category.



Joshua Car has finished the day on top of DD2 – taking two heat wins and a second in his CompKart. Turning 17 during the week, New South Welshman Car has come to Puckapunyal looking very racey indeed.

It has been a tight run in the direct drive, two speed category. Regular front-runner, Cody Gillis, doing double duty this weekend, didn’t start the first race this morning, striking trouble on the rollup laps. Joshua Fife in his TWM Kosmic was the only driver aside from Car to win a heat race, taking out the first one this morning from Car and James Sera, who has been competitive throughout the day in his MKC FA Kart.



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DD2 Masters has seen Series leader Troy Woolston in his CC Racing Kosmic share the wins with Kris Walton’s Z Corse CompKart. Walton got the day underway with a heat win (directly after winning the first heat of Rotax Heavy!), before Woolston struck back with two wins.

Troy Woolston, on the pace as always in DD2 Masters  (pic – Cooper’s Photography)

Walton had difficulty getting away from the grid which necessitated he couldn’t take the pole position in heat three. He was able to get through to fifth at the end of the race. Others to shine including BirelART’s Scott Howard and Shamick Racing’s Matt Wall.

In Rotax Heavy, Walton won the first heat, however the battle with Chris Farkas continued – the Tony Kart driver getting back to the front in the second and third heats this afternoon.

Team CRG’s Lane Moore has been impressive on his competition return finishing in the top three throughout his races this weekend, whilst Mitchell Branson has a great run going in the top four.

In Junior Max, a mixed grid has led to some new faces at the front. Sydney-sider Lucas Lichtenberger set his first Junior Max Pole and was joined on the front row by another front-row debutante in Brodie Whitmore.

Both Lichtenberger and Whitmore – who are both back in the kart for the first time since Coffs Harbour – would win their first ever Pro Tour races in the category, whilst Jac Preston took the first heat race.

(pic – Cooper’s Photography)

In Junior Max Trophy,  Angus Wallace, Russell Mayo and Jonathon Marcusson all shared the heat races. They were entertaining throughout all three races – new front row starter Bailey Sweeny was impressive, so too Paige Raddatz – who was recovering from a post-qualifying infringement to work her way into the top five during the heat races.

Tomorrow, Pre-Finals begin at 8am at the Hume International Raceway, Puckapunyal.

The entry is free to the public.



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