by Mitchell McLellan
Brad Jenner and James Wharton were the standouts at the second and final round of the Victorian Karting Series at Go Kart Club of Victoria. Jenner took out the highly competitive TaG Light class and Wharton was able to take the double win in KA4 Junior Light and Heavy.
- Round results and the Championship placings were posted on Monday – see HERE
- LOTS more photos from Pace Images:
Jenner, who had taken three of the four heat wins, had his challenges from a super aggressive James Sera off the start in the final plus Justin Francis and early pole sitter Daniel Rochford. Jenner went as far back as fourth when a red flag stopped the race. On the restart Jenner and Justin Francis had a battle on their hands at the front but a cool calm collected Jenner took the lead opened a margin and was able to take back-to-back VIC state titles.
Wharton, in his first year in the junior ranks, put on a dominant display in Junior Heavy crossing the line first in all races, though a red flag in the final brought a dominant win to close early as he took the Junior Heavy state championship.
Wharton didn’t have it as easy in Junior Light as he had challenges from Fletcher Harris, Kai Allen and Bailey Collins all weekend. Wharton and Harris broke clear in the final to have a grand stand finish with Wharton just hanging to take the final round over Harris. Harris had done enough to hold and take the Vic Title, his first in the junior ranks.
Remo Luciani continued to show that age was not an issue as he took out another round win and Vic Title but Luciani didn’t have it all his own way. Chris Thomas dominated all the way up to the final but when it matters, Remo made his way to the front over Brayden Flood in the final and Aaron Jackson rounding out your podium.
Simon Phillips took an unlikely victory in TaG Masters after early pole sitter Craig Christie wasn’t able to start the race with a mechanical failure. Early race leaders Matt Parker and Phil Smith both had troubles in the final allowing Phillips to come through for an unlikely round victory. Smith was able to hang on to take the VIC Title adding another state championship to his strong career.
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Lewis Francis and Harry Arnett both come of ages taking out their respective categories in Cadet 9 and Cadet 12. Francis had a dominant weekend in Cadet 9 but had big challenges from Rock Han, Rusty Ponting and Peter Bozinlezous in the final. The gap not above 1 second for most of the race but Francis was able to hang on and take another state championship.
Arnett had it much tougher not winning a heat race all weekend, but got the start of the weekend in the Final, jumping from 8th to the lead by turn one! After challenges from Joseph Fawcett in the later stages, Arnett was able to hang with Matt Domanchenz taking home the Victorian state title after a fourth place in the final.
Kai Allen showed why he was one of the best junior drivers in the country with a hard fought win in KA3 Junior over in-form James Wharton. Allen clean swept racing on Saturday but Wharton took the fight to him on Sunday. The two put on a spectaular final with Allen making the winning move on lap 19 of 20 as Wharton, who defend into turn 1, crossed back to the outside Allen then criss-crossed back to take the lead. Allen took the final round win and the championship in a hard fought battle with Wharton.
Jason Pringle was able to add another state round to his resume in a titanic battle with Aaron Hindle who was chasing his fourth consecutive VIC title. Pringle and Hindle both had heat wins and had a tight battle in the final with Hindle throwing everything he had at Pringle with the latter holding on for victory. Hindle was able to take home his fourth consecutive state title in TAG heavy.
In KA3 senior Light it was all about the two best karters in the country James Sera and Matthew McLean battling for victory both taking two heat wins and two second places. McLean got the jump of the start in the final with Jack Bell entering the battling jumping into second. McLean drove superbly under pressure and was able to open an advantage and take another state title over Bell and Sera in the final.
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