Pro Tour Kicks Off in Melbourne

The Sparco Rotax Pro Tour officially kicked off the first of six rounds with the traditional Australia Day Opener at Port Melbourne’s iconic Todd Road Circuit.

  • full results on mylaps HERE
  • For lots of videos by series commentator Scott Auld, scroll to the bottom of the page.
Beau Pronesti leads William Seal and Ethan Feather, Junior MAX (pic – Mark Wicks, KartSportNews)

Three heats were contested for each of the seven categories here in Melbourne and the racing was once again a spectacle, lead changes and shared heat wins amongst the competitors will make for a close, wheel to wheel racing in the pre finals and finals tomorrow morning.

Our youngest category to compete at the series saw TWM driver James Anagnostiadis take pole position in the first of the categories to hit the track this morning. James fought a hard battle in the opening heat but could fend off Z Corse Driver Jaxson Burns who took the lead and the victory in the final lap. New comer Marco Manson from New Zealand showed he will be one to watch throughout the series having shown great pace throughout todays heat racing.

James Anagnostiadis leads Jaxson Burns in Micro MAX (pic – Mark Wicks, KartSportNews)

Mini Max saw Costa Toparis take pole position over Aiva Anagnostiadis and Kamal Mrad. Costa had strong results throughout heat racing but come finals, Pro Karting driver Kristian Janev and Velocity Kart Shop Driver, Kamal Mrad will be ones to keep an eye on after consistent drives today. Jake Rutkowski who has made the leap from Micro Max is also within the Top 10 and will be looking to move forward towards a podium place.

Costa Toparis had two heat wins today in Mini MAX (pic – Mark Wicks, KartSportNews)

Junior Max and Beau Pronesti of TWM poled the last of the Junior categories and took three heat wins to seal the deal. Luke Pink is closest driver to Pronesti but 2018 Team Australia member William Seal will be knocking at the door come the pre final tomorrow morning. AWC Motorsport Academy driver Hugh Barter will be putting his experience at the Todd Road circuit to the challenge tomorrow in hopes to kick off his journey to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Sarno.

Beau Pronesti (#10 above, leading William Seal) was undefeated in today’s heats of Junior MAX (pic – Mark Wicks, KartSportNews)

In the biggest field of drivers at the Sparco Rotax Pro Tour, young Sydney-sider Brodie Whitmore set the pace in Rotax Light qualifying and took out heat one but it was Pierce Lehane who took the final two heat wins and will start from pole in tomorrows pre final. Amongst the front runners was Liam Ford, Cody Brewczynski and Kiwi Rianna O’Meara-Hunt. With still two races to go before the trophies are presented it really is anyone’s game in the Rotax 125 Light category.



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Pierce Lehane starts tomorrow’s Rotax Light pre-final from pole (pic – Mark Wicks, KartSportNews)

Rotax Heavy today displayed some of the closest racing spectators have seen. 2018 Series Champion, Lane Moore has his work cut out for him aboard his CRG Kart with the likes of Zac Van from VanSpeed who took out pole and heat wins today looking for that top step on the podium. Bec McMellan on numerous occasions set quick times throughout the heats and will be looking for a podium finisher come tomorrow afternoon.

Zac van Leeuwestyn leads Banjamin McMellan, James Macken and Max Carter, Rotax Heavy (pic – Mark Wicks, KartSportNews)

DD2 debutant Jonathon Marcusson today impressed with a heat win amongst his results, with Tyler Greenbury in his corner Jono will be up against Australia number one, Ryan Kennedy, Kiwi talent, Bond Roby and Queenslander Jac Preston. The fastest class to compete at the event and with such close racing Sundays finals could go anyone’s way in a field of Australia’s best.

Despite winning just one heat, Kiwi Bond Roby (here ahead of Jac Preston) leads the DD2 field (pic – Mark Wicks, KartSportNews)

DD2 Masters saw veteran and local Troy Woolston set the pace in qualifying and the heat races ahead. Chasing down the former World Champion was Z Corse Team Owner Kris Walton and an injured Danny Wright. Despite tearing his AC Joint in his shoulder in a mountain bike accident Danny says “I love the sport to much to stay away so ill deal with the pain”. Danny has consistently been hard under breaks and making passes throughout the heat races to secure top three finishes across the heats.

Kris Walton is top of the points in DD2 Masters (pic – Mark Wicks, KartSportNews)

Tomorrow’s racing will commence with the Pre Finals from 8am followed by the finals, entry to the public is free or if you cant make it, tune in from anywhere around the world with our live streaming from 8am. A link will be posted on our Facebook page, Rotax Pro Tour.

Troy Woolston finished P1 in all three Masters heats, but a starting penalty in heat 1 has dropped him to third overall (pic – Mark Wicks, KartSportNews)

Naming Right Sponsor

  • Sparco

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  • CRG Australia
  • Tillett
  • Lucky Design
Spot of bother for Kiwi Josh Richmond in Junior MAX (pic – Mark Wicks, KartSportNews)
Hugh Barter has been getting progressively stronger with each heat in Juniors (pic – Mark Wicks, KartSportNews)
Rotax Light action – Brodie Whitmore leads Liam Ford, Pierce Lehane and Rianna O’Meara-Hunt (pic – Mark Wicks, KartSportNews)
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