Finals Day - CIK Stars of Karting, Round 2
| press release | 29 April 2013 |
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GEORGE GERANIS BREAKS THROUGH AS JOEY HANSSEN FIRES BACK
Liam McLellan wins two in a row
Victorian George Geranis broke through for his maiden victory during Round Two of the 2013 CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE at South Australia’s Bolivar Raceway on Sunday.
After securing a career-first pole position in the Pro Light (KF) category on Saturday, Geranis went on to win the final qualifying heat on Saturday afternoon before crossing the line first in Sunday’s opening final.
Above: Video from Sunday
Starting from pole position, Geranis claimed a lights to flag victory in the second 34-lap encounter, however, his road to victory wasn’t an easy one. Kosmic Racing Australia driver Matthew Waters pressured Geranis right to the wire, but despite his best efforts, the Sydneysider was unable to find a way past.
“It’s a huge monkey off my back,” said an elated Geranis, who won the South Australian Championship courtesy of his victory in the opening final.
“I’ve been racing this series for three years now, so to finally get a win is just an amazing feeling. I’ve had so much bad luck at times, but to finally have everything go right and end up on top is unreal.
Above:
George Geranis on his way to the Pro Light (KF) victory
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AF Images/Budd
“This weekend I’ve had two great mechanics, Michael Cross and Daniel Rochford, and this win is very much a result for all of their hard work.”
Rounding out the podium was Shamick Racing’s Jordan Nicolaou who held off the Kosmic Racing Australia pair of Lachlan Gibbons and Dimitri Agathos. Gibbons’ impressive run was his best since making his debut at the start of 2012, earning him the adidas All Star Award for the round.
Waters’ second placing moved him to the top of the championship standings on 256 points, five clear of Geranis. Cian Fothergill Karting driver Troy Loeskow enjoyed a strong showing throughout the round and as a result he has moved into third place in the standings on 213 points, Nicolaou is fourth (209) ahead of Brooke Topp (207).
Dutch driver Joey Hanssen fought back from his round one defeat to turn the tables on reigning Series Champion Chris Hays and claim the Pro Gearbox (KZ2) win. The pair split the heat race victories on Saturday before Hanssen showed the superior speed in the pair of 34-lap main events on Sunday.
Above: Joey Hanssen leading Chris Hays in Pro Gearbox (KZ2)
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AF Images/Budd
Splitting the pair in the second encounter was PatriziCorse driver Kyle Ensbey in his Birel kart. Ensbey launched off the start from fourth position to pass Hays and Lee Mitchener and slot into second behind Hanssen.
Hays fought back to reclaim second from Ensbey, but by mid-race Ensbey showed superior speed to take back the runner-up spot behind Hanssen mid way through the race.
As the race continued, Ensbey edged closer to Hanssen, but was unable to mount a challenge and halt the Lenzo Kart driver from going one better than the opening round in Ipwsich, where he finished second to Hays.
Ensbey was second ahead of Hays, who now holds a 12-point lead in the chase for the championship. Fourth was Daniel Currey ahead of the hard charging John Grother, who started from position 22 on the starting grid.
The Pro Junior (KFJ) races were a wide-open affair with the likes of Jake Klein, Kurt Kostecki, Liam McLellan and James Abela dicing it out with Series Rookies Jake Kostecki and Bryce Fullwood near the front of the field across the weekend.
Above: Pro Junior (KFJ) winner Liam McLellan on his victory lap
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AF Images/Budd
Klein qualified on pole position during qualifying on Saturday but it was Kurt Kostecki and McLellan who shared the spoils on Sunday. Kostecki won a frantic opening final, where the lead changed on numerous occasions throughout the 34-lap affair, before McLellaln proved too good in the second final. It is the second successive round that McLellan has stood a top of the podium.
Abela crossed the line second, while a coming together between Klein and Kurt Kostecki, allowed the younger of the Western Australian brothers to secure his maiden podium finish in the series. Fullwood, the first Territorian to compete in the series, finished fourth ahead of Queenslander Callum Walker. Fullwood’s fourth placing earned him the Blackberry Powerful Award for the round.
Above: The TaG 125 Heavy field led by Brendan Nelson
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AF Images/Budd
In the Dunlop Kartsport TaG 125 Light category it was a Pierce Lehane domination with the New South Wales driver adding the South Australian Championship to his ever-growing list of achievements. Queenslander Brendan Nelson held on for a narrow victory in the Dunlop Kartsport TaG 125 Heavy category aboard his Harrington Doyle Racing-backed KAOS Karting Arrow. Nelson crossed the line narrowly ahead of Michael Saller and local driver Danny Errigo.
Victorian Cooper Murray was the class of the field in the Rookies category to remain undefeated throughout the weekend while Kyle Henry-Smith and Michael Smith-Crossing won TaG 125 Restricted Light and Heavy respectively.
Above: Victorian youngster Cooper Murray won the Rookies category
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AF Images/Budd
2013 CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE
Round 2 – Bolivar Raceway, South Australia
Pro Gearbox (KZ2)
1. Joey Hanssen (Netherlands) – Lenzo/LKE
2. Kyle Ensbey (Sunshine Coast, QLD) – Birel/IAME
3. Chris hays (Gold Coast, QLD) – Energy/TM
4. Daniel Currey (Perth, WA) – RK Kart/BMB
5. John Grother (Gladstone, QLD) – Energy/TM
Pro Light (KF)
1. George Geranis (Melbourne, Vic) – Kosmic/IAME
2. Matthew Waters (Sydney, NSW) – Kosmic/IAME
3. Jordan Nicolaou (Melbourne, Vic) – CRG/IAME
4. Lachlan Gibbons (Sydney, NSW) – Kosmic/IAME
5. Dimitri Agathos (Sydney, NSW) – Kosmic/IAME
Above: The champagne flowing on the Pro Light (KF) podium
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AF Images/Budd
Pro Junior (KFJ)
1. Liam McLellan (Melbourne, Vic) – OK1/Vortex
2. James Abela (Sydney, NSW) – PCR/Vortex
3. Jake Kostecki (Perth, WA) – Tony Kart/Vortex
4. Bryce Fullwood (Darwin, NT) – Birel/Vortex
5. Callum Walker (Brisbane, QLD) – Formula K/Vortex
TaG 125 Light
1. Pierce Lehane
2. Joshua Crossingham
3. Luke Bergens
4. Rocco Ventra
5. Joshua Tynan
Above: Pierce Lehane leading the way in TaG 125 Light
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AF Images/Budd
TaG 125 Heavy
1. Brendan Nelson
2. Michael Saller
3. Danny Errigo
4. William Yarwood
5. Mason Barbera
Rookies
1. Cooper Murray
2. Jack Hutchins
3. Cooper Hay
4. Ryan Suhle
5. Oscar Piastri
TaG 125 Restricted Light
1. Kyle Henry-Smith
2. Daniel Boorman
3. Christopher Provan
4. Joel Rinaldi
5. Jonah Grindlay
Above: The TaG 125 Restricted Light podium
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AF Images/Budd
Above: Michael Smith-Crossing was victorious in the TaG 125 Restricted Heavy category.
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AF Images/Budd
TaG 125 Restricted Heavy
1. Michael Smith-Crossing
2. Peter Buch
3. Cris Buch
4. Daniel Bowden
5. Robert Zoanetti
To view the full results please click here
Above: The top five starters in the Pro Gearbox (KZ2) Final
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AF Images/Budd
Championship Points after Round Two of Five
Pro Gearbox (KZ2)
1. Chris Hays 275
2. Joey Hanssen 263
3. Troy Bretherton 203
4. Matthew Wall 197
5. Jason Pringle 193
Pro Light (KF)
1. Matthew Waters 256
2. George Geranis 251
3. Troy Loeskow 213
4. Jordan Nicolaou209
5. Brooke Topp 207
Above: Jake Kostecki getting showered in champagne on the podium
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AF Images/Budd
Pro Junior (KFJ)
1. Liam McLellan 235
2. James Abela 220
3. Kurt Kostecki 197
4. Andrew Kahl 192
5. Christopher Sandrone 187
