Melbourne Duo Aim For Stars of Karting Glory
| SoK media | 13 September 2013 |
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Wheelers Hill (Melbourne, Vic) kart racers George Geranis and Liam McLellan are aiming for Championship glory when the final round of the CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE is held in Port Melbourne next weekend (September 21/22).
After four rounds, Geranis is a mere seven points from the lead of the Pro Light category in Australia’s elite Karting Championship while McLellan is three points shy of the lead in the Pro Junior class.
Above: George Geranis is aiming to become the third straight Victorian to win the Pro Light Championship
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)
If successful in overcoming Sydney driver Matthew Waters in the points standings next weekend, Geranis will become the third consecutive Melbourne-based driver to etch his name on the James Courtney Perpetual trophy. The previous two winners have been Jake Spencer (Wantirna, Vic) and Adam Hughes (Mentone, Vic).
“After putting a lot of money and hard work in over the past three years, winning the title would be a perfect reward for not only myself but my family and the people who have believed in me along the way,” said Geranis.
“With me having two bad runs in a row, it has made the title very wide open. It’s not only Matt who can win, although he is in the box seat, but also Troy Loeskow (Bundaberg, QLD) in third place is still in the hunt – as is Brooke Topp (Toowoomba, QLD) who’s currently fourth in the points.”
Along with the Champion’s Trophy, Geranis will also receive a $10,000 scholarship from the Australian Karting Association to assist him to compete in a major CIK karting event overseas.
“It’s always a dream of a karter to go overseas and race against the World’s best. Racing in Europe is really the pinnacle of our sport,” said Geranis.
“Firstly though I’ve got to get a strong result next weekend and then look at the next step. It’s not going to be easy but one thing I do have in my favour is the fact that it is my home round. I had some good speed there last year, hopefully I can replicate that this year and finish on a high.”
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Above: Wheelers Hill teenager Liam McLellan
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)
McLellan started the year off with two dominant performances in the elite Junior category at Ipswich and Bolivar, but a disastrous third round followed by a difficult fourth round has seen Sydney driver James Abela move to the top of the points standings.
A trio of Series Rookies are set to battle it out for third place in the Championship with Andrew Kahl (Sydney, NSW), Chris Sandrone (Sydney, NSW) and Damon Strongman (Frankston, Vic) likely to claim that position in the championship.
More than 150 competitors will be in action across the seven categories on the schedule next weekend at the Port Melbourne venue. Drivers in the Pro categories will reach speeds in excess of 130 km/h while the youngest drivers, aged between 10 and 12, in the Rookies category will compete at speeds up to 90 km/h.
Qualifying and Heat Races will be contested from 9am on Saturday September 21 with the Finals beginning on Sunday September 22 at 9am. Admission is free for spectators.
The Todd Road Karting Complex is located on the corner of Todd Road and Cook Street, Port Melbourne.
2013 CIK STARS OF KARTING SERIES
Presented by Castrol EDGE
Championship Points after Round Four of Five
Pro Gearbox (KZ2)
1. Joey Hanssen (Netherlands) 517
2. Chris Hays (Gold Coast, QLD) 448
3. Jason Pringle (Essendon, Vic) 399
4. Kel Treseder (Bundaberg, QLD) 391
5. John Grother (Gladtsone, QLD) 385
Pro Light (KF)
1. Matthew Waters (Sydney, NSW) 448
2. George Geranis (Wheelers Hill, Vic) 441
3. Troy Loeskow (Bundaberg, QLD) 429
4. Brooke Topp (Toowoomba, QLD) 407
5. Jordan Nicolaou (Taylors Lakes, Vic) 379
Pro Junior (KFJ)
1. James Abela (Sydney, NSW) 447
2. Liam McLellan (Wheelers Hill, Vic) 444
3. Andrew Kahl (Sydney, NSW) 396
4. Christopher Sandrone (Sydney, NSW) 380
5. Damon Strongman (Frankston, Vic) 374
