Girl Power At Tasmanian State Championships
| AKA media | 18 November 2013 |
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2013 Tasmanian Karting Champions
Cadets – Taylor Gill (Newcastle, NSW)
Rookies – Jordan Caruso (Traralgon, Vic)
Junior National Light – Shaun Costello (Echuca, Vic)
Junior National Heavy – Natasha Herne (Lismore, NSW)
Senior National – Gemma Wyllie (Hobart, Tas)
National Over 40s Super Heavy – Scott Wrigley (Perth, Tas)
National Over 40s – Peter O’Neill (Sydney, NSW)
Clubman Light – Daimon Shelton (Longford, Tas)
Clubman Heavy – Brody Appleby (Tarleton, Tas)
Clubman Super Heavy – Joshua Herne (Lismore, NSW)
Leopard Light – Zane Wyatt (Launceston, Tas)
In a sport that is dominated by the boys, two young female racers stole the spotlight at the Tasmanian State Championships hosted by the Circular Head Kart Club in Smithton on the weekend.
Lismore teenager Natasha Herne and Hobart's Gemma Wyllie were victorious in the Junior National Heavy and Senior National categories respectively. It is the first time in the modern era of Australian karting that two females have been victorious at the one state championship event.
Above: Lismore teenager Natasha Herne leading Shaun Costello in Junior National Heavy
pic - Seggie Snaps
Herne’s victory was a popular one with the crowd in attendance. She entered the final race as an underdog with Victorian Shaun Costello, who recently won the South Australian Championship, starting on pole position and leading the way. Herne pressured Costello throughout the race before making a couple of unsuccessful attempts for the lead late in the race. With two corners remaining Herne maneuvered her way past Costello to cross the line first. Costello held on for second ahead of Wade McLean.
While he may have missed out on the win in the Junior National Heavy class, Costello was victorious in the Light category ahead of fellow Victorian Oscar Piastri.
Having dominated the domestic racing on the Apple Isle throughout the year, Wyllie was one of the favourites for the Senior National title – and she lived up to these expectations. Alastair Lee led the way early in the final race before Wyllie took control to drive away with the victory. Lee finished second ahead of Daniel Hinds.
Above: Hobart driver Gemma Wyllie looking back for her opposition as she crosses the line for the Senior National win
pic - Seggie Snaps
Launceston driver Zane Wyatt claimed his sixth state championship with victory in the Leopard Light category ahead of Daimon Shelton. Victorian James Cornfoot finished third. Wyatt also finished on the podium in the Clubman Heavy class behind eventual winner Brody Appleby and Alastair Lee.
Shelton went one better than he did in the Leopard Light category when he was victorious in the Clubman Light class ahead of Nathan Zuj.
Drivers from the mainland had dominated the races in the Cadets leading into the final, a trend that continued when the chequered flag fell on the final. New South Welshman Taylor Gill fended of a late race charge from Victorian Jay Hanson, who recovered from an early race spin, and Sean Larkin to take the win.
New South Wales driver Joshua Herne and Scott Wrigley successfully defended their Clubman Super Heavy and National Over 40s Super Heavy titles won last year in Burnie.
Above: Lismore's Joshua Herne leading the way in Clubman Super Heavy
pic - Seggie Snaps
Sydney-sider Peter O’Neill reclaimed the National Over 40s title that he won in 2011 ahead of Steve Crocker and defending champion Michael Vaughan as Victorian Jordan Caruso won his third state crown of 2013 in Rookies.
2013 Tasmanian Karting Championships
Circular Head Kart Club
Smithton, Tasmania
Cadets
1. Taylor Gill
2. Jay Hanson
3. Sean Larkin
Rookies
1. Jordan Caruso
2. Zac Crichton
3. Jai Sparey
Junior National Light
1. Shaun Costello
2. Oscar Piastri
3. Brodie Evans
Above: Launceston's Zane Wyatt on his way to winning the Leopard Light class
pic - Seggie Snaps
Junior National Heavy
1. Natasha Herne
2. Shaun Costello
3. Wade McLean
Senior National
1. Gemma Wyllie
2. Alastair Lee
3. Daniel Hinds
National Over 40s Super Heavy
1. Scott Wrigley
2. Troy Sheahen
3. Allan Sheahen
National Over 40s
1. Peter O’Neill
2. Steve Crocker
3. Michael Vaughan
Clubman Light
1. Daimon Shelton
2. Nathan Zuj
3. Robert Moore
Clubman Heavy
1. Brody Appleby
2. Alastair Lee
3. Zane Wyatt
Clubman Super Heavy
1. Joshua Herne
2. Samm Harrington
3. Brodey Lovett
1. Zane Wyatt
2. Daimon Shelton
3. James Cornfoot
