Words: Russell Innes, Ipswich Kart Club
Images: Paul Goodman Photography, 0406 086 869
A record setting 334 entries arrived for the opening round of the 2021 Ipswich Kart Club Championship on February 6th. Boosted by approximately 60 interstate entries looking to get in some extra track time prior to the AKC Round at IKC on February 19th and 20th, a total of 19 classes across 13 groups put on an excellent exhibition of driving in the challenging random grid formats and the high temperatures. The IKC team of officials and volunteers once again put on a superbly run race meeting and had racing concluded by 8.00pm.
The first Round of the 2021 Queensland KZ2 and KA2 State Series featured on the program and Troy Loeskow once again was the man to beat, coming home first in the Final ahead of Ryan Suhle and Cody Gillis.
In KA2 Jack Wells had a great day on debut in the class, to win ahead of Elliot Cleary and Slade Orsmond.
The Tyler Greenbury Racing team showed they will be very prominent in the AKC this year with an impressive dominance of TAG Light. Locking out the podium, Ryan Hadden first ahead of Hamish Fitzsimmons and Alexander Hadden.
The big TAG Heavy field were led home in the Final by Brendan Nelson, followed by Christopher Williams and Jared Neinert.
Open Performance made a rare appearance at Ipswich and entered in force with 25 starters. After dominating all day, Scott Howard had a battery issue in the Final whilst leading, Scott Sorensen coming through for the win ahead of Peter Virgulti and Peter Bossons.
Zack Hilder showed he will be one of the drivers to beat in Cadet 9 this year, with a dominant victory in the Final. Caleb Myers had an excellent day and grabbed 2nd in the Final a fraction ahead of Gabriel Elkayam.
The huge Cadet 12 field of 36 starters were the stars of the day, with a magnificent display of respectful driving as they contended with the challenge of the random grid draws. Basilo Micale had a great start to his first year in Cadet 12 with a solid win in the Final. Sebastian Bennet was super impressive to finish 2nd, with Patrick Buckley 3rd.
4SS Junior only had a small field as a lot have gone up to Seniors. Jordi Slater, Finn Woodley and Jordan Briggs battled closely all day, Slater winning the Final from Woodley and Briggs.
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KA4 Junior Light was another class with a huge list of starters, 34 in total. Max Walton a narrow victor in the Final from Michael Janusz and Alex Ninovic. A very impressive KA3 Junior field saw a great victory to Slade Orsmond in the Final, ahead of Dean Silcock and Gianmarco Pradel.
The 4SS Senior brigade came out in force with 27 entries. Scott Pearce, making a rare appearance at Ipswich, was dominant in Supermaxx Medium, well clear of Kevin Johnston and Matthew Smith in the Final.
Kevin Davis had a comfortable win in Supermaxx Heavy from Jason Ramsay and Jordan McNamara.
The young guns Hayden Hume and Kieran Stirling crossed 1st and 2nd in Senior Light with Justin Whittal close behind. Damian Poole had a great debut in Senior Medium with a narrow victory from Daniel Lawler and Harrison Arendt 3rd.
The TAG Restricted fields were massive with a huge influx of new competitors for 2021. 34 entries were received in TAG Restricted Light, but Brent Reading was totally dominant, only really challenged when he had to come from the back half of the field in one of the random grid draw heats, even then he still won convincingly. Dion Jarvis was the best of the rest with Melanya Rudd in 3rd.
TAG Restricted Medium had 7 first time drivers amongst the 16 starters, but it was the returning Joshua Herne who comfortably won all 3 Heats and the Final. After recent coaching from multiple Aussie Champ Dave Sera, Phillip Ouzounis was an impressive 2nd in the Final. Dene Hollier was very close behind in 3rd.
Great to see some good numbers in TAG Restricted Masters with Adam Surplice taking out the Final ahead of Michael McLean and Paul Buchanan.
There was a huge amount of young talent in KA3 Senior Light and after winning 2 of the 3 Heats, Declan Matthews was a narrow winner of the Final from Keegan Fraser and Kurtis Tennant.
Attention now turns to the 1st Round of the Australian Karting Championships at Ipswich on the 19th and 20th of February, followed two weeks later with the 2nd Round of the IKC Championships and the IKC TAG Titles on the 6th of March.
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