Alexander Yoannidis headed to the opening round of the Golden Power Series at the Rochester Kart Club looking to make a name for himself, as one of the states and countries best young drivers. Young Alex has been in the highly competitive Cadet 12 Class since 2019 and had a mountain to climb with over 40 entries in the oversized Cadet 12 Class this year. Yoannidis after timed practice was in the top half of the field putting himself in the top 50% for qualifying.
Yoannidis hit the track in a strong hot paced field and started the battle for pole position, hovering just outside the top 10 with a strong plan in place! Young Alex made a strong move in the middle part of the qualifying session, setting a lap fast enough for the top three places. In a tough and fast battle with other front runners Pip Casabene, Joanne Ciconte, Matthew Basso and Jack Jenkins, Alex dropped down to position 4 but then put in a last effort to qualify position 3 on the second row!
Sunday came around with four full heats on Alex’s program. Heat 1 started well with Yoannidis in his Benchmark Business Sales back entry jumping straight into the top 2 and chasing after race leader Pip Casabene. Unfortunately trouble struck the young charger, as a misjudged flag caused a retirement while running in the effective race lead due to a Casabene penalty.
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Yoannidis was looking to bounce back in heat 2 and 3 and bounce back is what the Jellis Craig and EP Advisors backed entry did! Yoannidis again put himself in the top two of the start and chased after race leader Matthew Basso. Lap 5 the raced changed complexion as Yoannidis made his way into the lead. In a frantic battle and finish the Hachem Management Group sponsored entry was able to hang on for a strong heat 2 win! Heat 3 and another lead battle was on young Alexander’s hands this time again with Basso and George Macmillan. Yoannidis in spectacular fashion made a last lap move to take back to back heat wins in a mega recovery from heat 1!
Due to the heat 1 DNF position 8 was the starting spot for the full Cadet 12 final but Yoannidis didn’t stay there for long. With a lighting start the Benchmark Business Sales entry was inside the top 4 out of the first few corners! Yoannidis made moves to get himself into the top two and go after race leader Joanne Ciconte. In a strong charge setting fastest lap on the way Yoannids came home in position two in a great final charge!
Alex’s father was proud of his young son’s fightback from heat 1. “Weekend went well apart from heat 1 where Alexander misjudged a flag. He set the task of winning heat 2 and 3 which he did. Starting out of p8 for final he fought hard to get second and had the fastest lap of race” Yoannidis will be tackling the Australian Kart Championship, Victorian State Championship, Golden Power Series and the Junior Sprint Classic in what could be a career defining move for the young driver.
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