Golden Power Series KA3 Junior round 1 winner Kristian Janev took to the second of the series at the Goulburn Valley Kart Club over the weekend. Janev coming off a strong podium finish at the Australian Kart Championship was looking for back-to-back round wins in the series. The Pro Karting powered karter headed into the weekend confident of a good result.
Saturday morning practice showed encouraging signs, consistently running in the top three drivers. Conditions were warm and dry setting up for a fast-paced qualifying session. Qualifying was a battle for Janev setting times that put him to the top of the field in the early parts of the session. As the six minutes went on, fellow front runner Joshua Hee Keng put himself in contention for pole position. Janev set his fastest lap late in the session to put himself on the front row in position two with Hee Keng taking pole position.
Janev starting off the front row was looking to go one better in heat 1. Hee Keng was able to lead off the start but Janev slotted straight into second spot hot on the heels of the race leader. In the early laps of the race Kristian sat in a strong second place but looked fast and ready to challenge the race leader Hee Keng, the two of them gapping the rest of the field. Janev made a move for the lead in the middle stages with Hee Keng hanging with him. The Janev Building sponsored entry was able to hold on and cross the line first in a impressive showing. Unfortunately, due to a starting infringement Janev was stripped of victory and put back to tenth position overall.
Heat 2 was later Saturday afternoon and Janev in his Regency Windows sponsored entry was looking to fight back. Kristian got the jump off the start and went straight to the lead. Janev was all class in heat 2 leading every lap and after a disappointing opening heat was able to take a dominate heat 2 victory putting himself in good spirits for Sunday’s racing.
A different mindset, a different set up and different drive style was need for Sunday. Heavy rain fall over night meant for a rain affected track. Janev got another strong start immediately moving himself into the top three runners. The Masterpiece Cabinetry sponsored entry moved up to second position before making a mistake in the tough wet conditions putting him back to seventh. A determined Janev fought back hard in a charging finish to come home with another top five finish.
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Due to the worsen weather conditions the meeting was called off with no final being run for the class. Janev with his overall points came home with another podium position in third spot.
Father David noted it was a tough weekend in trying conditions. “We will take third after a weekend like that” David joked. “If we didn’t have the heat 1 starting infringement, we would’ve been right in contention for victory. We look forward to what is next”.
The Pro Karting backed driver with another strong showing looks to be one of the favorites in his class heading to the Victorian State Titles in April.
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