Australian Kart Championship podium place getter Kristian Janev took to the third round of the championship over the weekend. Third place at the Go Kart Club of Victoria got the Pro Karting backed driver back on track in the championship chase. The Southern Go Kart Club was the next challenge on Kristian’s Australian Kart Championship assault.
Friday practice was a struggle for Janev by his usual high standards. Running in the premier Junior class KA2 Junior the Janev Building sponsored driver was hovering around the top twenty all day, looking for more improvement going into his qualifying session. Kristian hit the track for Saturday morning qualifying and was looking to set a competitive time. In a hotly contested session Janev was not even three tenths of pole position but down in position twenty overall. The Pro Karting powered driver was disappointed with his start to the weekend and was looking to heat one to start a fight back.
Heat one out of position twenty and his bad luck and misfortune for the weekend continued. An incident at turn one that had nothing to do with the Janev Building backed entry, caused Kristian to be out of the race and having another poor outcome.
Janev was looking to make a fight back in heat two with a clean start. The Regency Window backed entry got a lighting start jumping up three spots off the start and moving inside the top fifteen by lap two. With great lap speed and consistent driving Kristian crossed the line in position thirteen, inside the top fifteen in a strong fightback.
Heat three came around and with another great start Janev was inside the top fifteen at the end of the first lap. With determination and improving pace the Materpiece Cabinetry backed entry made up spots throughout the race getting closer and closer towards the top ten. In a hectic battle for tenth on the last lap Janev crossed the line in position eleven grabbing more crucial points.
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Heat four and Janev again nailed the start, jumping up four positions and was on the attack forward. With fast, consistent and attacking laps the Pro Karting backed driver pass karts hand over fist. Kristian crossed the line inside the top ten for the first time of the weekend improving his starting spot for the final looking for a top ten result and more valuable points.
On all combined points Janev was out of position seventeen in the final and was looking for another forward moving start. Another lighting start and missing the chaos at turn one on lap one had Janev was on the edge of the top ten in position eleven. The Janev Building backed entry was in a battle on the edge of the top ten making positions during the mid-race and continuing his march forward in the race. Kristian with great pace and smooth passing made his way inside the top ten in his best showing of the weekend. The Pro Karting backed driver crossed the line in position eight overall but due to post race penalties was classified just outside the top ten in position twelve.
Kristian’s father David noted it was always going to be tough qualifying down the order but loved his sons fightback. “It was always going to be hard qualifying down in position twenty. Not being able to be there (David wasn’t at the race meeting) made life tough but he just doesn’t give up. To get back inside the top ten after Friday and Saturday morning was an awesome fightback.”
Janev will again hit the track this weekend for the third round of the Golden Power Series at his home track Eastern Lions Kart Club.
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