Golden Power Series Championship Leader Jai George took to the third round of the series at the Eastern Lions Kart Club over the weekend. George has taken out back-to-back round wins in the series and was looking to make it three round wins on the trot. Young Jai took a strong win at the previous club day and looked to be one of the favorites going into the weekend.
George showed strong pace in the practice sessions on Saturday morning, leaving himself, brother, mechanic and coach Riley looking forward to qualifying. Qualifying started and the times were hard to separate between George, Joseph Bianchini and Cruz Kelly. Young Jai put himself on pole position with a minute to go until in a last gasp lap Bianchini took pole position. Young Jai and the team were still happy with the young driver starting of the front row.
George got a clean get away slotting himself in third spot in the opening few laps behind pole sitter Bianchini and Lucas Constanzo. Young Jai stalked the top two drivers making a move for second on lap five. George crossed the line second overall but due to a post-race penalty was able to take the heat one victory by over a second.
With confidence high after another series heat win George was looking to make it two from two on Sunday morning. The second heat was undertaken in wet conditions with George getting a poor get away, dropping down as low as tenth. Young Jai fought back, getting up to eighth position achieving more valuable points for his championship. In what was a disappointing finish after heat one, George looked to a dry heat three.
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George off the front row for heat three slotted into position three, chasing after the two leaders. Due to a full course yellow mid race Young Jai stayed in position three. With a one lap dash to the end George hit the lead at the start of the lap, but in the final corner shuffling he emerged in position three at the finish line. Due to a full course yellow penalty George unfortunately dropped to position twelve and that put him out of position seven for the final.
George managed to get a clean get away and by mid race of the final he had made his way inside the top five, chasing the leaders. Setting fast laps on his charge through due to a red flag shortening the final, Jai managed to come home in a fighting fourth position. He just missed the podium but again grabbing more valuable championship points and keeping the Cadet 9 ace in a strong championship position.
Jai’s mother Sharie was proud of her son after a difficult weekend. “Jai drove a great final after a couple of difficult heats. We struggled in the wet and then a penalty after the full course yellow put us back. Jai was fastest on track in the final and we’re so proud of our little man”.
George will again race at the Eastern Lions Kart Club this weekend at the second round of the Victorian Metro Series.
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