Kristian Janev is one of the premier junior drivers in the country. He has won state and national titles and has been on the podium at the Australian Kart Championship this season. After a long three months delay the Pro Karting backed entry returned to his home circuit of the Eastern Lions Kart Club in a strong field of KA3 Junior.
Young Kristian was one of the favorites for the weekend but had multiple time national champion Harry Arnett, Junior front runner Angus Hall and newly graduate Cadet 12 driver Alexander Yoannidis to deal with.
Saturday morning qualifying was where the weekend battle started for the young driver. In tough, low grip conditions, the Janev Building backed entry went straight into the top five battle and looked one of the main chances for pole position. With only two tenths separating the top five, the Regency Windows sponsored entry set the third fastest time of the session, having himself off the inside of the second row.
Janev now looked to heat one where he was hoping for a strong start. The Pro Karting backed entry settled into position three in the early stages but when Arnett made a move for the lead Kristian followed him straight through. The Janev Building backed entry chased hard after the multiple time Australian Champion in Arnett but had to settle for second position overall.
Janev made another clean get away, jumping into third spot. The Regency Windows backed entry stalked the back of Angus Hall in the early stages before making a move for second position on lap three. Janev was the fastest driver in the top three, while trying to make in roads onto race leader Arnett. The Pro Karting backed entry settled for another strong second spot, putting himself on the front row for heat three.
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Starting off the front row Kristian got the jump on Harry Arnett and led into the open corner. The Janev Building backed entry got into a fierce battle with Arnett and himself having multiple lead changes. In a strong racing display Kristian was able to take the lead back and come away with his first heat win of the weekend. Confidence was now high that Janev could take the final and the round after his heat three win.
Janev got the jump once again but Arnett jumped back into the lead on lap two. The Regency Windows backed entry was in an intense top five battle, while stalking Arnett all the time. In another epic finish with the top three only being separate by three tenths, Janev came home with second position in the final and a strong podium for the round.
Kristian’s father David was proud of his son in the high calibre class he was racing in. “What a fantastic day of racing! Racing the best drivers in the country like Arnett, Hall, Yoannidis and Benjamin Munro in the final is what it is all about. Kristian showed he was as quick as any and had a great win in heat three. We look forward to racing with these guys again soon and are so glad to be back at the track”.
The Janev Building backed entry will be one of the main favorites going into the final round of the Australian Kart Championship decider in December.
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