Jack Jenkins took to the Go Kart Club of Victoria over the weekend for the first time in his karting career! Jenkins was coming off a strong podium finish at the recent Eastern Lions Kart Club race meet in the thirty-driver field. Young Jack never sighting the track before knew he had a massive task ahead of him to get a similar result this weekend.
The Pulse Tuning supported entry knew Saturday morning qualifying was going to be crucial for his days racing. After an enjoyable and productive day practicing on Saturday, Jack felt he had his kart in a good window to put in a good showing. Jenkins hit the track for Sunday morning qualifying and immediately put himself in a strong spot. Jenkins had current Australian Kart Championship leader Lewis Francis setting a strong pace out in front. But the Pulse Tuning supported driver dug deep to put himself in the top five battle. In a remarkable start to the weekend, Jenkins set the second fastest time in the twenty-kart field, putting himself off the front row for the opening heats.
Young Jack was full of excitement, and was now looking to take the fight to Francis. Jenkins was able to get a lighting start and slot in behind Francis off the start. In an exciting and fast paced battle, the Pulse Tuning supported driver was able to stay hot on the heels of the Australian Title leader. Jack threw everything he had at the race leader and came home in a strong second spot to start his racing day.
Heat two and Jenkins and Francis were jumped off the start by Aston Hill! Jenkins slotted into third spot with Francis slotting back into the lead on lap two. The Pulse Tuning supported entry stalked the back of Hill in the first half of the race and made a move for second on lap four. Young Jack had lost time to Francis in the process and now had Cooper Stapleton applying pressure behind. In another fast and consistent race showing, Jenkins came home with another second position! This kept Jack on the front row for heat three.
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Jenkins slotted into third position off the start with Hill jumping up into second spot. Young Jack was straight under pressure from Stapleton who made the move pushing him back to fourth spot. The Pulse Tuning supported entry put his head down and was right in the battle for the podium spots. Jack made a clean move on Hill for position three and was able to cross the line third overall. Jenkins now looked to the final to try and come home with a strong result.
Jenkins was excited for the final but an opening lap incident where Jack was pushed wide had the young driver back in position nine at the end of the opening lap with plenty of work to do. The young Pulse Tuning supported driver put his head down and got to work trying to make his way back up the field. Jenkins had a scintillating double over take lap four moving up to seventh. Jenkins then in the mid pack battle was able to move up to position four on lap five. Jenkins drove his heart out and closed in on Aston Hill for the final podium spot. Young Jack didn’t quite have enough on Hill coming home in position four in a great fightback and strong result for his first visit and the track!
Jack’s parents Michael and Jo were proud of their young son for his first go at the track. “Michael and I were really impressed with how quickly he learnt the track. He fought so hard across the day in a fast and tough field”.
Jenkins will now head to the final club day of the year at the Eastern Lions Kart Club in December.
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