James Lodge headed to Go Kart Club of Victoria looking to take a strong hold on the X30 class. Lodge returned to racing after the recent lockdown break to restart his 2021 racing season. He looked to get some vital track time before his assault on the Australian Kart Championship at Monarto in December.
Sunday morning qualifying was the restart of the Shamick Racing backed karters season. Sunday morning came around and under dry conditions Lodge hit the track looking to make an early statement. The Siclids Racing Helmets driver put himself to the top of times early in the session but had Jake Santalucia and Ethan Brown nipping at his heels. James continued his strong session, putting his Parolin kart on pole position for the opening two heats in a dominate statement to start the days racing.
Heat one came around, Lodge had Brown on his outside on the front row and Santalucia and Josh Hocking behind him on the second row. Lodge launched off pole position and showed a dominate pace in the early stages with Jaxon Johnstone and Santalucia trying to go with him. The Greensaver Solar backed entry continued to open up margin and had his Shamick Racing backed entry on rails. Lodge took the opening heat by over three and half seconds, sending an early statement to the rest of the field!
Heat two and Lodge was looking to do much of the same to his competitors as he did in heat one. The Siclids Racing Helmets backed entry got another strong start and had Johnstone, Santalucia and Brown trying to keep up with the race leader. James was able to lead every lap in heat two to make it consecutive heat wins. The Shamick racing backed entry took out the win by over two seconds over Santalucia and once again had himself off pole position for the third heat.
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Lodge was looking to make it three from three in the X30 class. Much of the same, Lodge was able to get another strong start and lead the field away. The Greensaver Solar backed entry was able to continue to open margin on the rest of the field much like the opening two heats. The domination of Lodge was able to continue on with a third heat win of the day! The Parolin karter took another two second win putting him in a position to take the clean sweep.
Lodge was on a mission as he drove out the gate in the final. The young driver was looking to make it a clean sweep and had his eyes on the number one trophy. The Siclids Racing Helmets backed entry achieved another strong start but had a much tougher battle instore. Santalucia was able to stalk the back of the race leader in the early stages and was pushing James harder than he had all weekend. The Greensaver Solar backed entry was able to hold his nerve, put in a champion drive and make it a clean sweep and round win. The Shamick Racing Karter took pole position and won all four races in a dominate display of driving.
James spoke post-race of the excitement of being back on track and taking a strong win. “It was great to be back racing at Todd Road in the X30 class! The kart was on rails all day. We’re able to come away with pole position and finishing in position one in all heats and the final”.
Lodge will now look to the final round of the Australian Kart Championship in South Australia in December.
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