Driver PR: Elliott Cleary, NSW Premier State Cup

Elliott Cleary is a young driver making waves in season 2022! Cleary who has only been racing for around 18 months (not counting COVID breaks) has starting to make a name for himself putting in some top performances and some of the hardest race meetings in the country. Cleary has been on the podium in the Australian Kart Championship, The Rotax Pro Tour and the Canberra Cup just to name a few.

Cleary has been racing out of the Craig Mathews CXR stable but due to border closures, Cleary has recently connected with Tom Williamson Motorsport. Elliott took to the Premier State Cup over the weekend to try and continue his good season of racing. Cleary had wet conditions to deal with and these were circumstances the young driver had limited experience with.

The Peppermintblue music publishing sponsored entry made his way inside the top five straight away, before moving into the battle for pole position with championship leader Leon Cordato. Elliott set a fast enough time to have himself in second spot on the grid, on the outside of the front row for the opening heat.

(pic – supplied)

Cleary got a great start in heat one jumping into second spot and stalking the race leader Cordato. The Barney Martin Hair sponsored entry put in a strong performance maintaining second position all race and coming away with a strong result to start his weekend. Elliott with his team looked to heat two for improvements.

Cleary got a much better start in heat two, jumping to the start and leading out of the opening lap. The Smith Fuetrill Accounts backed entry had pressure from Cordato all race but held his lead spot. In a super drive Elliott was able to take heat two victory, setting up an exciting final.

Elliott was looking forward to the final but knew the tough task of starting on the outside of the front row in the wet! The Dawn Promotions backed entry was unfortunately out of contention at the first corner. Cleary hit a wet puddle and went off track, with his Saturday unfortunately result in a DNF finish.



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Sunday morning was upon Cleary with the third round of the Premier State Cup upon him. The Our Friends Agency backed entry was back on the front row and was looking to start his day well. Elliott slotted into second spot off the start and chased after championship rival Cordato. In a hard race with difficult track conditions, the Executor Tours backed entry took a great points result in second position, continuing his championship threat.

Heat two was another championship defining race, with Cleary getting a great jump before again being pushed wide and going back to seventh at lap one end. The Nights Groove Entertainment sponsored entry had his head down and was trying to make his way through the pack. Elliott was able to move back up inside the top five and cross the line in an excellent fourth position, keeping his championship hunt alive.

Heat three was crucial for Cleary’s championship, with it potentially going down to the final race. The Perfect Havoc Records UK sponsored entry settled into third spot at the end of the opening lap with championship rival Cordato out of the race. Cleary made has way into position two but then dropped back to fourth with a small mistake. Just when Elliott was looking to put himself in a strong championship position, an electric failure halted his progress and resulted in a DNF result.

Full of motivation and drive the Tom Williamson supported driver was looking to have a strong finish to his weekend in the final. Cleary settled into third spot in the early stages and was in a hard-fought battle for the final podium spot. In a great battle Elliott came home inside the top five in position four to finish the weekend on a high!

Elliott spoke post-race of the disappointment of being so close to the title. “Really disappointed about the electrical failure in heat three as I was one lap of finishing second. It was very beneficial for my overall points to finish that race in second.

Elliott’s father Smiley spoke of the intense weekend due to the weather. “I’ve never changed so many tyres at a race meet, the weather was so unpredictable. Full of ups and downs and of course his heart was set on the win. Overall, I feel he did very well considering he had two DNF’S and one being yesterdays final which cost him double points”.

Cleary will now head to the final round of the Australian Kart Championship in South Australia next weekend.



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