by Mitchell McLellan, MMS Media & Commentating
The 2022 Golden Power Series kicked off over the weekend at the Goulburn Valley Kart Club under clear skies and warm weather. 218 entries were taken with thirteen classes being run across the weekend.
The six round series has been affected over the last two years with multiple rounds being cancelled due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Drivers were ready to go and kick their series off in the best way possible.
- full results from Numurkah – https://speedhive.mylaps.com/Events/1950521
Gerry Westerveld was one of the big winners over the weekend taking out a double round win in TAG Restricted Light and KA3 Senior Light. Westerveld was able to take pole position and all four race wins in the Victorian Combined Light class. The final was a heart in mouth scenario as Brodie Doidge hassled the back of Westerveld and set the fastest lap of the race on the way to trying to take victory. Westerveld was able to hold his nerve and take the win by two tenths over Doidge and Bailey Elliott rounding out your podium.
Westerveld didn’t have it all his own way in KA3 Senior Light. After qualifying on pole position Westerveld wasn’t able to take a heat win with Blake Worboys dominating Saturday’s racing. Zackary Thompson was able to come through and take the win in heat three after Westerveld and Worboys came together while battling for the lead. Westerveld starting out of position four was able to get to the front in the final and not look back taking a strong victory. Worboys managed to move up second position overall with heat three winner Thompson rounding out your podium to kick of the series.
Grace Riddell was the dominate driver in the KA4 Junior National Heavy class over the weekend taking maximum points away from the opening round. Riddell put her kart on pole position, won every race and led every lap in a dominate display of driving leaving the rest of her competitors to battle for the minors. Ella Dealy and Isabel Rowe both moved up across the final and were able to round out an all-girl power top three. Jackson Stone had one of his most competitive weekends to date just missing the top three in fourth, with former state champion Zach Findlay rounding out the top five in the class.
Cadet 12 was a three way battle all weekend with pole sitter Jai George, Scott Harrison and Jack Jenkins. Harrison was able to show a clean pair of heels in the opening three heats taking the wins over Jenkins and George. The final was an intense battle as Jenkins sat right on the back of the undefeated driver and looked to have the pace to challenge for the win. With three laps to go Jenkins took the lead with Harrison trying to come straight back through. In a calculated and well managed drive, Jenkins was able to hold and take his first Golden Power Series Round win. Harrison came away with second spot and the championship lead over George. Lucas Costanzo came home in position four with Gustav Egdal rounding out your top five.
KA3 Senior Medium was a two kart battle most of the weekend between current Victorian State Champion Taine Venables and Braden Clark. The state champion was able to put his kart on pole position and taking the opening three heat wins with Clark not far behind. The final changed complexion when Clark was able to take the lead into the opening turn. The two traded fastest laps and the margin changed throughout the race. Clark was able to hold on and open the margin in the final laps to take a surprise victory over Venables. Todd Chambers won the battle for the minors coming home in the final podium spot in third.
KA3 Junior was a tight battle all weekend between Amos Orr and Aiva Anagnostiadis and they didn’t disappoint spectators. Orr was able to take pole position by a small two hundredths of a second from Anagnostiadis. Both drivers took a heat win but Orr took the third, putting him off pole position for the final. Orr led away with Aiva dropping back to position three. Anagnostiadis put in an all mighty effort to chase down Orr’s gap, he had to make it a breath taking final lap. Orr who showed great speed and consistency all weekend was able to hang on and taking the opening round and the championship lead of the series. Anagnostiadis settled for second only two tenths behind with Aydin Karadagli winning the battle for the minors and coming home in position three.
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Victorian Combined Masters was a tight battle all weekend with any of former state champion Phil Smith, Clayton Groves and Australasian champion Mark Appleby. All three drivers managed to either win a heat or finish in front of the other making for an exciting final. Smith and Groves were able to break away in the final and the battle was down to two. Groves threw everything he had at Smith, getting extremely close through the infield and turn one. Smith was able to hold his nerve and take victory over Groves. Herman Van Ree was able to move up in the final and take the third spot on the podium.
Clayton Groves was able to go one step further in TAG Restricted Medium and take the round win! Victorian State Cup winner Jackson Rice took pole position and the opening heat win over Groves on Saturday. Groves was able to fight back on Sunday morning and take heat two with Rice taking the third heat setting up for fascinating final. Groves jumped off the start in the final and never looked back leading every lap and taking the round win by over two seconds. Rice was able to come home in second position overall with Harrison Dengate making his way up onto the podium in position three.
Cadet 9 was another class of full on racing with multiple drivers in with a chance of winning. Jackson Brasher was able to take the all important pole position over Jensen Damaschino and Archie Bristow rounding out your top three. Damaschino was able to take both heat wins on Saturday in close battles with Brasher and Bristow. Damaschino took another hard fought victory in heat three with a close battle ready for the final. With the top three close together in the early stages it was building to a grand stand finish. Damschino was able to come home in position one taking the clean sweep for the weekend. Archie Bristow pushed him all the way to the line in second. Brasher came home in position three with Jeremy Kay pushing him home in the final. Tate Waddington came home in fifth position rounding out your top five.
KA4 Junior Light was biggest field of the weekend having to be split into four different divisions for their racing. Samuel March landed the first blow taking pole position over William Thompson and multiple time state champion and new junior racer James Anagnostiadis. Joanne Ciconte showed the cleanest set of heels through the split races taking all three of her race wins putting herself on pole position for the final. Samuel March got the jump in the final moving from third straight to the lead in the opening lap. From there March was a breakaway leader and left his rivals to fight over the minor positions. March took the final and round win by nearly two seconds in a dominate display in the final. Anagnostiadis and Thompson rounded out your top three with Pip Casabene and Cooper Frith rounding out your top five in the final.
TAG 125 Light was nothing short of the Liam Ford show! Ford put on a clinic grabbing pole position and the fastest ever lap around the Goulburn Valley Kart club circuit. Ford then didn’t look back winning all four races and gaining maximum points leaving Troy Alger, Matthew Domanchenz, Will Harper and Jamie Rowe. Domanchenz was able to cross the line in second place overall with Will Harper just over a tenth behind in position three rounding out your podium.
TAG 125 Heavy had Thomas Hughes and Nikola Schmidt trading blows all weekend for the victory in the class. Hughes took pole position but Schmidt was able to take the upper hand winning both heat one and two. Hughes fought back to take heat three but had a battle on his hands in the final. Schmidt led majority of the final with Hughes making the race winning and round winning move with three laps to go putting himself on the top step of the podium. Schmidt had to settle for second spot while Liam Pollard came home in consistent third position.
TaG Restricted Heavy was without a doubt the most action pack final of the day with multiple drivers having a chance of winning. Brett Jenkin took the all important pole position. Local driver Brent Opie was able to take the opening heat with Jenkins fighting back in heat two and three. The final was turned on its head when Jenkin and Opie came together and were both out of contention for the race win. Joe Brancati took over the lead with Darren Beattie hot on his heels. In a crazy finish Brancati also struck trouble and Ryan Van Ree was able to emerge from the last few laps in front and with the round win! Darren Beattie came home with second place overall with Peter Sloan moving up to third in the final few laps. Jenkins, after going to near last, recovered through the field to come home in a sensational fourth spot.
The Golden Power Series will restart at the second round of the series at the Bendigo Kart Club at the start of April.
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