12 Months is a long time in karting, just ask Cadet 12 driver Jack Jenkins.
Jenkins ran in the super competitive Cadet 12 class over the weekend at the opening round of the Victorian Golden Power Series out of the Goulburn Valley Kart Club. Last year in wet and miserable conditions, Jenkins had a horror show of a weekend barely finishing a race. Come forward 12 months and Jack was one of the main chances in the series.
Qualifying came around and in a field of nearly twenty drivers, Jack was looking to get as far up the grid as possible. The Pulse Tuning stable driver was immediately into the top ten and then into the top five battling for pole position. Jenkins did get as high as second at one point setting super competitive lap times and being one of the main chances. Jenkins set a time only six hundredths of a second off pole position landing in third spot on the grid for the opening heats.
Jenkins was on the inside of the second row and was looking to make the most of it. Jack jumped straight into position two right behind race leader Jai George. Second spot qualifier Riley Harrison jumped back up into second spot pushing Jenkins back to third on the back of the lead three. Harrison made a move on George for the lead on lap seven with Jenkins following him through into position two. In a close finish Jack was able to cross the line in second spot only three tenths behind Harrison.
Sunday morning was upon the team and Jenkins was looking to continue his strong start to the weekend. The Pulse Tuning driver didn’t quite get the start he was after, dropping back to position four by the end of the opening lap. Jack stayed there for the opening few laps before making the move for third on Lucas Costanzo on lap four. Jai George was the next target on the young drivers charge and that move came on the penultimate lap of the race. Jenkins was able to cross the line in another strong second position.
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Jenkins was now off the front row of the grid to start heat three and settled into position two right behind Harrison. Jack wasn’t quite able to go with Harrison in the first half of the race and was putting his head down to try and respond to his pace. The Pulse Tuning supported entry got the rub of the green in the back end of the race closing in on Harrison as he struggled to get through some back marker traffic. In a tight and exciting finish Jenkins got within six hundredths of a second at the line to come home in second position.
Jenkins and the Pulse Tuning team made some changes and now looked to give it their all in the fifteen lap final. Jenkins got a great start and jumped into position two right on the back of Harrison. The Pulse Tuning backed driver was right on the back of the race leader and it was building to a grandstand finish. With three laps to go Jenkins made a move for the lead. In a calculated final few laps and great defensive driving, Jenkins was able to win the final and take out the round win!
Jack’s parents spoke post-race on how proud they were of their young driver. “Jack did everything we asked of him this weekend and more. He was determined and put in a very smart drive to take the final. We are really proud of how far he has come in karting and winning round 1 of GPS (and an open meet for the first time) is a great start to the series”.
Jack also spoke of an intense weekend of racing. “It was really clean racing between everyone this weekend and a good fight to see who won. Luckily I came out on top”.
Jenkins will be without doubt one of the drivers to watch in 2022.
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