Aiden Schweikert and his dad Justin made the flight up to the sunshine state for the fourth round of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship at the brilliant Emerald Kart Club facility.
Schweikert running for the first time under the Melbourne Kart Centre banner was looking to improve his results and learn valuable knowledge in his continual karting progress. Aiden running in the oversubscribed Cadet 12 was ready to go racing! Schweikert had his qualifying session on Friday afternoon after using the day for practice of the circuit. The Link Airways backed entry out in the lower 50% of the field and was quickly into the top ten drivers. Aiden put his head down and drove the wheels off his Lando Norris kart trying to get every inch out of his package. Schweikert was able to set the sixth fastest time and this put him in position twenty four overall in the combined field.
Aiden had his first heat race on Saturday morning in the split class and was looking to make spots and gain pace in his kart. The G & L Motor Repairs and Performance backed entry got an excellent start, moving into ninth spot and inside the top ten. The racing was hard and fast with Aiden swapping positions on the edge of the top ten while trying to move forward. Schweikert put in a great start to his weekend coming home in position twelve!
Heat two was again on Saturday afternoon and Aiden was optimistic of moving his way forward. The Haley Hire backed entry settled into thirteenth position at the end of the opening lap and had his eyes forward. Schweikert was able to make his way into the top ten with excellent speed by mid race but was unfortunately shuffled back outside the top fifteen on lap seven. Aiden was able to make a move for position fourteen in the second half of the race to conclude his second heat.
Saturday concluded with the third heat for Schweikert who was looking for another consistent heat result. The Jeremy Cross Physiotherapy backed entry got a brilliant start moving into ninth position and the top ten. Aiden as like most of the weekend got battered from pillar to post resulting in him dropping out of the ten. Schweikert was still able to battle inside the top fifteen and came home with another consistent fourteenth position overall.
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The fourth and final heat was on Sunday morning and Aiden was excited for the final day of racing. The Melbourne Kart Centre entry unfortunately had a start to forgot, dropping down to position fifteen before being put to the rear of the field on lap three. Schweikert put his head down and didn’t give up, making up spots and getting back inside the top twenty. Aiden was able to cross the line in position eighteen putting him out of position thirty one for the final.
With thirty karts ahead of Aiden at the start of the final, the young driver was looking to make his way forward in the field. The Link Airways entry was able to move up three spots on the opening lap and was pushing towards the top twenty five. Schweikert made his way up into the top twenty before once again being bashed and shuffled back outside the top twenty five. Aiden was able to regroup to come home in position twenty six overall in Cadet 12.
Aiden’s father Justin spoke of his son’s rough weekend at the top level. “Everybody told me how tough Nationals were, but it’s not until you’re being slapped around that you truly understand how tough. I’m very proud of Aiden for maintaining such a positive attitude”.
The Schweikert family will be looking to bounce back in the remainder of 2022.
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