Benjamin Classon made his first trip to the Go Kart Club of Victoria over the weekend for the 36th running of the Panduit City of Melbourne Kart Titles. Classon racing in the KA4 Junior Heavy class has had a stellar season to date, coming away with open meeting round wins and podiums across the Victorian Golden Power Series. In one of his biggest meetings to date, Ben was ready to try and put his best foot forward!
Classon hit the track for qualifying and was immediately in the top group of drivers and looking for pole position. The Kosmic kart was working well and Ben was able to make his way into the top 5 as the session went on. Classon set his fastest lap of the session and this put him up onto the front row of the grid in positon 2. Ben was now looking to the opening heats where he was determined to race at the front and chase victory.
Ben was off the front row for the opening heat and got a great start settling into position 2. Classon stalked the back of race leader Denzil Sargent and was trying to go for the race lead. As the laps wound down Ben was on the back of the leader but didn’t quite have enough to make the move for the lead and crossed the line in position 2. A post-race infringement unfortunately dropped him down to position 4 overall.
Position 2 and the front row was once again the starting spot for young Ben and he was once again able to nail the start. Classon was in a familiar position on the back of the race leader Sargent trying to apply the pressure and make his way into the lead. Ben set the fastest lap of the race and crossed the line in position 2 for another strong result. Ben was now out of position 4 on Sunday for heat 3.
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The second row of the grid was the starting spot for Classon and he was looking to move his way back into the top 2. Ben’s weekend took a turn for the worse, unfortunately being ran off at the open corner and then having to retire on lap 2 of the race.
It was an all or nothing approach for Classon going into the 17 lap final starting of the rear of the grid. Ben had a breath taking start, moving into the top 10 by lap 2 and then into the 5 by lap 6. Ben was then able to move into fourth spot where he chased after the 3 drivers down the road. In a remarkable fightback, Classon was able to cross the line just off the podium in position 4 making up around 15 spots across the race!
Ben’s father Paul spoke post weekend on Ben’s weekend of racing. “I’m super proud of him this weekend. He had great pace at a track we’ve never been to before. Heat 3 was a disaster and such a shame but his fightback in the final was terrific and I’m very proud of his composure and determination”.
Classon will be back in the rest of 2022 to try and grab more strong results.
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