Cohen Day returned to the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship scene for the final round at Newcastle over the weekend. Day, coming off a career best result of 10th at the previous round of the championship in Emerald, was looking to move his way forward at the final round.
Cohen was once again aboard his Tecno Karts Australia chassis with the team running a pink livery for the Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser. Day was once again up against a high calibre field of drivers and knew qualifying was crucial to his weekend.
Day hit the track for qualifying on Saturday morning and was up against a near full grid of 40 karters and was quickly trying to make his forward. Cohen moved into the top 30 drivers and then was pushing hard on the back of the top 25. Day was still trying to get the best out of his driving and package to push forward up the grid. Cohen stopped the clock in position 25 and was now working on a plan to make his way forward through the field.
Heat 1 and heat 2 were important races for Cohen’s weekend, where he was trying to make up as many positions as possible. Day put in a brilliant start in heat 1 and was able to make up 8 positions across the 12 lap race, to come home in position 17 overall.
Cohen was then able to back up another scintillating drive in heat 2 moving inside the top 20. Day crossed the line in position 19, moving up 6 spots across the race which had him starting out of position 20 for the 3rd heat.
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Heat 3 was the final race on Saturday and Cohen knew he had to make it through turn 1 to continue his charge forward. Day settled into position 21 at the end of the opening lap but immediately started to make up moves and push his way forward. By mid-race Cohen was pushing on the back of the top 15 and trying to make up more positions. Day was able to make up a couple more positions in the second half of the race and crossed the line in position 15.
Sunday morning had arrived and this was the time for Cohen’s final heat of the weekend. Day was able to get an electric start and was quickly into the top 15 and pushing towards the top 10. Cohen burst his way into the top 10 in the middle stages and was continuing to push hard towards the front. Day was able to make his way into position 7 by the finish line in a storming drive through the field. A post-race infringement unfortunately hurt Day’s starting position for the final where he was starting in position 20.
Cohen knew he had strong pace going into the final and he had his eyes forward looking to charge through the field. Day had a breath taking start to the race moving up 5 positions on the opening lap and being in the top 10 by lap 4. Cohen was showing blistering pace and made his way into the top 5 by mid race. In the drive of his career and potentially the weekend, Day crossed the line in a remarkable 4th position!
Cohen’s dad Lincoln spoke post weekend on his young sons charge. “Cohen hasn’t had the luxury of experience only starting his motorsport journey last year as a junior. To follow his top 10 finish at Emerald with a top 5 finish at the hardest track in Australia is just incredible and miles ahead of our expectations. Cohens commitment to his racing while also being so focused on developing the Tecno Kart for future success is amazing. I could not be prouder of him”.
Day will be a driver to watch come the 2023 SP Tools Australian Kart Championship supported by Castrol Edge.
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