Energy Corse Australia had one of the biggest presences of the season over the weekend at the Queensland Kart Championship! A team of 14 drivers across 6 classes made the drive to the Townsville Kart Club, to try and add a state championship to their resume.
The Energy Corse Australia team, led by multiple time national champion Cian Fothergill, were looking to add to their trophy ranks for 2023! Cadet 12 had a triple driver attack in SP Tools Australian Kart Championship leader Lana Flack and previous podium place getters Jack Larsen and Caylen Burke. In a tough 32 kart field, Larsen was able to set the field alight and grab pole position for the opening heats! The Energy charged continued with Burke and Flack locking out the 2nd row in position 3 and 4 respectively.
Flack was able to gain dominance in the heat races, taking out all 4 race wins and putting herself off pole position for the championship decider. Larsen and Burke were also right in contention with Larsen coming home with a 2nd in heat 1 and 4th in heat 4 and Burke in position 3 for heat 2 & 4. Flack was able to continue her dominate 2023 season by taking victory and adding the 2023 Queensland State Championship to her ever-growing resume. Burke was able to continue the strong charge jumping on the podium in 3rd spot, while Larsen had to unfortunately settle for position 13 overall after a first lap incident.
Hamish Fitzsimmons was the lone Energy Corse ranger in the ultra-competitive TAG 125 Light field. Fitzsimmons was behind the eight ball before the racing weekend started due to a cancelled flight lose his full day of practice Friday. Hamish in his first look at the circuit qualified in position 20 and was looking to make his way forward. Fitzsimmons charged forward with a 12th in heat 1, 11th in heat 3 and on the edge of the top 5 in 6th in heat 4. Hamish was able to put in a sensational drive in the final and charge onto the podium in position 3 overall!
A massive 5 driver presence was on track for KA3 Junior Light class in Ky Burke, Annabel Kennedy, Tyson Mcgill, Jake Lydom and Hayden Mcgill. Kennedy led a 3-driver top 10 charge, landing herself on the front row in 2nd with Burke and Mcgill in position 4 and 7 respectively. Lydom and Hayden Mcgill didn’t have the sessions they were after and were looking to move forward after landing in position 25 and 40 respectively. Burke was able to lead the way with 3 heat wins, putting him off pole position for the all-important final. Mcgill was consistently racing inside the top 5, Kennedy consistently inside the top 10 and both Lydom and Hayden Mcgill were able to make their way inside the top 20 across the heats. Burke was able to put in a stellar final and cross the line first, but in heartbreaking circumstances was excluded from the final. Kennedy was the best finisher with an excellent 4th spot while Tyson Mcgill and Hayden Mcgill came home in position 15 and 20 overall, while Lydom unfortunately end his weekend with a DNF.
Marcos Flack was another sole senior driver to recommend the Energy Corse Australia team, this time in KA3 Senior. Flack was the 2nd driver of the weekend to put his Energy Corse entry on pole position. Flack was right in the thick of the front pack in the heats with a 4th in heat 3, 3rd in heat 2, 2nd in heat 1 and a win in the final heat before the final. Marcos was right on the pace and battled hard in the front group in the final. Flack had a tough back end of his race and had a few things go against him which forced him to come home in position 8 overall.
Cadet 9 had a triple Flack attack in Paige, Chelsea and April all taking the starter. All 3 drivers were able to put in a strong qualifying inside the top 10 with Paige in position 6, Chelsea in position 7 and April in position 9. Paige led the Energy Corse charge in the heats with a 3rd in heat 2 and a victory in heat 3 having her right in contention. Chelsea was able to hover on the edge of the top 5 with April also inside the top 10 battling hard. Paige put in a brilliant performance in the final to come home on the podium in 3rd position overall! Both Chelsea and April were fast and consistent to just miss out on the top 5 in position 6 and 7 overall.
Ky Burke was looking for redemption in KA2 after heartbreak in KA3 Junior light and was able to set the 3rd fastest time in qualifying. Burke showed scintillating pace in the heats to come home with 3 2nd places, behind SP Tools Australian Kart Championship leader Max Walton. In what was a tough and tight tussle, both Walton and Burke battled for victory in the final, with Burke just missing the win and coming home in 2nd position overall!
Team owner / manager Cian Fothergill spoke post weekend on a very positive showing from the Energy Corse Australia team. “It was great to finally be back in Townsville. The facilities and the club did an amazing job!
“The team as a whole succeeded across all classes with multiple pole positions, heat race wins and 6 podium finishes. The team have been working hard on and off the track and I am looking forward to keeping this momentum up in 2 weeks for the 4th round of the Australian Kart Championship”.
Fothergill will continue the team’s preparation as they head to the penultimate round of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship at the Ipswich Kart Club.