Archie Bristow took to the final round of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship at Todd Road over the weekend and looked to finish his championship with a bang!
Bristow took the opening round of the championship in South Australia but didn’t quite have the results he was after throughout the championship. Archie was a small but mathematical chance of claiming 3rd in the championship but needed everything to go right across his weekend.
Bristow, after showing dominant pace in practice and Friday, hit the track in the top 50 % of the field for qualifying. The Hains Windscreens backed entry rocketed straight up to the top of the order and was right in contention for the all-important pole position. Archie was able to set a time that put him on pole position but had over 60 drivers trying to knock him off position 1. Bristow was able to stop the clock in position 1 overall, with a tenth of a second up his sleeve which had him off position 1 for his opening heats!
Archie was excited for the opening heat and was looking to continue his hot start to the weekend. Bristow dropped to position 2 off the start but was able to quickly retake the lead. The Bridgeswade supported entry was able to get his head down and open margin while his competitors battled behind him. Archie was able to lead every lap of the race and never look back taking out the opening heat by over 4 seconds!
Heat 2 was upon Bristow and he was looking to continue his perfect start to the weekend. Archie was able to get another clean get away but once again slotted into position 2 off the start. The R & J Batteries sponsored entry settled into position 2 for the opening 3 laps, before making a move on lap 4 to take the lead back. Archie had to get his head down as he had Joseph Bianchini right behind him keeping him honest across the race. Bristow was able to open up a 4 tenth lead by the chequered flag to make it 2 victories in a row.
Bristow was looking to continuing his hot streak and his maximum points weekend in heat 3 on Saturday afternoon. Archie got a clean get away and was able to lead out of the opening lap and start to open up margin on the field. The M J Property Works backed entry was on rails and was able to continue to open the margin on the rest of the drivers in a dominate display. Bristow was able to make it 3 from 3 taking a near 5 second victory in the process!
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Sunday morning was the final heat race and Archie was trying to finish his heat racing on a high and put himself off pole position for the all-important final. The GB Fasteners supported entry got another clean get away in 2nd spot before quickly retaking the lead. Bristow had a bunch of drivers keeping him honest and pushing him in the lead of the race. Archie was once again able to grab victory to make it 4 from 4 races and putting him in the race for 3rd in the championship!
Sunday’s final came upon Archie and his eyes were firmly set on 3rd place in the championship. Bristow was able to get a clean start and settled into position 1 at the end of the opening lap. The MDS Accounting sponsored entry put in another breath-taking performance leading every lap of the final and taking him his 2nd round victory of the season!
Archie’s father Matthew spoke post weekend on a fantastic weekend for his young charger. “What a year it has been running the AKC calendar for our first time. We have had some major highs and lows but to finish on a super whopper high makes it so special. Getting pole on Friday was awesome as that was something we had been working on. Then going on to win all heats and the final is just unreal.
“The biggest surprise still to come when we found out that Archie had secured enough points throughout the weekend to take out 3rd in the championship is just a dream. We cannot thank everyone enough who has played a part in helping and supporting Archie throughout the year. Special mentions to Kris and Shane for taking us in. AB for the rocket motors. Conta, Jakub and Dylan for setup and coaching advise. The Parolin family for making us so welcome and fun times. All of our sponsors, without your support this would not be possible for us to travel to all of the rounds. But the biggest thanks go to his mother who is the one that holds us together, picks up the pieces when it goes wrong, does so much behind the scenes and doesn’t take any of the credit for our achievements, Thankyou we couldn’t do it without you”.
Bristow will be back again in season 2024 looking to go 2 positions better in the championship standings!
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