Queensland’s rising star Hamish Campbell delivered a commanding performance in the premier KA2 Junior class at the 39th City of Melbourne Titles, held August 1–3 at Todd Road, Port Melbourne.
Campbell secured pole position, won all three heats, and claimed the feature Final by 4.5 seconds, completing a rare and emphatic clean sweep at one of Australia’s most prestigious standalone karting events.
Hosted annually by the Go-Kart Club of Victoria, the City of Melbourne Titles is renowned for its unique one-round format, where qualifying sets the grid for the first two heats, with a progressive third heat determining the starting order for the winner-takes-all final. Campbell’s flawless execution across the weekend left no doubt as to who was in control from the outset.
This victory builds on the momentum from his recent breakthrough win at Round 4 of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship in Ipswich, his first AKC victory after five years of competing at the highest level of Australian karting. Riding high on confidence, Campbell arrived at Todd Road with clear intent and delivered in dominant fashion.
“This weekend was everything we set out to achieve and more,” said Hamish. “To come to Melbourne and clean sweep every race against such strong competition, I can’t thank my team, Tony Kart Australia, and my sponsors enough for believing in me. We’re really just starting to find our feet with this package. As a new team, we’re learning fast, and we still have plenty of improvement left in us. With a better understanding of the product, we can extract a kart that gives me everything I need to keep delivering strong results.”
In addition to his clean sweep on track, Hamish raced with extra pride this weekend, carrying a tribute to “Joe,” the iconic sausage dog owned by long-time supporter Ritchie McLeod. Joe has been a fixture at nearly every major domestic race Hamish has entered since his early years in the sport. While Ritchie operates a rival team, his consistent appreciation of Hamish over many seasons reflects the mutual respect within the karting community. It’s a reminder that in motorsport, admiration for talent and character often transcends team lines and this weekend, Hamish’s big result became an emotional tribute to Ritchie, following the loss of Joe earlier in the week, and was a touching reflection of the deep camaraderie and respect that exists within the karting community.
New Crew Addition Drives Hamish’s Momentum to the Next Level
Joining Tony Kart Australia mid-season, Reif Corbett—a proven winner who has finished third at karting world finals twice (France and Brazil), won the Australian Karting Championship twice, and is a 17-time State Champion—has taken on the role of Hamish’s chief mechanic since the IROC event earlier this year, where Hamish secured a double win. Corbett’s racing pedigree has translated into tangible performance gains, particularly in the area of confidence and mindset.
Reif’s pride in being part of the Tony Kart Australia setup—and his deep respect for the brand’s legacy—has inspired Hamish to fully embrace what it means to be factory-supported by one of the world’s most respected karting manufacturers. That synergy, combined with Corbett’s technical insight, has become a key asset in Hamish’s KA2 campaign.
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Since Reif’s arrival, the atmosphere under the tent has been overwhelmingly positive. Hamish now receives the full support—both mechanical and mental—needed to continue transforming raw speed into consistent results.
Campbell’s return to Port Melbourne also underscores his status as the sole remaining challenger in the KA2 championship battle. He remains the only driver capable of denying series leader Liam Carr the title at Round 5 in Coffs Harbour next month.
His schedule shows no signs of slowing. Hamish now heads to Thailand for Round 3 of the Rotax Max Challenge Asia Trophy, contested this weekend at the Bira Kart Circuit, before returning to prepare for the KA2 title decider in September.
HRC Racing extends heartfelt thanks to all sponsors, supporters, and team personnel who continue to back Hamish’s journey. With high momentum and the team hitting its stride, the final stretch of the season promises to be unmissable.
Watch this space.
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