VCS Hamilton

words – Andrew Hayes, AHR Media
images – Brad McLaren, BPM Photography

Hamilton’s Buckley Park Raceway has successfully hosted round 2 of the DPE Kart Superstore Victorian Country Series over the weekend.

Around 240 entries took to the undulating 700m circuit, which was prepared beautifully by the small group of Hamilton Karting Club members.

The weather was kind all weekend, with Hamilton’s usual rain not appearing from over Mt Napier.

The racing was fast and close, but was marred by several red flags and subsequent breaks for drivers to access medical attention. We wish all our injured drivers a speedy recovery!

Below is the AHR Media rundown of proceedings. Full results can be found on Speedhive – https://speedhive.mylaps.com/events/3527448

Lots more photos on BPM Facebook – Saturday HERE, Sunday HERE.

TAG HEAVY (16 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Paul Pittam, 30.955
Heat 1 Winner: Paul Pittam
Heat 2 Winner: Paul Pittam
Heat 3 Winner: Paul Pittam

The Reigning Restricted Medium Champ, Paul Pittam, made his mark in his first VCS round since moving back to the unrestricted class. Pittam was the benchmark all weekend and took a comfortable 2 second win in the 16 lap final. Scott King and Ben Mouritz were in combat most of the weekend, with King getting the ascendancy when it mattered in the final, bettering Mouritz in third. Lachlan Sharpe and Max Lumsden finished fourth and fifth.

1^st Paul Pittam (SGKC)
2^nd Scott King (PORT)
3^rd Ben Mouritz (BALL)

KA3 SENIOR MEDIUM (7 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Brocklan Parker, 31.769
Heat 1 Winner: Brocklan Parker
Heat 2 Winner:  Brocklan Parker
Heat 3 Winner: Brocklan Parker

Portland’s Brocklan Parker was in sparkling form as he led the field to the start, taking the lead early in the final, despite pressure from Matthew Nietz and Seth Burton. As the race wore on, the pressure on Parker intensified, until Nietz made his move on lap 15. Nietz consolidated the position to race on to victory, whilst Burton also moved ahead of Parker to finish second. Parker finished third after banking bulk points, ahead of round one combatants Ryan Dealy and Todd Chambers in fourth and fifth.

1^st Matthew Nietz (GKCSA)
2^nd Seth Burton (WBOOL)
3^rd Brocklan Parker (PORT)

TAG RESTRICTED HEAVY (7 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Aaron Jackson, 32.773
Heat 1 Winner: Aaron Jackson
Heat 2 Winner: Aaron Jackson
Heat 3 Winner: Trent Meadows

Aaron Jackson continued his love affair with the Hamilton circuit, making a successful return to VCS for 2026. Jackson came out firing again in the final, smashing the kerbs on his way to a strong victory in Restricted Heavy. Round 1 Winner Trent Meadows found his groove towards the end of the weekend to finish second, ahead of Jett Rendell, who finished third in his first VCS start of 2026. Brodie Worner and Mick Angwin showed glimpses of speed to finish fourth and fifth.

1^st Aaron Jackson (GKCV)
2^nd Trent Meadows (ELKC)
3^rd Jett Rendell (BALL)

KA3 SENIOR LIGHT (27 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Zach Findlay, 31.446
Heat 1 Winner: Zach Findlay
Heat 2 Winner: Zach Findlay
Heat 3 Winner: Zach Findlay

Zach Findlay was taking care of business as always, leading the field away for the start of the final. Whilst the results shows another fine victory for Findlay, it doesn’t show that he was challenged far more intensely than at the opening round at Cobden. Portland’s Ewan Anderson continued his strong start to his senior career, giving Findlay a real run for his money on his way to second. SA’s Levi Jones again proved a contender on his way to third, finishing ahead of Aydan Warren and Max Johnston.

1^st Zach Findlay (GKCV)
2^nd Ewan Anderson (PORT)
3^rd Levi Jones (MGKC)

CADET 9  (15 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Jordan Butters, 34.857
Heat 1 Winner: Jett Gobourne
Heat 2 Winner: Jett Gobourne  
Heat 3 Winner: Jett Gobourne

Jett Gobourne was looking to continue his strong form into the final of Cadet 9, but he had plenty of challengers. Gobourne was relegated to second early in the race by James Henman, but regained the ascendancy late in the race. Enter Jordan Butters. Butters was on a rampage as he caught and passed Gobourne in the dying stages of the race. It all came down to the last corner, first with some rubbing, then a drag race to the line. Gobourne would prevail by half a tenth over Butters. Henman finished off his weekend with a third place finish. Levi Nissan and Hayden Sharp rounded the top five.

1^st Jett Gobourne (ELKC)
2^nd Jordan Butters (ELKC)
3^rd James Henman (ELKC)

TAG RESTRICTED LIGHT (27 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Gerry Westerveld, 31.457
Heat 1 Winner: Shane Moreland
Heat 2 Winner: Shane Moreland
Heat 3 Winner: Shane Moreland

A huge battle loomed in the Restricted Light final, as the undefeated Moreland went head to head with the fastest qualifier Westerveld. Moreland was away nicely and controlled the race, albeit with Westerveld lurking. On lap 10, Westerveld made his move, taking the lead of the race. Despite the best efforts of Moreland, Westerveld would claim the victory. A solid points haul for second placed Moreland, Brocklan Parker, who was best of the rest in third. Tyler Clarke and Josh White home in fourth and fifth.

1^st Gerry Westerveld (ROCH)
2^nd Shane Moreland (MGKC)
3^rd Brocklan Parker (PORT)

TAG LIGHT (23 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Noah Enright. 30.434
Heat 1 Winner: Noah Enright
Heat 2 Winner: Noah Enright
Heat 3 Winner: Noah Enright

SA young gun Noah Enright lined up alongside the round one winner Zach Findlay for the Tag Light final. It looked set to be epic, but less than a lap later Findlay’s race was over. Enright got a nice jump on the field and managed the race all the way to take his first senior VCS win. Fellow SA youngster Dom Mercuri also made a fast start to assume second place, a position he would hold until the chequers. Coming home in third was Max Marriner, who bounced back more than once over the weekend. Trent Ashman and Christian Cowie completed the top five in a fantastic day for the South Aussies.

1^st Noah Enright (SGKC)
2^nd Dom Mercuri (SGKC)
3^rd Max Marriner (BALL)

VICTORIAN COMBINED MASTERS (11 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Remo Luciani, 31.977
Heat 1 Winner: Remo Luciani
Heat 2 Winner: Remo Luciani
Heat 3 Winner: Mark Heemskerk

SA’s Mark Heemskerk led the early laps of the final, as Remo Luciani was made to earn his way back to the front. Eventually Luciani worked his way into the lead of the race, before burning up his opposition. A second consecutive round win the outcome for the Master from Horsham. Heemskerk completed another strong weekend to finish second, ahead of Ash Mitchell in third, who showed some raw speed in his new combination. Andrew Chapman and Matt Crane finished fourth and fifth.

1^st Remo Luciani (WIMM)
2^nd Mark Heemskerk (MGKC)
3^rd Ash Mitchell (MILD)

KA3 JUNIOR LIGHT (28 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Scarlett Pittam, 31.677
Heat 1 Winner: Archie Bristow
Heat 2 Winner: Archie Bristow
Heat 3 Winner: Archie Bristow

Archie Bristow and Cadet 12 graduate Beau Chambers shared the front row, and the top two positions early in the race. The early demise of Michael White and Scarlett Pittam split the field up. Bristow took the opportunity to build a buffer, one he would never relinquish as he streamed to another victory. Beau-in-arrow Chambers was seriously impressive in his Junior VCS debut, clean and fast for second place. Noah Johnstone took home third place, mirroring his twin brother Cooper’s result from Cobden. Abel Dutton had a breakout weekend in fourth, finishing just ahead of Cooper Johnstone.

1^st Archie Bristow (BALL)
2^nd Beau Chambers (PORT)
3^rd Noah Johnstone (WBOOL)

TAG RESTRICTED MEDIUM (24 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Phil Hobbs 31.925
Heat 1 Winner: Phil Hobbs
Heat 2 Winner: Billy Westerveld
Heat 3 Winner: Phil Hobbs

After breaking through to win at Cobden, Phil Hobbs was all business at Hamilton, and led from the front early in the final. Eventually the challenge came from his fellow Wimmera member Robbie Turmine, who eventually took over the lead on lap 13. From there, Turmine controlled proceedings to bank the most impressive win of his career. Billy Westerveld was up front as usual and slipped by Hobbs for second very late in the race. Hobbs would settle for third place after a strong weekend. Ty Hall and Jeremy Kiensrod finished of their weekends in fourth and fifth.

1^st Robbie Turmine (WIMM)
2^nd Billy Westerveld (GVKC)
3^rd Phil Hobbs (WIMM)

KA3 JUNIOR HEAVY (26 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Jai George, 31.970
Heat 1 Winner: Jai George
Heat 2 Winner: Jai George
Heat 3 Winner: Jai George

The reigning KA3 Junior Light Champ Jai George found his groove for the second consecutive round at Hamilton. George headed into the final looking for the clean sweep, and sealed the deal with a stellar victory. Whilst pressure came late from Oliver Stania, the fastest lap on the second last lap ensured George prevailed. Stania was speedy all weekend, and executed well to finish second in the final, ahead of Jake Ristell, who was solid in third. Ethan Majdis and Abel Dutton were also strong in fourth and fifth.

1^st Jai George (GKCV)
2^nd Oliver Stania (GKCV)
3^rd Jake Ristell (OAK)

CADET 12 (27 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Jarvis Hindle, 33.259
Heat 1 Winner: Jarvis Hindle
Heat 2 Winner: Jarvis Hindle
Heat 3 Winner: Daniel Hall

Jarvis Hindle had a point to prove in the final of Cadet 12 after not starting the third heat due to a tyre warming mishap. Hindle tracked down race leaders Daniel Hall and Round One Winner Raf Busuttil to take the lead on lap six. From there Hindle was untouchable, going on to win by 3.6 seconds. Busuttil backed up his opening round form to finish second, ahead of Hall who was amongst it all weekend in third. Jonathon Testa and Marcus Vidojevic rounded out the top five.

1^st Jarvis Hindle (ELKC)
2^nd Raf Busuttil (ELKC)
3^rd Daniel Hall (OAK)

VCS Competition resumes at Portland’s Yarraman Park Circuit on June 20/21 2026.

THOMAS7 MOTORSPORT ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD WINNERS:

• CADET 9: Jude Lawrence
• CADET 12: Leo Gear
• KA3 JUNIOR LIGHT: Jack Zourkas
• KA3 JUNIOR HEAVY: Carter Hartley

THANKS TO 2026 VCS SPONSORS:

• DPE KART SUPERSTORE
• REMO RACING / IAME ENGINES
• LECONT TYRES
• DJM RACE ENGINEERING
• MAXXIS TYRES
• BIRELART SA
• PANTANO KART AUSTRALIA
• RJ & LJ DOWLIN PTY LTD
• KARTBAY
• NATHALIA IGA LIQUOR PLUS
• MILDURA FORKLIFTS
• TD RACING
• BPM PHOTOGRAPHY
• DANKOWSKI MOTORSPORT SERVICES
• KARTING AUSTRALIA
• KFC
• THOMAS 7 MOTORSPORT
• LATERAL PLAINS PTY LTD
• ALLSTAR SUPPLY CO
• AHR MEDIA
• CREATIVE POOLS & SPAS