Portland’s VCS

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

The DPE Kart Superstore Victorian Country Series has ventured seaside for the first time in 2026, with Round 3 hosted by the Portland District Karting Club over the weekend.

Changing conditions greeted the 227 drivers who took part in proceedings, with rain prominent on Saturday, before sunshine on Sunday.

As always, the 750m Yarraman Park Circuit was immaculately presented, with many year-on-year improvements evident.

The meeting ran smoothly with no red flags or major delays.

• full results on Speedhive HERE
• scroll to the bottom for photo gallery
• more images on BPM Photography Facebook – Friday HERE, Saturday HERE, Sunday HERE

Read below for the AHR Media rundown:

KA3 JUNIOR HEAVY (22 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Jai George 37.897
Heat 1 Winner: Ethan Majdis
Heat 2 Winner: Oliver Stania
Heat 3 Winner: Jai George

The Final of KA3 Junior Heavy was perfectly placed, as the top 3 contenders all tasted heat race success. Jai George and Oliver Stania occupied the front row, occupying those positions for the first half of the 16 lap journey. Stania eventually started to apply the blowtorch to George, eventually making his move on lap 11. George tried to hold on, but Stania’s pace was hard to match. Stania streaming to a breakthrough VCS round win, after threatening in 2026. George’s run of round wins came to an end, but he banked critical points towards the championship points. Majdis was impressive through the weekend, but was unable to challenge in the final, settling for third place. Levi Lord and Carter Hartley both gave good accounts of themselves in fourth and fifth.

1^st Oliver Stania (GKCV)
2^nd Jai George (GKCV)
3^rd Ethan Majdis (OAK)

CADET 12 (27 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Marcus Vidojevic 40.191
Heat 1 Winner: Jarvis Hindle
Heat 2 Winner: Jarvis Hindle
Heat 3 Winner: Jarvis Hindle

Hamilton Winner Jarvis Hindle and the returning Zac Ismaili shared the front row of the Cadet 12 Final. Hindle was away smartly as Cobden winner Raf Busuttil slotted into second. As the laps wound down Busuttil was glued to the rear bar of Hindle, and executed his move on lap 15. The final laps were intense, Busuttil managing to hold on by 0.083 of a second in a classic with second placed Hindle. Ismaili showed off his improvement since his last run in VCS, finishing a classy third place. The fastest qualifier, Marcus Vidojevic finished fourth, ahead of Jonathon Testa in fifth.

1^st Raf Busuttil (ELKC)
2^nd Jarvis Hindle (ELKC)
3^rd Zac Ismaili (GKCV)

TAG HEAVY (14 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Adam King 36.513
Heat 1 Winner: Scott King
Heat 2 Winner: Scott King
Heat 3 Winner: Scott King

Portland brothers Scott and Adam King led the field to the flag for the start of the final on their home circuit. Scott got the jump, and paced the field for the early laps, Adam in hot pursuit. Also chasing hard was the Hamilton winner Paul Pittam, who had set himself back in the heats. Both King brothers were forced to respond as Pittam was closing, Scott proving upto the challenge, taking his first round win of the year. Adam held on to make it a King 1-2, ahead of Pittam who had to settle for third on this occasion. Ben Mouritz and Max Lumsden didn’t quite have the front running pace we are used to seeing, but maximised their efforts with fourth and fifth.

1^st Scott King (PORT)
2^nd Adam King (PORT)
3^rd Paul Pittam (SGKC)

KA3 SENIOR MEDIUM (4 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Ryan Dealy 38.080 
Heat 1 Winner: Seth Burton
Heat 2 Winner: Matthew Nietz
Heat 3 Winner: Matthew Nietz

Unfortunately it was small numbers again in KA3 Senior Medium. Whilst the numbers were low, there was great depth in the field. In the final, each of the four drivers held the fastest lap at some point. When the heat was on, Warrnambool’s Seth Burton rose to the challenge, taking the win. Ryan Dealy clawed his way up to second, whilst Matthew Nietz claimed third place. Brocklan Parker was the unlucky driver to miss the podium in fourth, with the fastest lap of the final.

1^st Seth Burton (WBOOL)
2^nd Ryan Dealy (GVKC)
3^rd Matthew Nietz (GKCSA)

TAG RESTRICTED HEAVY (7 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Jett Rendell 38.447
Heat 1 Winner: Jett Rendell
Heat 2 Winner: Jett Rendell
Heat 3 Winner: Jett Rendell

Jett Rendell got rolling at Portland, and proved too good for the rest of the field to take a clean sweep, and his first round win of 2026. Tasmanian Daniel Hinds was a great addition to the field, operating towards the front of the field on his way to second. State Cup Champ Trent Meadows never reached his usual pace, clinching third and another solid points haul. Mick Angwin and Michael Ratkowski finished off the top five.

1^st Jett Rendell (BALL)
2^nd Daniel Hinds (CHKC)
3^rd Trent Meadows (ELKC)

KA3 SENIOR LIGHT (29 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Zach Findlay 36.741
Heat 1 Winner: Zach Findlay
Heat 2 Winner: Zach Findlay
Heat 3 Winner: Zach Findlay

Zach Findlay proved again why he is considered one of the best drivers in Victorian Karting, as he put together another polished performance in KA3 Senior Light. Findlay was unchallenged as he went about his business, winning to keep his perfect 2026 record intact. Young guns Ryder Dahler and Levi Jones went on a tear in the final, moving forward to establish themselves on the podium in second and third. Ethan Warren and Max Johnston were in the mix and finished fourth and fifth.

1^st Zach Findlay (GKCV)
2^nd Ryder Dahler (GKCV)
3^rd Levi Jones (MGKC)

CADET 9 (15 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Hayden Sharp 41.485
Heat 1 Winner: Jordan Butters
Heat 2 Winner: Jordan Butters
Heat 3 Winner: Jordan Butters

Jordan Butters and Jett Gobourne have raced eachother hard in Cadet 9 in 2026, and having the pair line up on the front row of the final set the scene. Gobourne got the better of the start, with Leo Waters getting ahead of Butters. By lap 5, Butters had cleared Waters and set off after Gobourne. As the laps wound down, the task got harder and harder, until Gobourne sealed victory, his second of 2026. Butters was a spirited second, ahead of James Henman, who remarkably finished third for the third consecutive round. Newcomers Leo Waters and Hugo Ismaili were impressive on their way to fourth and fifth.

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

TAG RESTRICTED LIGHT (30 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Shane Moreland 36.972
Heat 1 Winner: Gerry Westerveld
Heat 2 Winner: Gerry Westerveld
Heat 3 Winner: Gerry Westerveld

Gerry Westerveld was very polished in the heat races, and looked hard to beat as he lined up alongside Ryan Dealy for the final. Shane Moreland moved into second immediately after the start and shadowed Westerveld throughout. At the end of the 16 laps it came down to a drag race to the line, with Westerveld getting the win, by the tiny margin of 0.038 over a gallant Moreland. Defending series champ Dealy grabbed his first podium of 2026 in third. Ben Kilsby and Madi Bickerton both had tough weekends, but made good when it counted to finish fourth and fifth.

1^st Gerry Westerveld (ROCH)
2^nd Shane Moreland (MGKC)
3^rd Ryan Dealy (GVKV)

TAG LIGHT (21 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Zach Findlay 35.903
Heat 1 Winner: Zach Findlay
Heat 2 Winner: Jordi Belton
Heat 3 Winner: Zach Findlay

Not for the first time on Sunday, Zach Findlay proved too good for his competitors, taking a comfortable 2.8 second victory in the final of Tag Light. Jordi Belton had his best weekend of the season to outrun some big guns on his way to second place. Max Marriner was thereabouts throughout and held on to third despite immense pressure late in the race. SA guns Jacob Dowson and Dom Mercuri rounded the top five.

1^st Zach Findlay (GKCV)
2^nd Jordi Belton (SHKC)
3^rd Max Marriner (BALL)

VIC COMBINED MASTERS (13 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Mark Heemskerk 47.339
Heat 1 Winner: Ash Mitchell
Heat 2 Winner: Remo Luciani
Heat 3 Winner: Remo Luciani

Remo Luciani is undefeated in Finals in the 2026 VCS, and he wasn’t about to let that record slip. Luciani reigning supreme once again as he executed a perfect 5.5 second victory. Polesitter Mark Heemskerk got rolling in the final, his charge leading him up to a fine second place. Ash Mitchell was a stunning first heat winner in changing conditions, however faded in the final, settling for third position. Alan Roberts and Andrew Chapman mixed it up with the regulars to finish fourth and fifth.

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

KA3 JUNIOR LIGHT (24 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Aiden Spector 40.476
Heat 1 Winner: Aiden Spector
Heat 2 Winner: Archie Bristow
Heat 3 Winner: Archie Bristow

Archie Bristow and Michael White, both the round winners of 2026, shared the front row of Junior Light. Bristow taking command early, White in tow. Fastest Qualifier Aiden Spector moved into second on the fourth lap, and then took the lead on lap 6. White went with Spector and the two battled it out for the lead. Positions changed several times before Spector closed the deal. Avenging the heartbreak of Cobden, Spector went on to take his breakthrough first VCS win. White settled for second on this occasion, ahead of Noah Johnstone, who finished third for the second consecutive round. Bristow and Cooper Johnstone rounded out the top five.

1^st Aiden Spector (OAK)
2^nd Michael White (OAK)
3^rd Noah Johnstone (WBOOL)

TAG RESTRICTED MEDIUM (21 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Jeremy Kiensrod 41.174
Heat 1 Winner: Billy Westerveld
Heat 2 Winner: Billy Westerveld
Heat 3 Winner: Billy Westerveld

Westerveld was untouchable in the heats, and lined up alongside the fastest qualifier Jeremy Kiensrod for the start of the final. Disaster for Kiensrod as he plummeted down the order on the opening lap, as Westerveld and Phil Smith set the tone for the race. Smith was as close as he had been all weekend and applied the pressure to Westerveld for the full 16 laps. But Westerveld was unflappable, and went on to claim victory, his first of 2026. Smith was a strong second after challenging in the one that counted, finishing ahead of Trent Meadows in third. Andrew Sotiropoulos and Jamo Park rounded the top five in the final race of the weekend.

1^st Billy Westerveld (GVKC)
2^nd Phil Smith (GKCV)
3^rd Trent Meadows (ELKC)

VCS Competition resumes at Wimmera Kart Racing Clubs Dooen circuit on August 15/16

THOMAS7 MOTORSPORT ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD WINNERS:

• CADET 9: Hugo Ismaili
• CADET 12: Jax Wortley
• KA3 JUNIOR LIGHT: Cas Thomas
• KA3 JUNIOR HEAVY: Henry McPhail
• SENIOR ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD: Anthony Masullo (TAG R LIGHT)

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