by Superkart Club of NSW
Round 4 of the 2026 NSW MSA Superkart Championship delivered one of the most competitive and unpredictable race days of the season, with changing fortunes across all four races and a qualifying session that set the tone for a tightly contested weekend. The Shelley Circuit at One Raceway rewarded precision and punished mistakes, and across the grid nearly every driver had a storyline worth following.
- full results are on Natsoft
Qualifying
James Boden opened the weekend with authority, topping qualifying with a 1:02.660, the only driver to dip comfortably into the 1:02s. Samuel Miettunen was close behind, just 2.6 seconds adrift, while Duvashen Padayachee and Mark Vickers locked in competitive times to form a strong second row.
Further down, the midfield was tightly packed: Stillwell, Dos Santos, Ross, Robertson, and McGrouther were separated by small margins, hinting at the battles to come. Qualifying also produced early drama, with Thomas Roe, Robert Trimmer, Robert King, and Vince Arena all encountering issues that limited their running.
Race 1
Race 1 saw Miettunen convert his frontrow start into a composed victory, holding off Boden in a race-long duel. Boden set the fastest lap with a 1:02.381, but Miettunen’s consistency proved decisive. Behind them, Joaquim Dos Santos delivered a strong third place, settling into rhythm early and managing the gap to Patrick Ross and Mark Vickers.
Ross showed excellent pace — his 1:05.885 was quicker than several ahead — while Vickers remained steady as ever. The midfield saw plenty of movement. Stuart Robertson and Lincoln Appledore traded positions throughout, Roe climbed well, and Lewington, Fyfe, Dodge, Tyler, and King all found themselves in tight packs. Brandon Stillwell was on for a topfive finish before a late DNF halted his charge, while McGrouther and Padayachee also failed to finish.
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Race 2
Race 2 flipped the script. Boden controlled the race from the front, taking victory with a measured drive and again showing toptier pace. Miettunen stayed close, setting the fastest lap of the race with a 1:02.095, but couldn’t find a way past.
The standout was Laurence Fooks, who slotted into third with a composed run in the Raider. His pace — consistently in the low 1:02s — immediately marked him as a threat for the remainder of the day. Dos Santos, Vickers, Ross, Stillwell, and Robertson formed a competitive midpack, each running cleanly and maintaining strong lap times. Roe continued his upward trend, while McGrouther and Appledore finished nose to tail. Lewington, Fyfe, Tyler, Dodge, King, and Tinsley all completed solid races, though several struggled to match the pace of the front half of the field. Padayachee and Stamiri both encountered issues, with Padayachee retiring after four laps.
Race 3
Race 3 belonged to Laurence Fooks. After showing promise earlier, he delivered a commanding performance, winning by nearly a second over Boden and setting the fastest lap with a 1:02.216. His pace was relentless, and he handled pressure from Boden well. Vickers and Ross continued their weekend-long battle, finishing third and fourth respectively, separated by less than a second. Padayachee rebounded strongly with fifth, showing the speed that had been missing earlier. Dos Santos, Gardner, Robertson, Appledore, and Stillwell filled out the top ten, each running consistent laps. Gardner in particular impressed, climbing steadily and showing improved pace. Lewington, Dodge, Fyfe, Tyler, Tinsley, and King all completed the race, though several found themselves caught in traffic or struggling for grip. McGrouther retired after five laps, while Miettunen suffered a DNF after only two laps.
Race 4
The final race of the day saw Fooks once again rise to the top, claiming his second win of the weekend with another polished drive. His pace remained unmatched, and he controlled the race from the front. Miettunen bounced back from his Race 3 retirement with a strong second place, though he couldn’t quite match Fooks’ speed.
Gardner delivered his best performance of the weekend with third, showing excellent pace and racecraft. Boden finished fourth, unable to challenge for the win but still finished strong. Ross and Vickers continued their consistent form, finishing fifth and sixth, while Dos Santos secured seventh after a steady run. Roe, Robertson, Appledore, McGrouther, and Stillwell filled out the midfield, each involved in close battles throughout. Lewington, Dodge, Tyler, Fyfe, Tinsley, and King completed the running, with Padayachee retiring early.
Across four races, Boden and Miettunen remain the benchmark, but Fooks’ emergence adds a new dynamic to the front of the field. Ross and Vickers continue to be reliable top five contenders, while Dos Santos, Gardner, Robertson, Stillwell, and Appledore all showed flashes of strong pace.
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