Warrnambool’s VCS – KartSportNews

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

The DPE Kart Superstore Victorian Country Series has gone seaside for the final time in 2026, with Round 5 being hosted by the Warrnambool Kart Club over the weekend.

Mostly sunny conditions greeted the 200 competitors across the weekend at the picturesque Lake Gillear circuit.

The small Warrnambool club had worked tirelessly on the track and surrounds to have it ready for racing, and their efforts were rewarded with a relatively smooth weekend.

There was just the one red flag for the weekend, with a big roll over for Alan Roberts in the Masters Class. On behalf of the VCS paddock, we wish Alan a speedy recovery.

As always, there was some dominant performances, some stories of triumph and just as many of heartbreak. That’s Karting, and that’s why we keep coming back!

full results on Speedhive HERE
more photos by BPM Photography – Friday HERE, Saturday HERE, Sunday HERE

Read below for the AHR Media rundown:

TAG LIGHT (13 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Noah Enright 32.541
Heat 1 Winner: Zach Findlay
Heat 2 Winner: Zach Findlay
Heat 3 Winner: Zach Findlay

The two fastest drivers of the weekend, and also the only round winners in 2026, Zach Findlay and Noah Enright lined up on the front row for the 16 lap final. Findlay was away smartly, Enright giving chase. But Findlay would again reign supreme, taking victory by 6 tenths of a second. Enright added the second place trophy to his pole, giving a good account of his abilities. Mitch Burgemeister had a break out weekend, hitting his straps to take his first Tag Light podium in third. Max Marriner and Ari Seidel rounded out the top five,

1^st Zach Findlay (GKCV)
2^nd Noah Enright (SGKC)
3^rd Mitch Burgemeister (SGKC)

VICTORIAN COMBINED MASTERS (14 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Remo Luciani 34.001
Heat 1 Winner: Remo Luciani
Heat 2 Winner: Remo Luciani
Heat 3 Winner: Remo Luciani

The Master from Horsham, Remo Luciani was joined on the front row of the final by new addition to the class, Beau Humphrey. The pair would meet their demise at turn one, throwing the form guide out the window for the final. It was SA’s Mark Heemskerk answering the call as he assumed the lead. Ash Mitchell also sensed an opportunity and shadowed Heemskerk. But the the South Aussie prevailed, Heemskerk clinching a breakthrough win. Mitchell continued his perfect run of podiums in 2026, finishing second. Leon Forrest wound back the clock to claim a long awaited trophy in third place, using some luck and genuine speed to get the job done. Ben Walter was a handy addition in fourth, with Luciani salvaging fifth with some blistering laps.

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

KA3 JUNIOR LIGHT (24 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Archie Bristow 33.668
Heat 1 Winner: Archie Bristow
Heat 2 Winner: Archie Bristow
Heat 3 Winner: Archie Bristow

The in form Archie Bristow and Luca Portaro led the Junior Light field to the start, with Bristow getting the jump. As the race wore on Portaro assumed the lead, crossing the line first, but was disqualified post race for a technical infringement. This promoted Bristow to his third round win of 2026 after a strong weekend of driving. Home town hero Noah Johnstone snagged his third podium of the season by claiming second place, ahead of the always threatening Michael White in third. Cooper Johnstone remarkably bounced back to fourth after a series of setbacks, ahead of Emmanuel Mistriotis in fifth.

1^st Archie Bristow (BALL)
2^nd Noah Johnstone (WBOOL)
3^rd Michael White (OAK)

TAG RESTRICTED MEDIUM (17 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Billy Westerveld 34.116
Heat 1 Winner: Billy Westerveld
Heat 2 Winner: Billy Westerveld
Heat 3 Winner: Billy Westerveld

All the title protagonists were at the front for the final of Restricted Medium, with Billy Westerveld and Robbie Turmine leading them away. Turmine pressed hard on Westerveld, both looking for a second round win in 2026, but the race would go the way of Westerveld. Westerveld completing the clean sweep, a perfect weekend of speed and consistency. Turmine banked some serious points for second, ahead of another of the home track racers, Jeremy Kiensrod in third. Jamo Park and Jamie Meadows were the best of the rest in fourth and fifth.

1^st Billy Westerveld (GVKC)
2^nd Robbie Turmine (WIMM)
3^rd Jeremy Kiensrod (WBOOL)

CADET 12 (26 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Jonathan Testa 36.004
Heat 1 Winner: Michael Ziakas
Heat 2 Winner: Jarvis Hindle
Heat 3 Winner: Jarvis Hindle

Jarvis Hindle and Jonathan Testa occupied the front row of the final after some intense racing in the heats. There would be more to come in the final. Michael Ziakas slotted in behind Hindle in the early stages, Testa shuffled back down the order. However Testa staged a big comeback, rising through the field until he challenged Hindle late in the race. Testa took the lead on lap 14, and led until the final turn of the penultimate lap as a big braking duel saw Hindle prevail and Testa run wide on the grass, only to spin on the exit. Hindle kept his composure to claim the win, his third of 2026. Ziakas was right on Hindle’s tail as they crossed the line, capping his rapid improvement with second place, his first VCS podium! Zac Duynhoven returned after a big crash at Hamilton, rewarded with third place on return. Levi See and Rafael Gil were also top five finishers.

1^st Jarvis Hindle (ELKC)
2^nd Michael Ziakas (OAK)
3^rd Zac Duynhoven (SWKC)

KA3 JUNIOR HEAVY (22 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Jai George 34.176
Heat 1 Winner: Jai George
Heat 2 Winner: Jai George
Heat 3 Winner: Jai George

Jai George came into Warrnambool in excellent form, and lined up on the front row of the final alongside Jake Ristell. George wasn’t hanging around though, hammer down from start to finish to win by over 8 seconds! Jai’s fourth round win of 2026. Oscar Corless continued his recent strong form after being shuffled back in the early laps, ascending back to second place at the line. Ristell completed a return to the front of the field be nailing down third place. Jimmy Swatton and Lucas Rickard were deserving top five finishers.

1^st Jai George (GKCV)
2^nd Oscar Corless (ELKC)
3^rd Jake Ristell (ELKC)

TAG HEAVY (12 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Adam King 33.112
Heat 1 Winner: Adam King
Heat 2 Winner: Max Lumsden
Heat 3 Winner: Adam King

Taking his third consecutive pole position, Adam King meant business in Warrnambool. Starting from the front row alongside Max Lumsden, Adam was not letting the opportunity pass him by. Whilst he hadn’t been able to capitalise on his qualifying at previous rounds, he broke through at Warrnambool, claiming a drought breaking victory. Lumsden was in contention all weekend, finishing a close second in the final result, ahead of Scott King who wasn’t able to get by Lumsden for the family 1-2. Ben Mouritz and Lachlan Sharpe rounded a speedy top five.

1^st Adam King (PORT)
2^nd Max Lumsden (GKCV)
3^rd Scott King (PORT)

KA3 SENIOR MEDIUM (3 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Brocklan Parker 33.938
Heat 1 Winner: Seth Burton
Heat 2 Winner: Brocklan Parker
Heat 3 Winner: Brocklan Parker

A small field of three on KA3 Medium. Whilst the numbers were small, the combatants were evenly matched. Brocklan Parker tried a big last corner move on Seth Burton, which cleared the way for Ryan Dealy to swoop for victory. Parker crossed the line second, but was relegated to third, a small consolation for second placed Burton.

1^st Ryan Dealy (GVKC)
2^nd Seth Burton (WBOOL)
3^rd Brocklan Parker (PORT)

TAG RESTRICTED HEAVY (6 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Trent Meadows 34.791
Heat 1 Winner: Daniel Hinds
Heat 2 Winner: Trent Meadows
Heat 3 Winner: Trent Meadows

After sharing the heat wins, Tasmanian Daniel Hinds and reigning State Cup Champion Trent Meadows shared the front row for the final. Meadows made the better of the start, with Brodie Worner splitting the pair. Meadows wasn’t hanging around, powering through the 16 laps to claim the win, his first since the opening round at Cobden. Worner held down second for the majority of the race, before Hinds pounced with two laps to go to clinch second. Worner looked threatening in the final, but settled for third place. Aaron Jackson and Mick Angwin completed the top five.

1^st Trent Meadows (ELKC)
2^nd Daniel Hinds (TAS)
3^rd Brodie Worner (SHKC)

KA3 SENIOR LIGHT (23 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Zach Findlay 33.420
Heat 1 Winner: Zach Findlay
Heat 2 Winner: Zach Findlay
Heat 3 Winner: Zach Findlay

Zach Findlay has been the dominant force in KA Senior Light in 2026, and Warrnambool was no different. Findlay was joined on the front row by Ryder Dahler on the front row for the finale, Dahler giving Findlay a run for his money. Findlay was made to work for his victory this time, crossing the line to win by under half a second. Dahler was an impressive second place as he continues to excel in the class. SA’s Troy Moreland hit his straps in the final, setting a string of fastest laps on his way to third. Max Johnston and Ethan Warren were right in the mix in fourth and fifth.

1^st Zach Findlay (GKCV)
2^nd Ryder Dahler (GKCV)
3^rd Troy Moreland (MGKC)

CADET 9 (12 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Jett Gobourne 36.992
Heat 1 Winner: Jett Gobourne
Heat 2 Winner: Hayden Sharp
Heat 3 Winner: Jett Gobourne

Cadet 9 was a hotly contested class all weekend, and front row starters Jett Gobourne and Hayden Sharp put on an epic battle during the final. Multiple lead changes and good clean racing set the tone for the final. Lap 11 saw Jordan Butters find his way into the battle to split the front running pair. Not content with that, Butters took over the lead on lap 15, and managed to hold on to win his third round of 2026. Sharp finished off his good work to finish second, pouncing on Gobourne on the final lap for that position. Levi Duynhoven also squeezed by to notch up his first VCS podium in third place. Gobourne was a dejected fourth after an impressive weekend, ahead of Alex Leily in fifth.

1^st Jordan Butters (ELKC)
2^nd Hayden Sharp (SGKC)
3^rd Levi Duynhoven (SWKC)

TAG RESTRICTED LIGHT (28 Entries)

Fastest Qualifier: Brocklan Parker 33.449
Heat 1 Winner: Brocklan Parker
Heat 2 Winner: Brocklan Parker
Heat 3 Winner: Brocklan Parker

The Restricted Light Final was led to the start by resurgent pair Brocklan Parker and Ash Johnston, with Parker getting the upper hand early. Parker had been super fast in the heats, and the final would be more of the same, as he was too good, recording a breakthrough win by 1.4 seconds. Ryan Dealy snuck up to second in the early laps and held onto that position until the chequers. Shane Moreland has often been the class of the field in 2026, but took some time to get going at Warrnambool, hitting his straps in the final to finish third. Ben Kilsby and Josh White completed the top five.

1^st Brocklan Parker (PORT)
2^nd Ryan Dealy (GVKC)
3^rd Shane Moreland (MGKC)