Kristian Janev took place in the third round of the six round Golden Power Series over the weekend. The Pro Karting backed entry was racing on his home track, the Eastern Lions Kart Club and looked to continue his strong start to the championship. A win at the opening round at Rochester and a podium at the second round had Kristian leading the championship and in a positive spot before the weekend.
Janev showed excellent pace in Saturday morning practice but knew he had a large challenge ahead of him. With the next round of the Australian Kart Championship in only six weeks at the same circuit, many interstate drivers had made the trip to compete.
The Janev Building backed driver hit the track for qualifying in a hot paced session. With the likes of Australian Kart Championship front runners Gianmarco Pradel, Luca Belardo and Domenic Kucina to deal with, young Kristian put his head down and put in smooth consistent laps. With all drivers putting their best times in, the Formula K karter set the fourth fastest time, with work to do in the heat races moving forward.
Heat one under dry conditions was where Janev was looking to move forward in his racing. The Pro Karting driver got a superb start, jumping from fourth into the lead by the end of the opening lap. In a hotly contested battle with Pradel, Belardo and Victorian Cadel Ambrose Kristian was under all sorts of pressure. In a race with multiple lead and positional changes the Regency Windows sponsored entry was able to hold on for victory in heat one.
Heat two and another good start had the Formula K driver inside the top three at the end of the opening lap. Janev made the move on Belardo on lap three making his way into second and chasing after race leader Pradel. In another fast paced and hotly contested heat race the Pro Karting powered entry came home in second spot overall, putting him off the front row for the third heat.
advertisement
Heat three Janev was out of second spot sharing the front row with Pradel. The Janev Building entry got another clean get away, slotting in right behind Pradel with multiple time state champion Brodie Thomson putting himself in the battle at the front. In a three-kart battle at the front Kristian put his head down and in another close finish came away with second spot. Due to a post-race penalty Janev was effectively given the win and had his Formula K entry of pole for the final.
The final and with Janev of pole, a clean get away was crucial. Unfortunately, Janev got a slow get away dropping spots in the opening lap going down to third spot. The Regency Windows backed entry made his way back up to position two with a four-kart train at the front, all in contention to win. With the final not quite going the way of Janev, fourth position was the best he could muster only eight tenths of the race winner.
Kristian’s father David noted it was a weekend of what could have been. “It’s a disappointing way to finish the weekend. He had so much pace but things just didn’t go our way in the final. The level of competition was tough this weekend and he got some more great points to the championship setting him up for the rest of the series”.
The Pro Karting Janev will take to the next round at Bendigo still in the championship lead looking to get back in the winner’s circle.
advertisement