Mixed Results For Aussies Overseas
| AKA media | 24 July 2013 |
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Summary
Bryce Fullwood (Darwin, NT)
Thailand Rotax Invitational (14 entries) - 2nd
Bira International Race Circuit - Pattaya, Thailand
Thailand Rotax National Series Round 4 (14 entries) - Winner
Bira International Race Circuit - Pattaya, Thailand
Pierce Lehane (Castle Hill, NSW)
Rotax Max Euro Challenge Round 3 (44 entries) – 6th
PF International Circuit, England
Joseph Mawson (Hinchinbrook, NSW – living in Italy)
CIK-FIA European KF Championship Round 2 (58 entries) – DNF Final (32nd)
Circuito Internazionale d'Abruzzo – Ortona, Italy
Dimitri Agathos (Greystanes, NSW)
CIK-FIA European KF Championship Round 2 (58 entries) – Pre-Final 20th (Top 17 only transferred to the final)
Circuito Internazionale d'Abruzzo – Ortona, Italy
Josh Smith (Townsville, QLD)
CIK-FIA European KF Championship Round 2 (58 entries) – Pre-Final 23rd (Top 17 only transferred to the final)
Circuito Internazionale d'Abruzzo – Ortona, Italy
Above:
Darwin's Bryce Fullwood in action in Thailand
Australia had five representatives competing in various karting events in Italy, England and Thailand across the weekend, with mixed results for the young stars.
In his first overseas event, Darwin driver BRYCE FULLWOOD finished second in the Thailand Rotax Invitational at the Bira International Race Circuit in Pattaya, Thailand. He then backed this performance up a day later at the same venue with a victory in the Fourth Round of the Thailand Rotax National Series.
Fullwood, supported at the event by his parents Brad and Kelly along with younger sister Kasey and long-time mentor Graham Powles, started the weekend by qualifying second fastest in the Thailand Rotax Invitational. He continued this form through the heat races and led the way for the majority of the pre-final before finishing second. After a huge downpour delayed the start of the finals, Fullwood lined up on the grid for the final in wet conditions. Unfortunately, Fullwood’s kart set up wasn’t quite right and local driver Veravich Wongsanganan drove away with the win, Fullwood still managed to secure a very credible second place with the rest of the pack quite a fair way back.
The following day in Round Four of the Thailand Rotax National Series Fullwood was determined to go one better, and he did. In the opening few laps of the 14-lap final, Fullwood opened a commanding lead to take the win well clear of Wongsanganan, who was later excluded for a non-confirming carburetor.
In England, PIERCE LEHANE set the second fastest time in qualifying in the third round of the Rotax Max Euro Challenge at the PF International Circuit. He then went on to win two heat races and secure a front row start for the pre-final.
In the action-packed pre-final, Lehane was shuffled back to as far as 15th before clawing his way back into the top ten, and setting the fastest time of the race in the process, by the finish of the race.
Showing the gritty determination of a true Australian, Lehane fought his way up the order in the final to eventually be classified in sixth place in the final standings.
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Above: Sydney teenager Pierce Lehane finished sixth in England
pic - RGMMC
The second, and final, round of the CIK-FIA European KF Championship saw a trio of Australians in action with DIMITRI AGATHOS, JOSEPH MAWSON and JOSH SMITH taking part in the event at the Circuito Internazionale d'Abruzzo in Ortona, Italy.
For Agathos and Smith, it was the second time they had experienced the highly-competitive European karting scene while Mawson is the most experienced of the trio being based in Italy full-time during 2013.
Of the trio, Mawson was the only one to make the final with both Agathos and Smith being plagued by issues during qualifying. The pair were then caught up in accidents during their pre-final where only the top 17 finishers made the transfer into the final.
Mawson too had his share of dramas in the pre-final before scraping through into the main event where he would eventually succumb to damage from a lap one incident.
Above: Sydney's Joseph Mawson behind the wheel in Italy
pic -KSP
What the Aussies had to say...
Bryce Fullwood (Darwin, NT)
“It has been an amazing experience for my first international meet, whilst the overall numbers where a little disappointing the competition was still first class,” said Fullwood.
“I have learnt so much and am so thankful to my mum, dad, sister and family for their unwavering support for me. I also couldn’t have done this without the support and knowledge of Graham Powles and his wife Margaret who have become such an important part of my life.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank James Leong from KRS Motorsports for the invitation, David Yakin and his awesome mechanic Aek from xf racing for being so professional and all round great people and the organisers of both meetings for putting on such a fantastic weekend”
Above: Fullwood enjoying the spoils of victory in Thailand
Pierce Lehane (Castle Hill, NSW)
“Overall, I had a great weekend finishing sixth in the final,” said Lehane.
“Qualifying second and winning two heats was a highlight of the weekend, as was just getting to race on such a great track which had a bridge in it – it was pretty awesome.
“Being able to race with a lot of top level drivers and the finals coming down to not who was the fastest, but who raced their way to the front at the right moment and stayed out of the crashes!
“At one stage in the final I dropped down to 15th before racing my way back to third place to be right in there at the front of the field.”
Joseph Mawson (Hinchinbrook, NSW – living in Italy)
“The weekend started off well, in practice I was inside the top seven fastest but something just turned the wrong way during qualifying, which set the tone for the rest of the weekend,” said Mawson.
“During the heats I just tried to work through and improve my position but in the pre-final my (spark) plug fouled and I had to start from pit lane, then I got crashed into three times and just had to keep in bouncing back.
“I was lucky to make it through to the final but when I was involved in a crash on the opening lap it bent the brake disc. It then got worse throughout the race and I was going backwards fast, I eventually had to pull in.”
Dimitri Agathos (Greystanes, NSW)
“The first two days of testing were very good we learnt a lot about the characteristics of the track but I simply didn't get a good run in qualifying which is very important here in Europe,” said Agathos.
“In the pre-final I got a good start and was heading into turn two when someone ran up the back of me. From there, I was a long way behind the field so my chances of finishing inside the top 17 were gone but I continued on to get as much experience as possible.
“I learnt a lot from these two rounds in Europe and I think it will really help me for my racing in Australia.”
Above: Sydney driver Dimitri Agathos pushing hard at the European KF Championship
pic -KSP
Josh Smith (Townsville, QLD)
“All things must come to an end, both rounds of the KF European Championship has unfortunately come to an end earlier than what I would have liked,” said Smith.
“It has truly been an experience in a life time! Over the two rounds I have learnt so much such in terms of braking, passing, racing and so many other things. The Kosmic Racing Team have been awesome, everything they do is at the highest amount of professionalism and everyone is so friendly within the team. The other drivers and the mechanics in the team have helped me so much and if I had a problem they would fix it straight away.
Above: Townsville's Josh Smith competed in Italy at the European KF Championship
pic -KSP
“I didn't really achieve the goals I set myself but the amount of experience and knowledge I have learned is immeasurable. I'd just like to say a massive thank you to the Australian Motor Sport Foundation, Peter Galvin and my parents because with out them this experience wouldn't be possible!”
