Massive Numbers At Junior Sprint Classic


from Barry Moore 13 September 2013
 

Big Weekend at Pucka

A huge crowd assembled at the Hume International Raceway for the 33rd running of this prestigious event, staged on September 7 and 8.

The weather was damp overnight but cleared to bright sunny days and dry track racing. Entries hit 227 and were well catered for with the Eastern Lions club offering excellent facilities and amenities. It was a big week for the Lions, as the Rotax Nationals were conducted there the previous weekend.

Now to the racing. An extra event (Cadets AA) was created to cater for the vast number of Cadets A entries – a move gladly accepted by the Cadets and their guardians.

CADETS A (22 entries)
1  Courtney Prince        2  Finlay Allen      3  Zak Lobko
On her home track, Prince drove steadily to take the clean sweep which included a Heat 1 win from P19. Her well deserved win was strongly challenged by Allen who came from P15 to 3rd in Heat 1. Lobko recovered well from a disastrous DNF in Heat 3 to gain some glory.

CADETS AA (22 entries)
1  Jonathon Cassar        2  Benito Montalbano    3  Cody Burcher
The place getters were always thereabouts and some tight contests were witnessed. Lachlan Hughes (8th) a little unlucky after 3 Heat wins.

CADETS B (25 entries)
1  Braydon Callaghan    2  Kai Upiter        3  Steve Markos
Heat wins shared between the top three. Callaghan recovered well from Heat 3 DF to take a narrow win.

JUNIOR NATIONAL LIGHT (23 entries)
1  Cooper Murray           2  Luis Leeds        3  Dylan Hollis
An all the way win to local star, Murray, who was brilliant all weekend. Leeds and Hollis (Heat 3 win) chased well. Hard on the heels of the place getters were Reece Sidebottom, Jacob Prestipino and Shaun Costello, confirming the quality of this class.

JUNIOR NATIONAL LIGHT C&D (17 entries)
1  Kyle Cornfoot   2  Thomas McCulloch    3  Jackson Callow
Cornfoot exploited his home track advantage to take the honours. Stewart Weigard (6th) recorded wins in Heats 2 and 3, while Cameron McLean (4th) took out Heat 1.

JUNIOR NATIONAL HEAVY (33 entries)
1  Cameron Boys  2  Braydon North           3  Aaron Cameron
An excellent list of starters provided great entertainment for the huge crowd in attendance, with many cheering on gallant local, Braydon North. The 12 lap Final was a thriller, with Cameron Boys taking the title with a last lap maneuver to North. Aaron Cameron (winner of Heats 1 and 3) kept the pressure on the leading duo as he snapped at their heels all the way home. Also in the mix were current National Champion, Jordan Boys (4th), Will Hawkes (5th), Jeffrey Rahaly (6th), Zachary Phillips (7th), Shaun Costello (8th) and Heat 2 winner Joshua Buggy (9th).

JUNIOR NATIONAL HEAVY C&D (18entries)
1  Jarrod Whitty   2  Josh O’Neill                3  Lucas Filikotzias
Whitty and O’Neill dominated this class, finishing 1st and 2nd in all Heats. Filikotzias showed good form in the Final to pip locals Patrick Brooks and Nicholas Carroll for 3rd place.

JUNIOR NATIONAL PRO (18 entries)
1  Shaun Costello 2  Reece Sidebottom     3  Oscar Piastri
Not much between these lads, with Costello going into the Finals with wins in Heats 1 and 3, and Sidebottom with a Heat 2 win. Costello took the title from Sidebottom who recovered well from a Heat 3 10th. Piastri was always thereabouts, while Rheece Zacharis, Tommy Hughes and Cody Donald were prominent throughout.

GIRLS JUNIOR NATIONAL PRO (8 entries)
1  Holly Marquis             2  Olivia Dalla-Zuanna  3  Keely Branson
This innovative event saw a great contest. Marquis completed a clean sweep but the battle between Dalla-Zuanna and local driver Branson was intense. Jorja Ozimek was hot on the leaders heels throughout.

JUNIOR MAX (17 entries)
1  Jake Klein                  2  James Abela              3  Jordan Boys
Classic racing in this class with the plucky Klein taking the honours over the recently crowned Rotax National Champion Abela, with the lead changing regularly over the last 8 laps. Early race leaders Boys and Fullwood (5th) were great chasers. Jeremiah Sheehan took 4th place.

JUNIOR CLUBMAN (22 entries)
1  William Hawkes        2  Jake Klein                  3  Bryce Fullwood
A fantastic Final saw the lead rotate between the top three. Hawkes gained the lead at the right time to hold off Klein and Fullwood. Spencer Ackermann (4th) and Luis Leeds (5th) kept the pressure on. Local star Braydon North was prominent in the Heats but an early exit in the Final.

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS [JUNIOR CLUBMAN] (17   entries)
1  William Hawkes        2  Bryce Fullwood                   3  Spencer Ackermann
Another great duel between Hawkes and Klein. With the lead changing regularly in the 20 lap marathon, Klein led lap 18 but, alas, dropped a chain and exited. Hawkes maintained his good lead but some last lap dramas saw Fullwood get the edge on Ackermann close to the line.

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