AUS: Series Ipswich qualifying report

THICK AND FAST ACTION DURING QUALIFYING DAY AT IPSWICH

The action came thick and fast during qualifying day at Round Two of the CIK Stars of Karting Series hosted by the Ipswich Kart Club in Queensland today.

In the Pro Light (KF1) category it was leading championship contenders John Grother, Hayden McBride and Cian Fothergill who battled for the three heat race victories.

Grother qualified on pole position, the third of his CIK Stars of Karting career, aboard his Tracksa Racing Kosmic kart ahead of fellow Gladstone driver Fothergill and McBride. Fothergill finished up on top during heat one before McBride turned the tables in the second 15-lap encounter.

Unfortunately for McBride, the defending series champion, his run in heat three came to a premature end on lap three. Grother inherited the lead but was chased down by Fothergill over the closing stages, who went on to win his second heat of the day. Grother was later disqualified for being underweight.

"It has been a great battle all day long. I've had a couple of brake dramas in the heat races but overall I'm very happy with the Kosmic chassis and confident ahead of tomorrow's two finals," said Grother.

"All three of us are pretty close in overall pace but I feel if I can get on top of my brake issues that I will hopefully have a bit of an edge."

Victorian Troy Woolston used the top five shootout to his advantage by moving from third place after qualifying to secure his maiden CIK Stars of Karting pole position in the Pro Gearbox (KZ2) category.

The CC Racing pilot finished second in heat one behind Bundaberg's Kel Treseder, who topped the timesheets in qualifying, but a mechanical issue slowed Woolston's progress in heat two -- which was dominated by Chris Hays. The Gold Coaster also went on to pull clear of the field in heat three.

It has been a State of Origin battle in the Pro Junior (KF3) category with the likes of New South Wales youngsters Pierce Lehane and Jonathan Venter, Queenslanders Aiden Wright and Brock Plumb along with West Australian Jake Klarich battling for the front running.

The opening heat was a hard fought affair before Wright claimed the win in his Tony Kart ahead of Plumb's Birel and Lehane in his CRG machine, who fought back to win the final two heat races of the day.

In the battle for the East Coast Title categories, Clubman and Junior National, it is the local pair of Jason Burns and Ben Stewart who lead the way in Clubman while James Foster appears to have the upper hand in the Junior National category with a pole position and two race wins to his name.

The local Formula 100 class is turning into a battle of the brothers with the Greenburys, Matt and Tyler, challenging the Mercer boys, Trent and Adam.

The action will continue tomorrow with the first final beginning at 9:00am.

-source: kart au