AUS: Series Eastern Creek preview

LITE KARTERS HEADING TO SYDNEY THIS WEEKEND

Australia's elite karting series, the CIK Stars of Karting Series, is heading to Sydney's Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway for Round Three hosted by the North Shore Kart Club this weekend.

Following two dominant performances in the opening two rounds, Gladstone (Qld) driver Cian Fothergill is leading the way in the Pro Light (KF1) category ahead of Newcastle's Hayden McBride and Victorian Joel Smith.

Smith, along with brother Grant, were two of the big improvers in the second round held at Ipswich last month and following some testing at the Eastern Creek venue last weekend is confident of taking the challenge to Fothergill this weekend.

Local driver Matthew Waters (Horsley Park) is battling to overcome an injury sustained to his ribs during the previous round but will be going all out in an effort to chase down a podium finish this weekend on his home track.

"Cian and his team-mate John Grother, also from Queensland, have really been the ones to beat so far this year along with Victorian brothers Joel and Grant Smith. I'd hope that I'll be able right up there with them this round," said Waters.

"I changed brand of karts after the opening round to a European-made Kosmic kart which seems to be working well."

Sydney's Anthony Vince has been a quiet achiever during the opening two rounds to be sitting just outside the top five in the points standings. With the bonus of the home track knowledge, the Top Kart driver could be one to watch this weekend.

At the midway point of the Series, the battle is tight at the top of the Pro Gearbox (KZ2) Championship standings. Bundaberg's (Qld) Kel Treseder holds a slender lead over the Melbourne pair of Troy Woolston and Matthew Wall, closely followed by Gold Coast teenager Chris Hays.

Hornsby's Fergus Symes has spent the first two rounds of the series coming to grips with the extra horsepower provided by the six-speed gearbox engine and with this weekend being on a track he knows intimately he is confident of mixing it near the front.

"This year is probably the most fun I've had in karting for a long, long time. To be a part of a professionally run series is great and what the sport has really needed for a number of years," said Symes.

"Making the jump into the Pro Gearbox category has been a big step as I'm racing a lot of the top guys from all across the country, so when you get a good result you really know that you've earned it and deserve to be pleased with your effort.

"I've done a lot of testing and preparation for this round and confident of being one of the pacesetters but am fully aware that there are a number of others who should be fast.

"I think Hays is going to be very hard to beat, Treseder is really getting his gear together and should again be strong while Wall-e is always at the front, no matter what race it is."

Sydney youngsters are expected to figure prominently in the Pro Junior (KF3) category with Pierce Lehane (Castle Hill) and Jonathan Venter (Cherrybrook) entering the round as two of the favourites.

Lehane has won the opening two rounds aboard his CRG kart but Birel driver Brock Plumb (Forest Lake, Qld), Venter and Aiden Wright (Cairns, Qld) have been chasing him down.

"At the first round everyone was very much still learning a lot about the engines and stickier tyres, by round two everyone had started to find more speed and I'd expect the same this weekend," said Lehane.

"There are quite a few junior guys who will be fast but I think Jonathan Venter and Brock Plumb, who finished second last round, will be there to chase me down."

Also in action this weekend in the Pro Junior (KF3) category will be Glenmore Park driver Jake Coleman, Meani's Trent Grubel and Balgowlah Heights teenager Jacob Parsons.

In the development categories it is Sydney drivers Jason Hryniuk and Daniel Baker who are leading the way in the East Coast Clubman Title which will see the winner travel to Japan to compete in the All Japan Yamaha final thanks to Yamaha Australia.

Entering round three Newcastle fast femme Breanna Woodland holds a narrow one point lead over Sunshine Coast's Mitchell Gee in the chase for the East Coast Junior National Title.

Also in action this weekend will be the 125cc TaG Restricted category where the newcomers to the sport will be competing.

The will be in excess of 110 competitors in action across the weekend with practice beginning on Friday followed by qualifying and heat races on Saturday with the finals being held on Sunday.

The Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway is located on Brabham drive at Eastern Creek. Admission is free for spectators.

-source: kart au