Australia's FKS Willowbank race notes

Ford KartStars - Woolsten waltzes to maiden win

19 July 2003 -- Victorian driver Troy Woolsten broke through for his maiden Ford KartStars victory under lights at Queensland's Willowbank Karting Raceway in the third round of the Ford KartStars Series.

The 3D Nework/CC Racing driver set the pace from the outset when he qualified on pole position with a 48.784 second circulation around the 1100m circuit. Closely following Woolsten was Kartworks driver Luke Wood ahead of Andrew Thompson, Wesley May and West Australian Blake Mills.

After winning the opening heat race Woolsten's only blemish for the weekend was when he snapped as chain whilst leading allowing Thompson to take his first of two heat race victories.

Thompson led the way through the opening turn of the Pre-Final closely followed by Wesley May, Reif Corbett and Josh Arandt. After starting down the order Woolsten found his way to the front by mid race and exchanged the lead with Thompson on several occasions before eventually clearing off to take the victory and earn pole position for the 20-lap Final.

Woolsten snared the lead at the start of the final ahead of Corbett, Thompson and May. The leading quartet exchanged positions throughout the opening laps allowing Josh Arandt to make it a five-way battle for the top spot. Despite dropping to third at one stage it was evident that Woolsten had the pace to claim the victory.

Once he found his way into the lead again Woolsten benefited from the quartet battling behind him to open a slender lead that he never relinquished eventually claiming the victory 1.6 seconds ahead of Thompson.

"My kart was fast from the moment I unloaded yesterday and I'm pleased to say that the pace has continued through to today. The CC Racing team have done a great job again all weekend to keep me up the front and also help me close the gap to the top of the Championship points table," said Woolsten.

Thompson was equally please with his effort considering he had extended his Championship lead "My aim this weekend was to consolidate my points lead and I have achieved that so it has been a good weekend," commented the ever-maturing 15-year-old.

Arandt claimed third place following a race-long battle with Corbett whose disastrous luck in the series continued when he dropped a chain half a lap from the finish. The demise of Corbett elevated May into fourth ahead of Ben Savage, Tim Blanchard, Luke Wood, Nick Parker, Tom Williamson and John Martin who rounded out the top 10.

The next round of the 2003 Ford KartStars Series will be held at Sydney's Oran Park on August 8/9.