The winner of 2018’s Bridgestone Super Cup $1000 cheque in the Australian Kart Championship is far from decided after an exhilarating weekend of racing in the Bridgestone classes at Emerald in Queensland.
The KA4 Junior category produced the closest finish between three karts in AKC history during Sunday morning’s fourth heats when 0.018s covered the top three competitors as they came to the line. An incredible race between Hugh Barter, Series leader Rhys Smith and Kai Allen saw Allen sneak across the line in first position, all three line astern as the chequered flag flew.
The final would fall the way of Smith though – the Sydney-based Scuderia PCR racer taking the win after an enthralling eight kart battle at times. The lead swapped on countless occasions, the drivers afforded the grip of the Bridgestone Kart Racing tyres on the 10-metre wide Emerald circuit allowing for multiple racing lines.
Smith crossed narrowly in front of Nicholas Sacco – one of the few drivers that didn’t have a time leading the field. Championship aspirant, Kai Allen kept his hopes alive with a third placing.
In the Vortex Mini Rok powered Cadet 9 – Rock Han was the big winner after a bodywork infringement pushed the first kart across the line – Max Walton – back to third placing. It was Han’s first win the AKC and it was an emotional moment when the South Australian learned he was handed the win. Jaxson Burns was elevated to second placing and Walton claiming third.
The bodywork compromise came when the top four – which included top two in the Championship – Justin Francis and Peter Bouzinelos were involved in a four way accident. The race had been outstanding until that point, with positions swapping with ease.
The Mini Rok Cadet 12 category, also on Bridgestone Kart Racing Tyres, saw a new winner in Carter Mobbs. It too was a final lap thriller with five karts in with a shot at the win. Last round winner, Evo Kart’s Jimmy Piszcyk and Kosmic’s Harry Arnett had a last lap collision which saw Arnett cross the line then later be awarded a post race penalty.
This handed the Emerald Kart Club member Mobbs a popular win over Jesse Lacey – his second podium of the year and Max Deguara.
The Bridgestone Kart Racing Tyres performed flawlessly throughout the weekend. Only the dry weather tyres were required in the warm conditions – which approached 30 degrees Celsius on each day of competition after each day started at around five degrees celsius.
The next round of the Australian Kart Championship is August 31-September 2 at Port Melbourne’s Todd Road facility.
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Watch the action from the weekend on demand at www.karting.net.au.
KA4 Junior:
1. Rhys Smith
2. Nicholas Sacco
3. Kai Allen
Cadet 9 (Provisional):
1. Rock Han
2. Jaxson Burns
3. Max Walton
Cadet 12:
1. Carter Mobbs
2. Jesse Lacey
3. Max Deguara
