Three new faces crested the top step of the podium in the Vortex Rok classes at the fourth round of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship today at Emerald in Central Queensland.
With one round left remaining, it is all to play for in the Vortex categories as the Australian places to the Rok International Cup are still up for grabs.
One of the most popular victories came in Vortex Mini Rok Cadet 12 when local driver Carter Mobbs took out the category. In the second visit of the AKC to Emerald, he became the first local driver to take a win. Mobbs started on the front row of the grid but was shuffled back early.
He fought his way forward into the top three and was challenging on the final lap to remain in a podium position. The top two drivers collided with two corners remaining. Mobbs crossed the line second but a post race investigation and subsequent penalty to the driver that crossed the line first handed the win to him. The time penalty also elevated Jesse Lacey to second and Max Deguara to third.
The Vortex DVS ‘KA2’ category saw Jay Hanson take his first win in the class in his debut season. Hanson has been around the front runners for much of 2018 however hadn’t yet reached the podium.
It was a hard fought race with Championship leader Kai Allen – who led for much of it. It was also Allen’s best weekend in the DVS class – ironically taking his first heat race win of the year despite being the Championship leader. He took two heat races and led after the second corner on the last lap of the race – this proved crucial in giving Hanson the victory when he swept back to the lead.
Jaiden Pope who had more pace than both Hanson and Allen at the front, swept past Allen for second. At one point, Pope was running 10th in the early stages of the race.
In the youngest category – Mini Rok ‘Cadet 9’ (for drivers between 7 and 9), a five way battle was destroyed when the four front runners collided. This divided the field across the racetrack. Kosmic driver, Max Walton crossed the line first but was handed a bodywork penalty at the end of the race dropping him to third elevating South Australian Rock Han to an emotional win – his first in the Australian Kart Championships. Jaxson Burns ensured it was a triple Kosmic podium ending up second.
Winner of the Australian Championship the last two years, Scott Sorensen has all but secured his third consecutive Vortex DVS-SV Title after a masterful weekend. Sorensen was undefeated all weekend in his Australian built Arrow chassis.
He took a dominant win, however, first round winner – AWC Motorsport Academy driver Lachie Dalton is still in with a chance of winning after finishing a resounding second. South Australian, Josh Denton secured his second podium of the season, bringing his Kosmic home in third position.
The Australian Kart Championship will come to a conclusion over the weekend of August 31-September 2 at Port Melbourne’s Todd Road Circuit. Everything is still to play for with the seats to the Rok International Cup at the end of October still up for grabs!
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Cadet 9 (Provisional):
Rock Han
Jaxson Burns
Max Walton
Cadet 12:
Carter Mobbs
Jesse Lacey
Max Deguara
KA2:
Jay Hanson
Jaiden Pope
Kai Allen
KA1:
Scott Sorensen
Lachie Dalton
Joshua Denton
