Pegoraro Leads Both Wet and Dry

Three practice sessions filled the first day of the Rockpress Australian Superkart Championship. Gary Pegoraro spent the day sorting the Dunlop Kartsport/BRC Engines Anderson-BRC but ended up fastest in all three sessions. The series points leader was happy with progress at the end of the day, despite limited dry-track running at Round 7 of the Shannons Australian Motor Racing Nationals.

Pegoraro's best time of the day was 1:32.0695 in limited running in the third session. A session which became unexpectedly chaotic. A combination of spins, stalls and blow-ups caught the field unawares and three laps into the practice session saw around ten karts fall off the track. The session was red flagged and stopped early to pick up the quarter of the field no longer moving. Defending champion Russell Jamieson was second fastest but there was engine damage to the Coach Design Anderson-DEA. Sam Zavaglia (Stockman Superkarts Stockman-VM) was third fastest until the left rear wheel parted company with the kart. Kristian Stebbing was fourth fastest in the Suburban Accounting Services Anderson-DEA, although he spun and stalled at Siberia. All that just underlined how much Pegoraro was in control yesterday as dramas enfolded his rivals.

Warren McIlveen was fifth fastest but the factory Stockman team were working on an engine after practice while trying to puzzle out what had happened to Zavaglia's wheel. Shannon Novaski (Homes of Integrity PVP-Yamaha), Anton Stevens (Ciscos/Art Motorsport/KPI PVP-FPE) and Ilya Harpas (Your Amigo/Apex Management Anderson-DEA) were the other 250 International class karts in the top ten. Of the other "twins", Western Australian rookie Grant Heard was in the most trouble in the iTransport Zip-Rotax, stopped at turn 2 with an engine failure. Jason Akermanis (Supersonic Global Payments Anderson-DEA) speared off at turn 3, donating a nosecone to the sandtrap as he did so. Michael Nicholas (ShiftMN Stockman-Yamaha) spun near Hayshed after a wheel failure. There were few garages not cleaning off mud, grass or stripping down engines that evening.

Daniel Lewis led the 250 National class, as high as sixth fastest in the Lewis Plumbing Racing Anderson-GasGas, one of two "singles" to get a good lap in the limited running. Martin Latta (MJR Bricklaying/Slipstream Signs Anderson-Yamaha) was the other driver to do so. Dalton Rowell (DLR Racing Stockman-Honda) looked quick but engine damage caused him to jump off track near turn 4.

In 125s there was drama aplenty. Lindsay Jamieson (Linra Properties Stockman-Honda) is in the deepest trouble with a bottom end engine failure in the RS125 necessitating an engine change. Phil Silcock (Rockpress Avoig-Honda) had a cylinder failure and Mark Robin (In-2-Karts Stockman-Honda) was off track as well. Garry Haywood (Bakker Superkarts/Ringwood Kart Centre Bakker-Honda) and Tim Philp (Floth Sustainable Building Consultants Avoig-Honda) were well clear of the snarling pack of 125s in lap times. The bulk of the class condensed together with Paul Campbell (Redback Racepaint Avoig-Honda) at their head in third.

Saturday will feature two qualifying sessions (beginning at 10:35 and 12:55) before Race 1 closes out our day at 2:35 pm. Three races follow on Sunday to determine our 2014 champions.

Points after Sydney Motorsport Park:
250 International:
Gary Pegoraro 63, Ilya Harpas 60, Jason Akermanis 55, Russell Jamieson 40, Michael Nicholas 35, Warren McIlveen 33, Jason Smith 32, Anton Stevens 28, Sam Zavaglia 20

250 National:
Dalton Rowell 80, Martin Latta 70, Dale Williams 65, Dan Lewis 61, Sean Maberly 42

125 Gearbox:
Garry Haywood 77, Lee Vella 74, Paul Campbell 58, Tim Philp 51, Jeff Reed 50 etc