SUPERKART NATIONALS SERIES R3 FINAL and 2016 SERIES WRAP UP

The SKA Nationals Final Round 3 saw a nice Friday practice day, but Saturday dawned with light rain and damp track conditions facing racers for qualifying. However the circuit had dried almost fully by the time Superkarts charged out for Qualifying.  From there the weather improved and the race heats continued the battles in classes that were left unfinished after Phillip Island Round 2. The racing in classes featured close battle groups and competitors pushing each other to their limits. Only a few excursions and component failures marred the otherwise hard running and close racing.  At this level, the regulars performed their craft as expected while waging almighty battles for the Titles.

Congratulations to the new #1, 250 International Series Champion Ilya Harpas, who nudged Russ Jamieson out of top spot by a narrowest of margins with Anton Stevens in third with fine drives by all across the Series. Gary Pegoraro was frustrated by gremlins that prevented him taking the battle to them at the front as usual. Jason Smith made his final outing before retiring from superkart a memorable one, with a podium place at round 3. Warren McIlveen was absent from the last two rounds, and the series missed his presence significantly. Kristian Stebbing also battled gremlins through the series and can look to the break to regroup and fine tune the machine.

Jordie Ford continues his reign as 250National Series Champion, which follows a successful trip to the UK and winning the British Superkart Grand Prix.  Qlder Tim Weier campaigned well to be runner up after some challenging mechanical dramas over the rounds but put in fine drives to secure his second place in Series. Aaron Cogger completed the podium, after also suffering some engine gremlins and vowing to return stronger next year. John Pellicano finished the series stronger with podium finishes in the last two rounds. Newcomers Shayne McLaren and John Dunn found championship racing to their liking and improved their pace through the series.

In 125National, Lee Vella is a first time 125 Series Champion having broken the stranglehold of the RS Hondas in the class with his well prepared and very fast TM/Avoig-Elise, and overcame some component failures with great drives throughout the Series. Second placed Adam Stewart in 125 National showed newfound pace this year and is well pleased with his fine Series results. Canberran racer Paul Campbell salvaged his Series third placing with tenacious race driving and constant tuning work to ensure an improvement in standing from the mid-series point. 2015 Champ Mark Robin suffered some past winner’s hoodoo with reliability issues at times but had them solved by winning round 3 with his race pace returning to salvage fourth in the Series.  Phil Silcock suffered various engine and tuning gremlins that resulted in his placing fifth in series after a pleasing third at round 2.  Brad Stebbing campaigned for Mick Bakker Racing this year with mixed reliability and put in some good laps times while running.

The SKA Annual Dinner was a nice social relief from race activity, and the evening’s festivities were well enjoyed with the usual frivolity and recognition of our achievers.  The 2016 Tri-Series now concludes, having been a fine spectacle of Superkart Racing at great venues. The teams and superkarts all competed with the spirit and resilience the sport is renowned for. To all of the teams and racers right through the competitive class fields, well done people! 

The Results are posted at the SKA website Points and Events page, so you can see the final situation for all competitors in each of the classes.  Shannons Nationals have the round ITV streaming video of superkart races on their website for a time, at about 5.44 and 7.49 in the stream.

Superkarts Australia is once again pleased to have promoted a successful three day race weekend enjoyed by competitors and teams. Our sincere appreciation goes to the SKA Event Management team of Pam Pegoraro and Barbara Hepworth, with DSO Graeme Williams officiating, along with Dave Hepworth, Menno and Brendan Luneman, and their many assistants over the rounds. Your sport appreciates you, and thanks heaps to all!

Race Circuit Managements have assisted where possible and racers always appreciate the efforts of the Marshalls that keep us safe.

Superkarts Australia also appreciates the continuing support of our network of Series Sponsors –

Rockpress Metal Fabrications and Engineering, Coach Design Bus and Coach Manufacturers, L&J Designs Joinery, Denture Professionals, Giova Design Jewellery, Skeeta Art and Middletons Printing.   Without their continuing support, the Series couldn’t be the viable success for Superkarting that it is.

For 2017, Superkarts Australia will run a Two Round Superkart Championship Series commencing at Sydney Motorsport Park in early March and concluding at Queensland Raceway Ipswich in September.  Initial planning for two great 2017 Series events is to include NGB Nationals style racing for the RotaxMax NGB classes and Stock Honda class competing in their own race slot at these two mega superkart weekends!

We’re looking forward to 2017 superkart championship racing already! Enjoy your off season and festivities, stay healthy and safe and we’ll see you all back early next year.

Regards Phil Silcock, and the entire SKA Team.