(Pic: AF Images/Budd)
Australia has confirmed its position as one of the world’s leading karting nations with a fourth straight podium finish in the Nations Cup at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in New Orleans, USA.
Australia’s team of 12 drivers finished one point shy of Spain in the final standings with the host nation taking the win.
Victorian Daniel Richert finished as the best placed of the Australians with a fifth placing in the DD2 Masters category. Richert and Sydney driver Adam Hunter were both placed inside the top five midway through the 20-lap final and on track to record a double podium for the team from ‘Down Under’.
An incident mid-race led to Hunter spinning and dropping down the order to as low as 17th place. He would then show the pace that led to him winning two of his three heat races earlier in the weekend to claw his way back up to ninth place at the chequered flag.
As Hunter made his way back inside the top ten, Richert was challenging for the lead with South African driver Cristiano Morgado and Canadian Scott Campbell. The trio ran in close proximity before Morgado held on to claim his third consecutive DD2 Masters win at the event. Richert passed Campbell on the last lap to cross the line in second place.
Unfortunately for Richert, stewards deemed that his pass was made in a part of the track that was under yellow (caution) flag conditions and he was handed a ten-second penalty, dropping him to fifth position in the overall standings.
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“That was the race of my life,” said Richert.
“I led the Rotax World Final early in the race and with two laps to go I nearly took the lead again. I’m absolutely pumped on adrenaline right now. What a race!”
In the Junior Max category, reigning Australian Champion James Abela was the big charger in the main event after starting 30th due to him failing to finish the pre-final. Throughout the 20-lap race Abela maneuvered his way through the field before crossing the line ninth.
Liam McLellan finished 13th while Joseph Burton-Harris, who started from fifth position, was eliminated in an opening lap incident.
(Pic: AF Images/Budd)
Queenslander Tyler Greenbury finished just outside the top ten in the Senior Max category in 11th place. Four-time Australian Champion Pierce Lehane started from fifth position in the final before being shuffled back in the order during the opening lap. As he was making his way back up the order he came together with fellow Australian Daniel Rochford eliminating them both from the race.
Jason Pringle used his experience throughout the weekend to find himself battling for the lead in the final of the DD2 category. Pringle was engaged in an intense battle for the duration of the 20-lap race before crossing the line seventh. Queenslander Lucas Ward moved from 33rd to 23rd in the final while Brendon Nelson was eliminated mid race due to a broken exhaust while placing just outside the top 15.Victories at the event went to American Juan Correar (Junior Max), United Kingdom’s Oliver Hodgson (Senior Max), South African Cristiano Morgado (DD2 Masters) and Lithuanian Simas Juodvirsis.
