Perth kart racer Daniel Currey walked away as the big winner from the Rollasole KZ2 Invitational at Kalgoorlie’s Dash for Cash event in Western Australia on Saturday night.
After winning two of his three qualifying heat races, the 33 year-old then set the pace in the one lap ‘Superpole Shootout’ to secure pole position for the 30-lap main event ahead of Gold Coaster Chris Hays.
While confident entering the main event, Currey was very aware of the high quality of drivers in the field, however, he was determined to go one better than last year where he finished runner-up to European star Roberto Toninelli.
The Patrizi Corse driver got the jump off the start line over Hays, who closely followed by Sunshine Coast driver Kyle Ensbey.
During the early laps hays pressured Currey before the West Australian slowly edged his way further in front before crossing the line well clear of Hays to take the $5,000 first prize.
“It’s great to have a win and finish the year off on a high,” said Currey.
“To see some of Australia’s best drivers come to Kalgoorlie and compete in the event is just fantastic. I’m sure that every one of them will have gone away with some fantastic memories of the event.
“The experience I’ve gained throughout the year by racing the CIK Stars of Karting Series in the Eastern states certainly helped me win this one. I must also thank everyone in the Patrizi Corse team for all their hard work, without them this win wouldn’t be possible.”
Currey believes that the event certainly has the potential to attract even more interstate, and even overseas competitors over the coming years.
“It was a fun, relaxed, meeting but everyone was out there racing pretty hard once they got their race face on,” said Currey.
“All of the visitors have gone away with some great memories of Kalgoorlie and will hopefully spread the word about how good the event was.”
The battle for second was an intense one with the two Queenslanders locked together for the duration of the event before Hays claimed the $2,000 runner-up cheque ahead of Ensbey.
Victorians Lee Mitchener and Jason Pringle engaged in a titanic battle for fourth and fifth place throughout the race before Pringle gained the upper hand.
In the KF3 Meritus.GP Cup it was Perth teenager Jake Klarich who was the dominant driver across the weekend.
The Super Rooster-backed driver used the experience he has gained by competing in the CIK Stars of Karting Series over the past two years to his advantage to claim a comprehensive victory.
Finishing second behind Klarich was Sydneysider Jake Coleman ahead of Kalgoorlie’s own Anthony Martin.
Courtesy of his victory Klarich will now test with Meritus Racing in a JK Racing Asia Series car at the Sepang International circuit in Malaysia.
2011 DASH FOR CASH
Feature Events
Rollasole KZ2 Invitational
1. Daniel Currey (WA)
2. Chris Hays (QLD)
3. Kyle Ensbey (QLD)
4. Jason Pringle (VIC)
5. Lee Mitchener (VIC)
KF3 Merituis.GP Cup
1. Jake Klarich (WA)
2. Jake Coleman (NSW)
3. Anthony Martin (WA)
4. Patrick Martin (WA)
5. Luke Gabin (WA)
