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While Luke Baldry and Ben Stewart may have won the “Race for Jase” karting enduro in Ipswich, Queensland last night, a number of Fujitsu V8 Supercar drivers certainly impressed in the wet conditions.
Miles Racing’s Ash Walsh paired with Adam Mercer to eventually finish second and while he was pleased to have finished on the podium Walsh reminisced about the physical demands on kart racing.
“I haven’t been in a kart for a number of years and I really felt it after practice (which was held in the dry),” said Walsh.
“It’s been a great event to be a part of and big thanks must go to the Mercer family for ensuring we finished on the podium.”
Also finishing on the podium was Fujitsu V8 driver Scott McLaughlin and V8 utes front-runner Chris Pither.
Supercheap Auto Racing’s V8 endurance driver Jack Perkins, who was paired with Tyler Greenbury, made an impressive return to the kart track by charging into the race lead during his opening stint.
Unfortunately though the team’s chances were derailed when their Intrepid kart lost a wheel shortly after Greenbury returned to the circuit – they would eventually finish 11th.
“It was great fun, we started fifth and I got to the lead early in the race only to have a bit of trouble when the wheel fell off after Tyler jumped in,” said Perkins.
“It would be almost ten years since I raced competitively in a kart, the wet was a real equiliser because it brought all of the karting guns back to my level a bit. Overall, it was a great event for a great cause and I’d love to do the event again.”
Porsche Carrerra Cup driver Michael Patrizi and CIK Stars of Karting front-runner Kyle Ensbey were on track to challenge for the win, only to have a broken seat end their run 17-minutes from the finish.
The Baldry/Stewart entry overtook Pacific Kartsport team-mates Dale Verrall, who grew up in New Zealand racing karts against Richards, and Troy Bretherton late in the race to claim the win.
Unfortunately for Verrall and Bretherton, they were handed a post-race penalty for completing one of their compulsory pit stops in under the minimum ten minutes, this relegated the them to tenth spot in the final results.
Unfortunately, the inclement weather kicked in just as the Corporate Challenge, set to feature a Speedcafe.com entry, hit the track in their Turn1-prepared karts forcing the cancellation of this event. This event will be now rescheduled for July 29.
In excess of $6,500 was raised at the event, which will be donated to Richards and his family for his treatment.
RACE FOR JASE KARTING ENDURO
Ipswich, Queensland
Results
1. Luke Baldry/Ben Stewart – 157 laps
2. Adam Mercer/Ashley Walsh – 156
3. Chris Pither/Scott McLaughlin
4. Damian Ward/Lucas Ward
5. Klinton Hancey/Michael Gee – 155
6. Jason Lansdell/Luke Brown – 152
7. Luke Anderson/Jack Bellotti – 149
8. James Macken/Damien Lee – 147
9. Zac Kirwan/Mick Kirwan – 143
10. *Dale Verrall/Troy Bretherton – 142
11. Tyler Greenbury/Jack Perkins
12. Scott Coates/Chaz Mostert – 140
13. Damian Godley/Peter Mitchell – 139
14. Peter Virgulti/Cameron Harch – 134
15. Ryan Sanderson/Matt Greenbury – 133
DNF Michael Paritzi/Kyle Ensbey – 140
DNF Luke Lane/Adam Willison – 119
DNF Matt Dicinoski/Alan Gurr – 65
DNF Adam Thompson/Jason Francis – 20
DNF Luke Turner/Patrick Mather – 1
* finished second but were penalised for completing one of their compulsory pit stops in under the minimum ten minutes.
