Ipswich set to host massive karting meeting with Queenslanders hot shots to win
The Australian Karting Championship heads to Ipswich this weekend for one of the biggest events ever at Queensland Raceway. We list the Queensland karters to look out for.
Local Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The next Broc Feeney, Oscar Piastri or Lando Norris could well be racing this weekend at Queensland Raceway.
The latest round of the Australian Karting Championship will be held in Ipswich on Saturday and Sunday in what could be one of the largest fields to ever assemble at a national series.
Almost 400 drivers in eight classes will compete.
For some there will be a championship in the back of their mind with only one round to go after Ipswich, while for others the goal will be to go fast and win.
For Queenslanders at the event there will be added pressure to perform at home but they all have the advantage of a home track with many local karters getting the chance to practice, test and race there frequently.
Practice starts on Friday with qualifying and heats to run on Saturday.
The main races will be held on Sunday.
We list 15 Queenslanders to look out for ahead of the racing starting.
Patrick Buckley, KA3 Junior
Buckley will be competing in the KA3 junior class after becoming a national champion last year. He won the KA4 junior class, becoming one of three Queenslanders to win a championship in 2022. This year he hasn’t had similar success in the KA3 junior class, sitting 13th, but expect Buckley, at home, to shine and perform well.
Ky Burke, KA2
Burke is already a national champion, winning the Cadet 9 class in 2019. This year, he’s excelling in the KA2 class, making the rise and challenging the top drivers already. The Bundaberg driver is currently fourth and has finished inside the top six in each round. His best performance was 4th in round one and two in Monarto and Wanneroo respectively.
Lana Flack, Cadet 12
This talented female karter created history last round in the Australian Karting Championship. Flack, for the first time in 26 years, became the first girl to win a kart round at the Australian Kart Championship, taking out Cadet 12 in Newcastle. She not only won a heat but also won the final in her class. The young gun is currently leading the title race, by 28 points, and could be on track for a national title with a good weekend in Ipswich, which is her home track.
Jye Flynn, KA3 junior
Flynn two weeks ago became the State Cup champion in KA3 junior to add to his success in the Australian Karting Championship in the same category. Flynn is currently ninth overall but finished fourth in the second round of the series in Wanneroo. A young star on the rise.
Keegan Fraser, KA3 Senior
Keegan has been the driver to beat in the series. The Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley Kart Club member has put together the perfect first three rounds in the KA3 senior class to be on top in the standings. After finishing second in the first round in Monarto, Fraser has gone on to win the past two rounds at Wanneroo and Newcastle to be on top by 32 points. A good round in Ipswich could almost seal the title.
Carter Grother, Cadet 9
The Gladstone karter is in contention for the Cadet 9 title and almost won the main race in the last round in Newcastle, being beaten by Brock Nolan (see below). Grother won the round and is now third in the title race, 14 points behind the leader and will favour his chances of success at a circuit he knows well.
Harrison Hoey, TAG 125
It’s been a busy week for the Queensland karter. Last weekend he won the State Cup titles in TAG 125 light and TAG 125 heavy. This week he’ll be looking to push towards the front in the Australian Karting Championship TAG 125 class in Ipswich. Hoey is currently third in the title after winning the second round of the season in Wanneroo. He’s 18 points behind first and second who are tied on points.
Michael Janusz, KA3 juniors
The Cairns driver is already a state champion, winning the Cadet 12 series in 2019. Currently competing in the Ka3 junior series, Janusz is 14th in the standings but was impressive at the last round in Newcastle. He finished seventh in the main race, to finish 11th for the round. A talented young driver who will relish being at a track very familiar to him.
Mika Lemasurier, KA2
This young karter is already attracting attention of a Supercars team. Lemasurier is currently part of the Grove Racing junior team and joined the team in 2021 following his performances in karting. Currently, he’s 3rd in the KA2 series and finished third in two rounds at Wanneroo and Newcastle. A star of the future.
Lukas Loeskow, Cadet 9
Loeskow will be full of confidence heading into this weekend after winning the State Cup title in Townsville two weeks ago in the Cadet 9 class. The Bundaberg racer is currently 10th in the national series after some impressive performances this season. This included a fourth for the round in Wanneroo. He is one to watch out for in Ipswich.
Troy Loeskow, KZ2
One of the best karters in the country. A three time national champion, who has twice won in KZ2, and he will be tough to beat this weekend in the class. The last two times Ipswich has hosted an Australian Karting Championship round in KZ2, Loeskow has won it. Expect the Bundy racer to be there at the pointy end this weekend, especially after finishing third at the last round in Newcastle.
Isaac McNeill, KA3 Junior
Consistency has been the key for this young racer with top five finishes in each round so far in the Australian Karting Championship in KA3 Junior. He’s currently fourth in the title race and will be looking to use his home track to make a rise up the table. His team, Tecno Kart Australia, is based there.
Brock Nolan, Cadet 9
The Townsville young gun has been one of the standouts in the Cadet 9 class. He’s finished second for the round twice and is currently second in the title race, 13 points from the lead. His highlight of the season was winning the feature race last round in Newcastle. A young star on the rise.
Brodie Norris, KA3 Junior
Another talented junior who has been consistent this season in KA3 Junior. Norris is currently sixth in the standings and finished third last year in the KA4 Junior series.
Max Walton, KA2
Could he be Queensland’s next Oscar Piastri? Walton is currently the series leader in the KA2 series in the Australian Karting Championship, winning two of the three rounds this season. But in recent weeks other results have put him in the spotlight. He won the KA2 State Cup title in Townsville two weekends ago and before that he finished third in the FIA Academy Trophy round in the Czech Republic. The overseas karting series sees the best juniors race in the same machinery to see who is the best. Importantly, the series is a breeding ground for F1 stars with Charles Leclerc, George Russell and Esteban Ocon all competing in the series before making F1. Walton, if he continues his path, is well on track to do the same. He’ll be looking to continue his good form at home in Ipswich and set up a national title win, which would be his first.
Players to watch revealed on eve of Premier Invitational
Australia’s largest football tournament is just two sleeps away, with 500 teams and over 7500 players and coaches gearing up for the nine-day-long Premier Invitational. Meet the players you must see in action, the X-factors and born leaders:
‘Extra proud’: Lions rookie reflects on AFLW rise
A standout Sunshine Coast and Brisbane Lions Aussie rules talent has broken into the AFLW as she and a coaching legend reflect on her journey to the elite level. See what they had to say.