The fourth round of the Slideways Junior Racing Series turned on the action, with excellent racing from two full fields of karts.
Featured on the day were Cadets, for drivers aged 7 to 11 years old, and Juniors, aged 12 to 15 years old, with racing taking place on the normal track directions to a three 10-minute race format.
Many of the front running younger competitors hone their craft at the Slideways Karting Academy, with weekly tuition teaching drivers race craft, while lowering lap times.
Next up on the Junior schedule at Slideways Go Karting World Pimpama is the fifth round of the 2018 season on July 15, set down for the reverse track direction.
Other upcoming events this week include the Slideways Sprint Racing Series, plus the Slideways Ladies Sprint Cup, on Wednesday evening, while the Slideways Enduro Series is scheduled to continue on Sunday morning.
More information on all Slideways race events can be found on the Slideways Gold Coast Public Race Days web page.
Slideways Junior Racing Series
The Junior portion of proceedings saw a talent rich field take to the track, with some close racing throughout.
Fresh from scoring pole position and finishing in the top-ten at the Sodi World Series finals in Italy, Liam Hydes proved to be the driver to beat on the day, especially after taking out the opening race win with a fastest race lap of 40.229sec.
Second place went to Chaad Hewitt, who put in an awesome drive in holding off Hydes’ advanced for much of the journey, while third place was a welcome return to Slideways competition for Jacques Goodman.
Next home was Charlie Edwards, hot on the bumper of Goodman, then Stefanie Wilmott, who put in a mega effort to hold off a train of three karts right to the chequered flag.
Juliette Russell was sixth, from Lewis Spencer, Jude Livermore and Olivia Herbison, who was recovering from a mid-race spin.
With the random starting order from the first race inverted for the second outing, it was Herbison who turned things around, claiming a classic race win by 0.650sec ahead of Russell, with Livermore 3sec further back in third.
Goodman was right in the mix finishing fourth, from Spencer, Hydes, Edwards, Wilmott and an unfortunate Hewitt.
Hydes just registered the fastest race lap with a 40.230sec, only 0.063sec faster than Herbison.
Combined points set the starting order for the finale, with Hydes running away to a 10sec victory, along the way setting a quick lap time of 39.604sec.
Goodman was solid in second and had to work hard to fend off fast finishing Russell, who in turn edged out Hewitt and Herbison.
There was a small gap back to Livermore in sixth, ahead of Spencer, Edwards and Wilmott.
In overall points for the day, it was Hydes from Goodman and Russell, while Hewitt earned the Encouragement Award, and Herbison the Best and Fairest.
Photos
PHOTOS! Slideways Junior Racing Series Round 4 >> https://t.co/jI8SMdaMFt #slideways #gokarting #goldcoast #brisbane pic.twitter.com/DZlcRRiFrk
— Go Karting World (@SlidewaysWorld) June 24, 2018
Video
VIDEO! Slideways Junior Racing Series Action. #slideways #gokarting #goldcoast #brisbane https://t.co/UIqnRofpBy pic.twitter.com/PmVT8I4C3f
— Go Karting World (@SlidewaysWorld) June 25, 2018
VIDEO! Slideways Junior Racing Series Action. #slideways #gokarting #goldcoast #brisbane https://t.co/UIqnRofpBy pic.twitter.com/MMOgdboMJn
— Go Karting World (@SlidewaysWorld) June 25, 2018
Slideways Cadet Racing Series
As always the pocket rockets in the Cadets turned on a great show, with a single full grid of competitors.
In the opening 10min race, Matthew Scholten continued his strong form in claiming the victory ahead of Brayden Hill and Will Hammond.
Matthew D’Arcy was right in the battle for the podium but had to settle for fourth, then Carter Skewes, Daniel Sullivan, Luke Wilson, Levi Boyd, Lachlan Trevillien and Zachary Naylor.
Quickest on track was Skewes with a 46.088sec lap time.
Sullivan turned things around to win the second race, ahead of Skewes, with Wilson rounding out the podium finishers.
Naylor was fourth to greet the chequered flag and fastest on track with a best lap of 46.407sec, then Trevillien, Scholten, Hammond, Boyd, D’Arcy and Hill.
Skewes converted in the final race for the day, with a commanding 5.997sec victory over Scholten and Sullivan.
Fourth and the fastest on track with a 46.180sec lap time was Wilson, then Hill, Hammond, Naylor, Trevillien, Boyd and D’Arcy.
The overall podium for the day mirrored the last race results, with Skewes ahead of Scholten and Sullivan, while Wilson was named Best and Fairest, with Trevillien presented the Encouragement Award.
Photos
PHOTOS! Slideways Cadet Racing Series Round 4 >> https://t.co/StgMB4WU4i #slideways #gokarting #goldcoast #brisbane pic.twitter.com/rqe7AeG1Cy
— Go Karting World (@SlidewaysWorld) June 24, 2018
Video
VIDEO! Slideways Cadet Racing Series Action. #slideways #gokarting #goldcoast #brisbane https://t.co/UIqnRofpBy pic.twitter.com/wpkvrzJXq2
— Go Karting World (@SlidewaysWorld) June 25, 2018
VIDEO! Slideways Cadet Racing Series Action. #slideways #gokarting #goldcoast #brisbane https://t.co/UIqnRofpBy pic.twitter.com/avS736pg9a
— Go Karting World (@SlidewaysWorld) June 25, 2018