The Slideways Open Sprint Series kicked off in fine style at Slideways Go Karting World Pimpama on the weekend, with a solid field facing the starter for three 10-minute races.
With the ultimate goal of landing a position in the Slideways PWR Scholarship Program, competitors were greeted by a refined format for the event.
As always, the full fleet of karts was benchmark tested prior to the event, and the playing field was levelled with the addition of the Sodi weight box system.
Kicking off proceedings was a return to all-in qualifying, with all competitors receiving two flying laps to set the grid for the opening race, contested on the normal track direction.
Setting the pace was 2018 series champion Jackson Faulkner (40.971sec), from twice junior champion Liam Hydes (41.153sec), then Gavin Faulkner (41.361sec).
Lining up from fourth was Clayton Hydes, then Aaron Gilbert, Alex Jacovides, Chris Rice, Keenan Faulkner, Martin Kidd, Chloe Buck, Luke Day, Dan Greer, Clint Williams, Leighton Cook, Nathan Baran and Adam Whalen.
The top three from qualifying finished that way in the opening race, with Faulkners Jackson and Gavin split by Liam Hydes, with the trio covered by less than a second at the chequered flag.
Keenan Faulkner came through for fourth, then Jacovides, Clayton Hydes, Gilbert, Rive, Buck, Kidd, Cook, Day, Williams, Greer, Baran and Whalen.
For the second race, the grid was determined by a random draw “chook lotto” invert, where a number between three and eight (half the size of the grid) were reversed for race two.
The lucky draw number was four, which saw Keenan Faulkner line up from pole, which he converted to a Faulkner sweep of the podium, with Gavin second and Jackson third.
Liam Hydes was within a second of the ultimate race winner in fourth, chased hard all the way by Jacovides.
Sixth was a great result for Buck, ahead of Clayton Hydes, the hard charging Cook, then Gilbert, Kidd, Day, Rice, Williams, Whalen, Greer and Baran.
With combined points setting the starting order for the finale, it was once again the Jackson Faulkner show from pole position, clearing out to a 3.235sec win over Liam Hydes.
Third place went to Jacovides, then Gavin Faulkner, Cook, Clayton Hydes, Buck, Gilbert, Rice, Day, Kidd, Keenan Faulkner after a mid-race spin, then Williams, Baran, Whalen and Greer.
In overall points for the day, it was Jackson Faulkner on top from Liam Hydes, Gavin Faulkner, Jacovides, Keenan Faulkner, Clayton Hydes, Gilbert, Buck, Cook, Rice, Kidd, Day, Willaims, Greer, Baran and Whalen.
Earning the best and fairest bonus points for the day were Jacovides, ahead of Buck and Cook, with the live updated points available on the Slideways Open Sprint Series web page, with extra points also available for referring a friend to the series.
Photos!
PHOTOS! Slideways Open Sprint Series Round 1 2019 >> https://t.co/nHTX9NDCWj #slideways #gokarting #goldcoast #brisbane pic.twitter.com/IwO0Wlkyl7
— Go Karting World (@SlidewaysWorld) February 17, 2019
Video!
VIDEO! Slideways Open Sprint Series Round 1 https://t.co/UIqnRofpBy #slideways #gokarting #goldcoast #brisbane pic.twitter.com/rsRSOZOk6i
— Go Karting World (@SlidewaysWorld) February 17, 2019
VIDEO! Slideways Open Sprint Series Round 1 https://t.co/UIqnRofpBy #slideways #gokarting #goldcoast #brisbane pic.twitter.com/DsQ1clW5yO
— Go Karting World (@SlidewaysWorld) February 17, 2019
VIDEO! Slideways Open Sprint Series Round 1 https://t.co/UIqnRofpBy #slideways #gokarting #goldcoast #brisbane pic.twitter.com/9UMWEXaDuA
— Go Karting World (@SlidewaysWorld) February 17, 2019
Upcoming Events
Slideways Enduro Series
Round 1: Friday 22th February (Forward Direction)
Registration 7pm, driver briefing 7:30pm
3x5min Qualifying 75min Race $285 per kart (2-3 drivers)
Slideways Junior Sprint Series
Round 1: Sunday 24th February (Forward Direction)
Registration 7:30am, driver briefing 8am
3 Lap Qualifying, 10min Race, 10min Race (Random Draw Reverse Grid), 10min Final Race $100pp
Slideways Ladies Sprint Series
Round 2: Sunday 24th March (Slideways Go Karting Gold Coast Nerang)
Registration 7:30am, driver briefing 8am
3 Lap Qualifying, 10min Race, 10min Race (Random Draw Reverse Grid), 10min Final Race $100pp
Slideways Open Sprint Series
Round 2: Sunday 24th March (Slideways Go Karting Gold Coast Nerang)
Registration 7:30am, driver briefing 8am
3 Lap Qualifying, 10min Race, 10min Race (Random Draw Reverse Grid), 10min Final Race $100pp
Don’t forget – free early bird practice for online entries received the Monday prior to the events!
Slideways PWR Scholarship Program is GO for 2019!
Recreational go kart racing can now take you right through to being on the grid at Bathurst!
- Every single race at Slideways Race Events count towards the season pointscore in determining the Slideways PWR Scholarship Program recipients – consistency throughout the year counts!
- Also earn full points in qualifying, by referring friends to Slideways Race Events, and by winning Best & Fairest nominations in events
- All categories count – Junior, Open Sprints, Ladies Sprints and Enduros get the opportunity to go Hyundai Excel Racing, Cadets continue along the path in Slideways Race Events
- The scholarship provides two-thirds the budget required to go circuit racing in the various stages of the program
- Total scholarship contribution to racing budget – up to $35,000 over five stages
Learn more about the Slideways PWR Scholarship Program here.
Learn from the Pros at the Slideways Karting Academy!
The Slideways Karting Academy returns to Slideways Go Karting World Pimpama for 2019, teaching drivers of all ages and skill levels the tips and tricks to improve lap times and race craft.
Racers only pay for the on-track portion of activity, with one-on-one tuition provided by our highly experienced instructors.
Click here for all of the details.
