Sponsors Challenge Round 4

Heat 1

With all the drivers briefed up and ready to race they headed out behind the pace kart in a two by two formation. As the pace kart peeled back into pit lane it was game on a look of steely determination took over the drivers faces as they passed the start line.

In the 1st heat we saw all our sponsors in fine form. As racing commenced we had our first crash of the night on lap 1 at corner 3 with most of the field caught in a multi-kart crash. Once the corner cleared and racing resumed normally we once again saw returning rivalry between Graham Hartshorne (JJ Richards), John Carter (Hit 105), Ben Vincent (Hit 105) and Ryan Cochran (JJ Richards) battling it out in the forward pack. In this race Graham Hartshorne and Ben Vincent were alternating holding the lead throughout the first heat and with great racing in the last half of the race.

First victory of the night for Sponsors Challenge Round 4 went to the team from Hit 105 (Ben Vincent and John Carter) claiming 1^st and 3^rd positions and JJ Richards’ Graham Hartshorne wedging between them to take out 2^nd position with Ben Vincent crossing the line with a win of 0.120 sec lead.

Fastest lap in heat 1 was JJ Richards Graham Hartshorne with a 62.292.

Heat 2

The drivers returned after having a 15-minute break for heat 2. The grid was then set up in reverse formation. There was no messing about it was out on track and in formation for race 2. The race began with all drivers bunching up as they exited turn 1 to 2 sending tyres rolling as they all attempted to push pass each other to get pass the other drivers.

A very clean race except for a minor scuffle at turn seven sponsors corner which saw Ryan Cochran (JJ Richards) Black flagged for causing the accident. This caused Graham Dawes (Coca-Cola) Aaron Pyne (R&J Batteries), Daniel Mc Veigh (Team Honda), Travis Kemp (Logan Community Bank) to be involved in a crash/spin out and fall to the end of the grid.

As we came to the final lap, all drivers came to the final last second push with their pedal flat to the boards. We had Jack Vincent (Hit 105), Graham Hartshorne (JJ Richards) and John Carter (Hit 105) crossing the line in the top 3 position with Jack Vincent (Hit 105) crossing with a 2.717 sec lead closely followed the top 3 were Rick Wengel (JJ Richards), Ben Vincent (Hit 105) and Troy King (Coca-Cola)

Fastest lap in heat 2 was once again awarded to Grahame Hartshorne (JJ Richards) with a 62.188.

Heat 3

With all the hard work from the previous two heats the drivers were placed into their points order in the briefing area. At the end of Heat 2 saw taking out the top 5 points were Graham Hartshorne (JJ Richards) with 116pts and Team Hit 105 (Jack, Ben, John) tied with 112pts, JJ Richards Rick Wengel with 96pts.

In the early laps we had JJ Richards Graham Hartshorne holding the lead with Ben Vincent, John Carter and Jack Vincent (Hit 105) in hot pursuit with Blaen Lowien (R&J Batteries) battling for 4^nd position with John Carter (Hit 105).

By mid-race we saw our drivers getting into the very quick 62.5 second laps and a few eager drivers engaging in some race contact on track as they attempted to move up in the on field positions to get those eagerly needed points for their teams which resulted in a few no bumping warnings being issued from the pit lane Marshall.

Lap 5 saw our drivers break into the 61sec of the night.

Just 2 laps to go and we had JJ Richards’ Graham Hartshorne holding a solid 0.794 sec defence followed by combo attack of Hit 105’s (Ben and Jack Vincent) in full pursuit mode and as they exited turn 8 once more towards the checked flag we saw a neck and neck dash to the checked between Graham Hartshorne and Ben Vincent with a final move gaining that split second advantage saw Graham Hartshorne cross the line with Ben Vincent right behind with a last sec pus by R&J Batteries’ Blaen Lowien saw him pass Jack Vincent and crossed 3^rd over the line.

Fastest lap in heat 3 semi-final was Hit 105’s Ben Vincent breaking in to the 61sec with a 61.509 recorded on his final lap.

Final

It has now come down to the moment of truth to see who will be the Round 4 winners in the 2017 Sponsors Challenge and as they headed out on their formation lap behind the pace kart in a two by two formation for the final race of the night there was tension in the air. As the lights went green we had JJ Richards’ Graham Hartshorne taking the lead followed by Hit 105’s Ben and Jack Vincent and JJ Richards’ Ryan Cochran hot on his racing line.

The pace was hotting up with Graham Hartshorne, Ben Vincent, Jack Vincent now forming into the top 3 defenders. They were closely followed by Hit 105’s John Carter and R&J Batteries’ Blaen Lowien who were defending against JJ Richards’ Ryan Cochran and Logan Community Banks Daniel Hellyer. By mid-race we had JJ Richards’s Grahame Hartshorne leading with a 0.454 lead. Hit 105’s Ben Vincent managed to pass Graham Hartshorne as the took the sponsors corner at turn 7 and dropping him to 2^nd position and we saw Ryan Cochran managing to pass John Carter and Jack Vincent and move up into 3^rd position with Hit 105’s Jack and John in full pursuit.

With all drivers in full pursuit with their great line taking and racing manoeuvring the checked flag was close in sight and as the leaders rocket out of turn 8 and as they pass the waive of the checked flag JJ Richards’ Graham Hartshorne wins followed by Ben Vincent (Hit 105), Ryan Cochran (JJ Richards) and not far behind them was the remaining might of team Hit 105’s (Jack and John) just 2sec behind them.

What a close and very competitive race and the spectators applauded the drivers as they returned to the pits and the conclusion of another fantastic Sponsors Challenge race night

In what has been one hell of a night out karting for all of the drivers in this round of the 2017 Sponsors Challenge Series it was now time to see who will be the champions of the night and have the bragging rights for round 3 of the 2017 Series.

Winners of the Night

1^st Place â€“ Graham Hartshorne (JJ) 236pts
2^nd Place â€“ Ben Vincent (Hit 105) 228pts
3^rd Place â€“ Jack Vincent (Hit 105) 220pts

Fastest Lap of the Night 

Ben Vincent (Hit 105) with a 61.509

Team of the Night

1^st Place â€“ Hit 105 with 662 Points
2^nd Place â€“ JJ Richards with 590 Points
3^rd Place â€“ Coca-Cola with 504 Points

To enquire about getting your company on the grid in 2017 please call our event sales team on 07 3826 2255