Gillard Dominates CIK Championship

10 August 2009

Gillard driver John Grother has signalled his return to the top level of Australian karting by leading a Gillard one-two in an emphatic victory at round three of the 2009 Australian CIK Championship, held alongside the Rotax Pro Tour, at Raleigh International Raceway in New South Wales across the weekend.

Queenslander John Grother crossing the line
for victory in round three of the 2009 Australian CIK Championship.
(Pic: photowagon.com.au)

The CIK Championship, which had been absent from Australian circuits for almost five years until earlier this year, uses similar engines and tyres to the ones used in the World and European Karting Championships.

Grother was the dominant driver all throughout the weekend by qualifying on pole position, taking the win in all three heat races and dominating both finals yesterday to claim the victory ahead of Gillard team-mate Hayden McBride.

Such was the pace shown by Grother that his qualifying lap of 44.221 seconds was one of the fastest times ever recorded around the famous 1050-metre circuit which has hosted a number of International events over the years.

“It’s good to be home,” said Grother, who was making his first start in the rejuvenated CIK Championship.

“The CIK style of racing is what karting is all about for me. It’s got the speed, it’s got the grippier tyres and the long races – it’s just great.

“I only had limited time in the kart prior to the weekend, so to get the win in my return to the CIK Championship is an amazing result. I can’t thank Paul Gallo and Kristian Hanley from Gillard Karts enough for their support.

“This weekend has really enthused me for the next round at Ipswich and next year when I plan on doing the entire Series to chase the Championship.”

Grother dominated the weekend's proceedings
(Pic:photowagon.com.au)

A pair of second places in the finals was enough for McBride to snare the Championship lead back from South Australian Tyson Pearce, who recorded a third and a fourth placing in the two finals.

New Zealander Mitch Cunningham was among the podium runners for the majority of the weekend before claiming third spot in the opening final.

In the Rotax Pro Tour David Sera continued his domination of the Rotax Light division to claim a convincing victory ahead of his Arrow Karts team-mate Bart Price and rising star Tyler Greenbury.

CRG driver Jason Pringle continued his winning ways in the Rotax Heavy division by crossing the line ahead of Jonathan Dwyer. Finishing third was Lane Moore followed by his brother Trent.

Queenslander Ben Jurczak made it two Rotax Pro Tour wins in a row with a win in the Formula JMA ahead of Pierce Lehane and the Gold Coast pair of Christopher Hays and Jack Howard.

In the Rotax Over 35’s Gerry Brookes got the better of a weekend-long battle with Nicholas Crawshay while Brinley Gread took out the Rotax DD2 class.

The fourth and final round of the 2009 Australian CIK Championship will be held alongside the Rotax Pro Tour at Ipswich, Queensland on October 23-25.

For the full results CIK Round 3