FLORIDA WINTER TOUR
with team driver Jonathan Venter
TOPGUN Just attended the Florida Winter Tour with team driver Jonathan Venter. Johno took this fantastic opportunity to race his Kosmic kart with J3 Competition in America to gain valuable overseas experience and prepare for the upcoming CIK Stars of Karting Series. With over 60 entries in his class and many drivers from Europe who run at the front of Rotax Euro series and many who have already competed at the Rotax World Final.
Our final day of practice at the Florida Winter Tour was a trying day with a few mechanical issues. We were four tenths of the pace but suffered engine dramas. Jonathan drove well improving all the time. At the end of the final day kart and driver were doing well engine not so well. Bring on Saturday morning warm up....
Saturday we had Qualifying one pre final and one final. Sunday was the same again, effectively being two race meetings in one. Qualifying didn’t go so well qualifying 20th position out of 60odd drivers but another tenth and would have been top ten so it was very very close. The first race Jonathan had nowhere to go in the first corner when a few drivers crashed in front. After running onto the grass and returning to the track more or less in last with a bent axle he did recover to 20th position. The final he started 20th again and put in a superb drive to get into 9th place only to be passed on the 2nd last lap and he came home in 10th place. A great effort and alot of things learnt. I am hoping after now racing overseas for the first time tomorrow he will be more use to this and do a very good job. So far Jonathan has done a great job and learning alot.
Sunday Jonathan Qualified 16th. Unfortunately he missed getting a tow in qualifying which hurt as with a tow for sure would have been close to top 5. The slipstream on this track is definitely at least worth 2 tenths. First he race was taken out in the first corner and was unable to continue. The final he started from the back and at one stage got up as high as 13th. After some tough racing he finished a very creditable 19th position. The whole week was a great learning curve. The competition was great with the best from USA, Canada, Brazil and also the UK. A few of these drivers compete both in the USA and also the Euro challenge. So now it’s off to the airport and I hope Johno remembered to pack all that experience he got this week into his bag so he can bring it home with him.
Friday 19th February, 2010
Jonathan Venter will be chasing the Pro Junior (KF3) championship in 2010. Pic: photowagon.com.au
Led by multiple Australian karting champion Troy Hunt, the Top Gun Racing outfit is ready to fire in the 2010 CIK Stars of Karting Series which kicks off in Newcastle in two weeks time (March 5-7).
Throughout the four-round series Hunt will guide young guns Jonathan Venter and Jacob Parsons as they chase the Pro Junior (KF3) championship. The Sydney teenagers will be joined in the Top Gun line-up by Wollongong driver Matthew Bailey, who will be competing in the Pro Light (KF1) championship.
“I’m really excited about the year that lies ahead and the group of drivers that I will be working with during the CIK Stars of Karting Series,” said Hunt. “It is great to see Australian karting once again having an ‘elite’ series and I am really looking forward to being a part of it.”
During the peak of his karting career in the late 90s Hunt battled with the likes of current day V8 Supercar stars Jamie Whincup, Mark Winterbottom and James Courtney at the top level of karting in Australia.
“The CIK style of racing has always been regarded as the top level of karting across the world. When it was last prominent here in Australia it helped the likes of Jamie, Mark, James and Ryan Briscoe to take the next step in their flourishing careers,” said Hunt.
As a part of his preparations Venter is this weekend competing at the Florida Winter Tour in America in the Junior Rotax category.
“An opportunity came up for me to race in America, the timing was right for me to come over here and by competing against some new drivers on a new track I will be able to gain some great experience heading into the first round of the CIK Stars of Karting Series next month,” said Venter.
Jacob Parsons in action. Pic: Photowagon.com.au
“The Pro Junior class is going to be pretty cool, I can’t wait to get to Newcastle and experience the extra power that the KF3 engine produces.”
Like his Top Gun team-mate, 15 year-old Parsons is excited about the prospect of working with Hunt and the Top Gun Racing outfit in the CIK Stars of Karting Series.
“Since I started racing almost six years ago I’ve always looked up to Troy Hunt and admired what he has been able to achieve during his career, so I’m really looking forward to learning as much as possible throughout the year,” said Parsons, who will be using engines prepared by Hurst Racing Engines.
“After finishing inside the top ten at the Nationals last year, I’m really looking forward to taking the next step in my karting career and being a part of the top karting series in the country.”
Wollongong driver Matthew Bailey. Pic: photowagon.com.au
About to embark on his tenth year in the sport Bailey is the most experienced of the Top Gun team but still has the youthful exuberance to compete at the top level of the sport.
“I grew up watching the CIK style of racing in the nineties, it was the pinnacle of karting so when I heard that style of racing was coming back, I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of it,” said Bailey.
“Newcastle is an amazing track, probably the best in the country in my eyes, I can’t wait for the first round to roll around.”
The CIK Stars of Karting Series will kick off in Newcastle on March 5-7 and will incorporate the Australian CIK Championships for the Pro Light (KF1), Pro Gearbox (KZ2) and Pro Junior (KF3) categories.
TOPGUN RACING TEAMS SUCCESSFUL DEBUT TO STARS OF KARTING SERIES
JONOTHAN VENTER missed most of Friday practice due to school commitments. Albeit though he had a very successful Qualifying result qualifying 3rd in the top 5 Shootout. In the heat races he had been instructed to run conservatively to preserve the tyres for the finals. Jono list and did a great job in the heats matching times with Pierce Lehane who had won the heats.
In the first final he drove a very smart race showing great signs of maturity and finishing a strong 2nd place. This meant an outside front row start for the final (not so good at Newcastle). Jono went into turn one in 5th place. After battling his way back into second the leader had a big lead. Jono was reeling him in 2tenths a lap. With around 8 laps to go jono realized his chance of catching the leader had gone. He came home a very encouraging 2nd.
JACOB PARSONS had never driven anything like the Pro Junior class before. This was always going to be a big learning curve for him with Sticky tyres and a lot of horsepower, everything he was not use to. Jake just missed getting into the top 5 Shootout. A great job considering his experience. In the heat races Jake was instructed to do the same as Jono and run conservatively to preserve the tyres for the finals. Jake listened and did a very good job. In one heat he broke a throttle cable and drove the majority of the race with one hand as the other was operating the accelerator.
In the first final Jake was starting 8th after his issues in the heats. A strong 5th in this race was an outstanding achievement especially as Jakes tyres were not looking the best which was also going to make the 2nd final difficult. Without much tyre left Jake did another great job to grab another 5th position. A very encouraging weekend for the young charger and looking forward to some testing and a strong result at the next round.
MATT BAILEY was returning to the Stars of Karting series after competing in 2 rounds last year. This year he had not had great preparation due to heavy work commitments so a lot of testing was done during practice and also the heats. With seniors having the luxury of 2 sets of tyres it gave us an opportunity to try many different settings in the heat races. By the first final we had got the set up close but still not right. With an 8th place finish it was important we find some improvement for the final. In the final there were a few competitors that had not completed the first final so there tyres were in great condition. The final though was very encouraging. Matt put on a sterling drive to finish a well deserved 4th position. Just missing the podium and catching 2nd. A little work between now and the 2nd round and he should run rather well.
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