CHAMPIONS CROWNED AT AUSTRALIAN KART CHAMPIONSHIP GALA DINNER
Brad Jenner was the recipient of the Driver’s Driver Award for the third time.
The Champions of Australian Karting were crowned on Sunday night at a Gala Dinner hosted by Greg Rust at the Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre, celebrating the 2024 SP Tools Australian Kart Championship.
The top three competitors in each of the eight classes along with several special perpetual awards with more than $100,000 in prizes being shared by the winners.
The most prestigious award of the night is the Drivers’ Driver Award. This year, the driver adjudged to be the best and fairest among their peers was Brad Jenner, it is the third time the Victorian veteran has been awarded the honour.
The Best Presented Team of the Year for this year was the Nick Percat-led JND Racing, who also finished third in the Teams Championship behind winner Parolin Australia and Runner-up Empire Kartsport. The 2024 Manufacturer of the Year was the Kart Republic Chassis
Lana Flack was the recipient of the Ladies Trophy for the third year in succession.
Along with the annual Ladies Trophy winner – for the highest grossing female pointscorer that entered Championships. This year Lana Flack was crowned Australian karting’s best female driver for the third time, with Karting Australia Director Samantha Reid and More Than Equal’s Sarah Moore presenting the award.
The history making five round SP Tools Australian Kart Championship, presented by Castrol visited five venues and four states in 2024 – South Australia (Bolivar, round one), Victoria (Eastern Lions, round two; Oakleigh, round five), Queensland (Emerald, round three) and New South Wales (Coffs Harbour, round four).
The Event of the Year – as judged by competitors and officials across a number of criteria – for 2024 was the Emerald Karting Club. The voting was the closest ever seen in the history of the Championship with all Host Clubs making a significant impression.
Sam Dicker was crowned the Australian KZ2 Champion for the second time in succession with Joshua Fife taking second place and Nikola Mitic third. Dicker was also awarded the John Pizarro Pertual Trophy.
Isaac McNeill with Jon Targett and Karting Australia Director Andrew Westacott.
The premier junior class, KA2 Champion is Isaac McNeill, winning ahead of Lewis Cordato and Ky Burke. McNeill will has his name etched on the Jon Targett Prepetual Trophy alongside the likes of Alpine F1 Driver Jack Doohan and Supercars drivers Broc Feeney and Kai Allen – all who are former KA2 Champions.
In a history making year, for the first time, McNeill became the first driver to claim both Junior Titles – winning KA3 Junior ahead of Jack Szezcuk and Samuel March.
Brad Jenner announced his retirement from the sport in winning his fifth Australian Title and third X30 Championship ahead of Jace Matthews and Max Walton. Jenner’s acceptance speech was proceeded by a message from Supercars Champion James Courtney, as Jenner took home Courtney’s perpetual trophy for a third time.
Harrison Hoey won his second TaG 125 Title in front of Jacob Dowson and Jackson Souslin-Harlow
In KA3 Senior, Mika Lemasurier claimed his first ever Australian Title in front of William Thompson and Amos Orr, who rocketed into contention with a stella run in the final round.
In the youngest categories, Archie Bristow capped a dominant year by winning Cadet 12 over Jack Larsen and Joseph Bianchini.
Cadet 12 Champion Archie Bristow
In Cadet 9, second generation racer, Oliver Williamson emulated his father Tom as an Australian Champion scoring more points than third generation driver, Jarvis Hindle and Lukas Loeskow – the cousin of multiple Australian Champion, Troy.
The evening capped an eventful year, full of incredible memories.
“2000 competitors from right across Australia and internationally from New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, the United States and Sweden all travelled to our events across the year,” said Karting Australia CEO, Kelvin O’Reilly.
“We welcomed a record 25 female competitors in total – the most ever in the Championships history.
“Testament to the Championship over the decade it has been in operation is the number of Australians performing on the world stage – we have Oscar Piastri in Formula 1 and next year, Jack Doohan will be the first Australian Kart Championship Champion to graduate into motorsport’s highest category, plus a multitude across elite categories through Europe, Asia and the United States.”
Dates and venues are currently being discussed for 2025 with announcements due soon.
AWARD WINNERS – 2024 SP TOOLS AUSTRALIAN KART CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY CASTROL
Champion Manufacturer – Kart Republic
Teams Championship
Champion – Parolin Australia
Runner-up – Empire Kartsport
Third Place – JND Racing
Ladies Trophy Winner – Lana Flack
SP Tools Mechanic of the Year – Andrew DiCarlo (Pip Casabene – Pro Karting)
Event of the Year – Round 3 – Emerald Karting Club
Best Presented Team – JND Racing
Maxxis Tyres Most Improved Cadet – Lazarus Anoneuvo
Maxxis Tyres Cadet of the Year – Archie Bristow
KZ2
Champion – Sam Dicker
Runner-up – Joshua Fife
Third Place – Nikola Mitic
KA2
Champion – Isaac McNeill
Runner-up – Lewis Cordato
Third Place – Ky Burke
X30
Champion – Brad Jenner
Runner-up – Jace Matthews
Third Place – Max Walton
TaG 125
Champion – Harrison Hoey
Runner-up – Jacob Dowson
Third Place – Jackson Souslin-Harlow
KA3 Senior
Champion – Mika Lemasuirer
Runner-up – William Thompson
Third Place – Amos Orr
KA3 Junior
Champion – Isaac McNeill
Runner-up – Jack Szewczuk
Third Place – Samuel March
Cadet 12
Champion – Archie Bristow
Runner-up – Jack Larson
Third Place – Jay Kostecki
Cadet 9
Champion – Oliver Williamson
Runner-up – Jarvis Hindle
Third Place – Lukas Loeskow