PHOTO CREDIT: PACE IMAGES
CXR Racing Engines took on the final round of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship in Newcastle over the weekend. With a strong team of 14 drivers competing across 7 classes, the team’s nerves were high with championship titles and round victories on the line.
Jace Matthews and Zane Rinaldi took to the track for X30 using their CXR Race Engines power. Matthews took out a crucial pole position in qualifying with Rinaldi not having the session he was after, down in position 29. Matthews was once again breath taking in the heats, taking out 3 wins and a 2nd spot putting him off pole position for the final. Rinaldi had done a brilliant job to move forward across the heats and was now looking for a top 15 finish. Matthews was in an epic battle in the final crossing the line on the podium in 3rd spot. Matthews results over the weekend was enough to clinch the Australian Kart Title in X30! Rinaldi put in a brilliant final, climbing his way up to position 13 by the finish and setting the fastest lap of the race.
Zander Watts was the youngest driver using the CXR Race Engines power in the Cadet 9 class. Watts qualified inside the top 10 in position 9. Zander did a brilliant job to race throughout the top 10 in his heats with position 8 in heat 4 and position 9 in heat 1 and 2 his highlights. Watts was driving his heart out in the final and was up to position 6 before an incident put him to the rear of the field on lap 10. Zander recovered to bring it home in position 14 in a weekend of great driving from the young charger!
Jack Wells and Liam Thomson took on the premier KA2 junior class using their CXR Race Engines power plant. Wells qualified in position 22 with Thomson down in position 39 in the incredibly talented field. Wells made his way into the top 10 across the split heats with position 8 and 10 in the opening 2 heats, while Thomson pushed into the top 15 across 3 of his heats with position 12 in the final heat his best result. Wells led the charge again in the final coming home just outside the top 15 in position 17. Thomson wasn’t far behind in position 21 moving up 18 positions from qualifying to his final!
Roman Krutil was another sole driver using the CXR Race Engines power, this time in the Cadet 12 category. Krutil qualified in position 17 and raced in and around the top 20 in his 2 opening heats. Heat 3 and 4 were both DNF results for the young driver putting him on the back foot going into the final. Roman bounced back and finished the all-important final, coming home in position 20 overall!
KA4 Junior had the double CXR Race Engines attack in Luke Rinaldi and Dominic Penman. Rinaldi set great pace to put himself in the top 10 in qualifying, with Penman not far back in position 17. Rinaldi led the way in his opening two heats with a top 10 in heat 1. Penman raced around the top 15 and 20 in all 4 of his heats going into the final. Penman put in a great final making his way up to position 16 by the finish line, just outside the top 15. Rinaldi had a tough end to his weekend not finishing heat 3, heat 4 and the final.
Jace Matthews was back out on circuit alongside Lachlan Platten in KA3 Senior for CXR Race Engines. Matthews qualified in position 3, with Platten just outside the top 20 in position 22. Matthews figured around the top 5 in all 4 of his heats and was going into the final race looking for another Australian Championship. Platten was able to move his way forward and break into the top 15 in heats 3 and 4. Matthews lead the early stages of the final before an incident dropped him down the field and end his chances. Matthews crossed the line in position 22 overall, with Platten just in front of his stable mate in position 21. Jace had done enough to clinch 2nd in the KA3 Senior Australian Kart Championship!
CXR Race Engines had a 4 driver attack in TAG 125 in Marc Tulloch, Declan Matthews, Brent Reading and Joshua White. Tulloch led the way in qualifying landing himself on the front row with Matthews also inside the top 10 in position 8. White landed in position 32 with Reading in position 33 after an issue in qualifying. Tulloch was the star of the heats with 2nd in heats 1 and 2 and 1st in heats 3 and 4. Matthews charged his way into the top 5 by heat 4 with Reading charging into the top 10 across his races. A couple of DNF’s going into the final hurt White’s starting position. Tulloch had absolute heart break, ending in the sand trap at turn 1 lap 1. Reading and Matthews were able to put in scintillating drivers to come home in position 4 and 5 respectfully. White put in a stellar drive making his way into the top 20 in position 17!
The results over the weekend were enough to clinch 2nd position in the team’s championship for CXR Race Engines. Team owner Craig Matthews spoke post weekend on the team’s results. “Well, what a year – to come 2nd in our first entry into the team’s championship shows all the dedication and hard work all our drivers put in. Special mention to Declan and Jace for providing support to all our drivers while racing. Thanks again to all our team and customers and bring on 2023 as we move to a new workshop”. CXR Race Engines will be back bigger and better in season 2023!
