B & A Kart Racing took on new challenges over the weekend at the first ever ROK Festival in Australian Karting at the Oakleigh Go Kart Club. Both James and Aiva Anagnostiadis took on new classes with James making his debut in the premier KA2 Junior class and Aiva having a run in the ROK GP Light class!
The younger of the 2 siblings James hit the track first for qualifying in his first timed session in the KA2 Junior ranks. Anagnostiadis shocked the field working his way into the top 10 and was pushing hard to try make his way into the top 5 drivers. James set the 7th fastest time and was ready to go racing starting off row 4. Anagnostiadis put in a stellar performance in race 1 when he quickly moved his way into the top 5 and was able to work his way forward to position 4 by the chequered flag. James hot start came to an abrupt halt in race 2 where he was involved in a first corner incident and was out of the race. Anagnostiadis put in a storming drive in the Saturday feature to come from position 9 into the top 3! James had an unfortunate post-race penalty which relegated him to position 5 to conclude Saturday.
Aiva hit the track on Saturday in the ROK GP Light class and wasting little time putting herself into calculations by qualifying inside the top 10 in position 9. Anagnostiadis had a great start to her racing showing improving pace and working her way 4 spots forward into 5th position in race 1. Aiva put in another brilliant performance in race 2, working her way into the top 3 and as high as 2nd before absolute heartbreak with 3 laps to go which put her out of the race. Anagnostiadis rough day continued with a lap 1 incident putting her to the rear of the field. Aiva charged back through the field to be in the top 10, before having to pull in to the pits in the back end of the race with a mechanical issue.
James was back out on track on Sunday and was qualifying in the wet, damp conditions. Anagnostiadis was once again able to put in a brilliant performance setting the 4th fastest time which had him off the 2nd row of the grid for race 4. James was shuffled back just outside the top 5 in race 4 crossing the line in 6th but a post-race penalty dropped him down to position 8. Anagnostiadis had a tough start to race 5 being put to the rear of the near 20 kart field. James drove his heart out and was able to recover to position 10 overall which had him off 9th spot for the 20-lap feature on Sunday. Anagnostiadis was able to put in another stellar performance moving up 4 spots on coming home just outside the top 5 in position 6 overall!
Aiva also had a wet qualifying session to start the day but came alight in the conditions setting the 3rd fastest time and was only 1 tenth off pole position. Anagnostiadis put in another consistent performance in race 4 coming home in position 5 overall in the high-quality field. Aiva didn’t have the showing she was after in race 5, coming home outside the top 5 in position 7 and she was now out of 6th spot for the Sunday afternoon feature. Anagnostiadis had a package of pace in the final and charged into the 3-kart battle for the final podium spot setting multiple fastest laps on the way. Aiva was able to come home in a brilliant 4th position overall in an excellent showing to round out the weekend.
James and Aiva’s parents spoke post weekend on their driver’s weekend of racing in their new classes. “Both drivers took on new challenges this weekend. James had his first race in KA2 and Aiva trying out the new ROK GP class. Both performed brilliantly and are looking forward to the next few months racing in Europe and the USA”. Both drivers of B & A Kart Racing will now prepare to race on the world stage in the back end of 2022!
