- about the Event
AKC Final Round 2025 | Coff’s Harbour
Hosted by Coff’s Harbour Kart Club this was OJ’s second time competing in the Australian Kart Championship.
Having never driven the track she teamed up with Top Gun Driver Academy once more to learn the track and gain stronger race craft.
With just 4 practice sessions on the Friday she showed consistent increasing of speed and promising times.
Saturday – Qualifying, Heats 1 -3
With heavy rain over night, and showers still occurring the track was declared wet at the time of qualifying.
Finding ourselves two seconds off the pace of the leaders she qualified 39 out of 41.
Heat one and the track was now dry, started 20 of 20, O.J achieved 16th by lap three she was showing great pace until a fellow competitor spun in front, striking him at the fastest part of the track she finished the heat last.
Heats two and three, whilst still gaining a few positions in each race, it was evident that the kart had more damage than realised.
In preparation for the next day, the kart chassis was placed on a straightening jig, finding the front twisted by 5 mm and the rear chassis rails bent up by 30 mm.
The chassis was scrap but the team at project X straightened it as much as possible to race the next day.
- Teamed up with Top Gun Driver Academy to gain stronger race craft
- Heavy rain and showers occurring the track was declared wet at the time of qualifying
- The kart had more damage than realised whilst still gaining a few positions in each race
- Result
The Final
Sunday – Heat 4 and Final
With a better but not perfect kart it’s was time to race heat four the last chance to achieve a spot in the final. Started again at the back in 21st, O.J battles and achieved 14th confirmed a spot in the final.
OJ’s first AKC final, starting 38 out of 41 drivers on the grid, a 15 lap race of the best cadet 12 drivers in the country, achieving 30th as she crossed the line.
Summary
Racing the Australian Kart Championship against the best drivers in the country is hard, whilst not achieving as high as we would have hoped, multiple learnings stand her in good stead for future races throughout 2026.
Special shout out to Troy at OTK Australia, Cody and Lee at Top Gun Race Academy for your continued support advice and mentoring it is greatly appreciated.
To Will at Project X thank you for all your efforts straightening my chassis to get me back out for the second day of racing.
