Klarich crushes rivals

Jake Klarich ran out a dominant winner in round 2 of the FMA Motorsport WAKZ series, leading every lap of the final to win by more than six seconds at the Albany City Kart Club on Sunday.

Klarich made an axle change on his kart after the opening day of competition where he finished fourth in qualifying and third in his first heat race, and it proved a masterstroke.

The talented driver was unstoppable on the final day, winning his second heat and then blitzing the field in the 15-lap pre-final to start the final from pole position.

After two failed attempts to get the field away from a standing start, Klarich blasted out of the blocks on the third effort and from there he was never headed.

The 18-year-old was brilliant in front as he raced further and further away with every lap completed, eventually claiming the 25-lap final by 6.37 seconds from round 1 victor Blake Mills.

Mills held off a gallant challenge from Lewis Sutherland, who came from fifth on the grid, while Simon Gwilliam made up a stack of positions from 12th on the grid to eventually finish fourth.

Darren Burke was the quickest driver in qualifying and he also won the opening heat race but slipped back through the pack and finished sixth after a last-lap pass by Kurt Kostecki who round out the top five.

Klarich credited the change of axle from Saturday for his improved performance on Sunday.

“We made an axle change and we won all three races today,” an ecstatic Klarich said post-race.

“One hundred per cent that was the difference, we ended up going in a circle with our set-up and put everything back to standard.

“Last year, I was fourth in the series and I finished second there (in round 1) so this has been a good start to the season.”

Klarich has just returned from a stint in Holland where he spent some time with KZ2 world champion Joey Hanssen and his business Hanssen Racing Engines where he did some engine development.

The Tiger Kart Club member will race in the 2014 CIK Stars of Karting Series around Australia joining Hanssen in the Shamick Racing team, and said it was great to have Hanssen in Albany helping him over the weekend.

“It’s great having Joey here. He is my mentor and we are good buds,” Klarich said.

“Hopefully I can use his experience and knowledge to get me to the top.”

Klarich, who won the WA junior national heavy State title in Albany in 2011, said he loved the new track extension.

A total of 38 KZ3 drivers, some who were clocked at more than 140km/h on the circuit, took part in the first-ever round in Albany.