NINOVIC WINS AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

The final round of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship was contested at Newcastle,

August 19-20-21.

Going into this event, 15 year old Sydney racer Alex Ninovic was trailing the current KA3

National Champion, Jace Matthews by 3 points. Having a winner takes all attitude, Alex went

about his craft setting up his factory PCR Kart for maximum performance, with the help of his

dad Sash.

FRIDAY PRACTISE

Having five timed sessions for all 36 competitors, Ninovic Jnr showed why he is the 2021 KA4

Junior National Champion by topping the time sheets in all sessions.

SATURDAY QUALIFYING

Only eight minutes would determine the grid, Alex took pole position, 48.535 over Keegan

Frazer 48.624 and Jace Matthews 48.866.

HEAT ONE

Another dominant performance by Alex who led all 12 laps setting the fastest time 48.979

over Keegan Frazer 49.041 and Jace Matthews in third, 49.085, keeping his Championship

hope alive.

HEAT TWO

Again, the Hamilton Blackstone Lawyers sponsored driver saw Ninovic take the win and fastest

lap over Jai Brown, Benito Montalbano, Keegan Frazer with Jace Matthews rounding out the

top five.

HEAT THREE

The racing was intense with the title going to the wire. Current National Champion Jace

Matthews incurred a two grid spot penalty putting him back to fifth leaving Alex first ahead of

Keegan Frazer, Benito Montalbano and Jai Brown.

FINAL

20 laps would decide who wins the title being crowned the KA3 Senior Champion for 2022.

The atmosphere was electric knowing there would be plenty of action.

Off pole Ninovic would lead into turn one, with Montalbano pushing, Alex was escorted wide

putting him back to fourth. Fighting back, Alex and Matthews had a coming together when

Jace left a gap. From there Alex came back from seventh position to follow race winner Benito

Montalbano over the line in second, ahead of Joel MacPherson, Jai Brown and Keegan Frazer

rounding out the top four.

Following scrutineering to check for Kart legalities, on board footage viewed by officials, all

was cleared and 15 year old ‘Alex Ninovic’ was

crowned KA3 Senior National Champion and

presented with the green Australia 1 plate.

At Sunday nights glitzy presentation dinner, Alex received his trophy, and IAME KA100 Engine, free

admission to the 2023 Australian Kart Racing Championship and eligibility to enter the 2022

IAME World Final in France. On stage Alex acknowledged Karting Australia for putting on the championship, the officials, his

family for their support, PCR Australia, Hamilton Blackstone Lawyers and fellow competitors.

For close to sixty years, being crowned a Champion in Australian Karting has been the pinnacle of the sport. While the karts, safety equipment and the sport as a whole may have changed dramatically, the honour of being crowned the best in your chosen class has not. Having the privilege of the number 1 Green plate on your kart is the highest honour in the sport. Last weekend, we saw another group of drivers add their name to the honour roll while celebrating another fantastic year of the SP Tools Australian Kart Championship presented by Castrol EDGE.