2012 Pro-Line Challenge

What a year of racing, the 2012 Pro-Line Challenge was one of the best series in Australia. The new format of 3 club series has really bough racers and clubs alike together. The event was so successful that clubs are lining up for 2013, we will definitely have a bigger and better 2013 Pro-Line Challenge.

Format:
1 day Race capped entries.
Pro-Line Blockade M3 Control Tyres for 1:8 Buggy
Pro-Line Revolver M3 Control Tyres for 1:8 Buggy
(3x) 7 minute heats, best 2 of 3 to count.
45 min A-Final.

Racing:
Round 1 – Maitland Newcastle
The track was black grooved before we even got there… racers were practicing 2 days prior to get any advantage on the revamped Maitland track, minor changes were made to the layout and the track flowed a little more while adding a couple of seconds to the lap times. Sunday morning and all were ready to rip it up, Round one run and with Ari Bakla turning up late, KC Shore took full advantage TQ’ing the buggy class. Class Favorite Brendhan Wade dominated Truggy. Qualifying was finished and KC Shore, local gun Dallas Gardiner and Ari Bakla were top 3 in Buggy. Truggy saw the Maitland Domination Brendhan Wade, Aaron Metcalfe & Jason Platt in the top 3. 30 minutes before the finals were to start the heavens open up… the rest of the meeting was canceled and results went off qualifying for the first round.

Round 2 – Canberra ACT
The Nationals for buggy were held at this exact track, with minor changes made to the layout. High grip and fast flowing track makes for great racing and it didn’t disappoint. The locals are always fast here, the ACT track certainly favors the home advantage. Shane Kelly was super fast in Buggy and Truggy battling with Ari Bakla, local gun Richard Leitis had his Truggy pumping, with the ever consistent Matt Primmer laying down some great times in Buggy and Truggy. This time round the Finals were not washed out… there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. In Buggy Ari Bakla lead early I but with a flame out after the 5 minute mark opened the door for Shane Kelly, and didn’t he move on with it, never headed he dominated the rest of the final with the ever consistent Justin Snape in second with series leader KC Shore in third. Truggies saw much the same Ari Bakla leading early until a breakage and Shane Kelly capitalized again and was never headed, Matt primmer 1 lap down in second with Richard Leitis rounding up the podium.

Round 3 – Liverpool NSW
The final hit out for 2012 Pro-Line Challenge was hot, not only the racing though, with 35+ Degrees (C) the heat was taking a toll on car and driver. luckily on race day cloud cover dropped the temps a little. Once again Shane Kelly started off with a strong run in Qualifying in both classes, Ari Bakla was missing the most of the morning and did not run the first 2 two qualifiers, KC Shore was looking strong with his first two round performances placing him with a great chance of taking the series win. Local gun Justin Snape quick and consistent as always and the dark horse Dragan Bjelic laying some super fast laps. Truggy saw Brendan Wade in the box seat, but again Shane Kelly was looking at taking the crown, local Michael Zlotkowski rounding up the top 3 in Truggy. Finals were ready to go, the track was swept watered and super grippy. The Blockade and Revolver were working a treat handling the super high grip. Truggy Final was up first and the top 3 were battling it out, 10 mins in Shane had a 10 second lead over Brendhan with Michael close behind, over the largest jump section on the track Shane tagged a back markers car and landed very badly tearing the rear end off his Mugen, this gave Brendhan the perfect opportunity to take home the title and he did it in fine form, never headed for the rest of the race crossing the line nearly a lap up on Michael Zlotkowski with Stephen Snedden in 3rd overall. The Buggy Final was just as good, Shane Kelly leading from the start with a 4 way battle KC, Dragan, Ari & Justin in a freight train, Ari was looking the fastest pushing through from 12th, but Shane looking the more consistent. KC dropped back with a few bad laps, Justin making the most of his 10 min run times pulled to the lead for a couple of laps, but after everyone had stopped for their first stops it was Shane, Ari & Dragan who were on pace, Ari dropped off with a runaway due to a receiver coming unplugged, Dragan held with Shane for a while but just dropping off a little lap after lap. with 10 min to go it was all Shane, Kevin Lewis had caught Dragan and were both struggling with under steering cars but managed to push each other to the finish with Kevin getting the better of that battle. But it was Shane Kelly who took the win along with the series.