WARRNAMBOOL Kart Club’s Lachie Swayn is relishing the new challenges he will face in his first season in a tougher class.
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The 15-year-old, who turns 16 on Wednesday, has jumped from the KA4 Junior Heavy class he drove in last season’s Victorian Country Series into the Senior Combined Light.
But the upgrade in class didn’t seem to bother the Emmanuel College year 11 student, who has had Grand Annual Sprintcar Classic winner Corey McCullagh in his pit crew for the past four years, as he stormed to pole position in the final after a blistering qualifying.
Swayn, who would end up finishing third in his first race in the new class, said he was surprised by his first performances at the season opener at Lake Gillear on Sunday.
“It has been a good start. I didn’t expect it to be this good,” he said.
“But hopefully we build on that for the rest of the year.
“It’s challenging and it’s very hard to pass as they are a lot more aggressive in holding their positions but we have to get used to it and we will get there.”
Swayn said he had put in a lot of extra work with McCullagh in the off-season to test and practice in the new kart, which has a top speed of 100kmh.
The Warrnambool Kart Club member, who joined the sport with his father Murray four years ago, is eager to continue the form he built at his home track into the next round of the series and into the North West Titles in Mildura in June.
“I’m hoping for a top-five or 10 finish in the (Victorian) Country Series overall,” he said.
“Hopefully a few wins and a few podiums here and there as well.”
Over 250 drivers, including V8 Supercar racer Nick Percat, participated in the two-day event.
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
