Batemans Bay teenager Bailey Sweeny has capped off a fantastic season with a dominant month of go-kart racing.
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Sweeny first traveled to the Gold Coast to take part in the Gold Coast 600 Race of Stars, a precursor to the V8 Supercars endurance race.
The Race of Stars is one of the premier races on the karting calendar, and can only be entered via an invitation from race managers.
Sweeny competed in both the KA2 and KA3 divisions against karters from all over the world.
In the KA3 division, Bailey qualified on pole position, with a sizable margin to the next racer.
Unfortunately he couldn’t capitalise on the starting position, as kart issues and wet conditions consigned him to seventh place.
Sweeny qualified in third position for the KA2 division, but the wet conditions were his downfall in the main race, as he was taken out on the first corner.
He quickly got over the disappointment of Gold Coast with a second-placed finish in the Southern Stars Series.
He was just four points behind the leader going into the final round, but some kart issues stopped him from getting any momentum in the final.
A late-meet rally wasn’t enough to overturn his original deficit, but he held on to second place to finish on the podium alongside Josh Haynes and George Mawad.
The win saw Sweeny come home with the top prize of $1000, as well as another trophy for his cabinet at home. He also can boast the prestigious title of South Pacific champion.
Sweeny’s biggest achievement came at the South Pacific Titles held in Orange on November 10 and 11.
He competed in the KA3 junior division, and qualified in pole position after a strong showing in the heats.
The final was a tight-fought race, as Sweeny faced tough competition coming from the rear.
He had a fierce battle with Sydney driver Mawad, and despite his aggressive racing over the last few laps, Sweeny held on for a wire-to-wire victory.
The win saw Sweeny come home with the top prize of $1000, as well as another trophy for his cabinet at home.
He also can boast the prestigious title of South Pacific champion.
“It’s the biggest amount of prize money I have ever won,” Sweeny said after the race.
The achievement caps off a solid season for Sweeny, who also finished second at the NSW State Titles in Dubbo back in July.
He also won a series of races during the Shooting Stars Series, including a win at the Grenfell Kart Club.
Sweeny will step up next year to the National Series senior division with a Melbourne-based racing team called Shamick Racing.