Last Saturday night saw James Kennedy wrap up what has been a pleasing 2016-17 season in the best possible fashion, winning the final KRE F500 Championship Series round at Brisbane’s Archerfield Speedway.

Off the back of a promising debut last season, which saw him finish an impressive fifth in the Australian Title at Gunnedah Speedway, and runner-up in the Queensland Title at Cairns International Speedway, along with scoring numerous minor podium finishes in KRE F500 Championship Series rounds, Kennedy certainly stepped it up for the 2016-17 season.

Achieving his maiden feature-race win in a Championship Series round at the Archerfield Speedway earlier this season aboard his new Qld # 29 Barry’s Balustrading supported Yamaha R6-powered Stallard, Kennedy also managed to back up last season’s Queensland Title result with another runner-up finish, this time at Rockhampton’s Rocky Speedway. Proving his consistency and continuing his strong form, Saturday night saw the Brisbane-based racer culminate his season with another positive result.

Delivering a dominant performance in the final Championship Series round, Kennedy went through the entire night undefeated, winning both of his heat races and lining up in pole position alongside current and three-time Australian Champion Liam Williams, before going on to claim feature-race victory number two. The win was also enough to secure second place in the overall KRE F500 Championship Series point standings behind Williams.

“Last Saturday night’s win is definitely the most satisfying, having been able to achieve a clean sweep and qualify on pole position, before going up against the best driver in the country in Liam (Williams) and coming out on top,” expressed 20-year-old Kennedy, who this season participated in the Speedway Australia Rising Star program, which he believes to have been extremely beneficial to both his racing career and himself as a driver.

“It’s been a really great season for us overall and the new car has definitely played a big part in that. I’ve been able to get a lot more experience under my belt, as well as confidence, and that has been reflected in our results.”

Having previously spent six seasons in Junior Sedans, before spending one season on the sidelines, Kennedy then stepped into Formula 500s in the 2015-16 season, purchasing a 2012 Stallard chassis and displaying encouraging form from the outset.


With his regular 2016-17 season racing schedule now complete, Kennedy will now shift his focus towards the MAD Formula 500 Series, after recently receiving the opportunity to participate in the series with the Ryan Skennar Racing team, running their second Swift machine. The series takes place between Cairns International Speedway and Mareeba’s Kerribee Park Raceway. The series is set to commence on the Saturday night of June 10 at Cairns International Speedway.

For the 2017-18 season, Kennedy plans to contest a similar racing schedule, as well as contesting Speedweek Series throughout Victoria and also the Australian Title in the Northern Territory.

Kennedy would like to thank his 2016-17 season sponsor, Barry’s Balustrading, for their valued support. He would also like to give special thanks to his mum Kerry, his brother Jason, and Dave Fanning.

To find out more about Kennedy and his team, LIKE them on Facebook by searching James Kennedy Motorsport

Photo courtesy of The Carrells