Events

Round One, held at the Greg Moore Raceway in Chilliwack, British Columbia, provided some great racing action and the deck is getting ready to shuffled in just a few days time. In the stacked Rotax Senior Max field it was Tyler Wheeler (Scuderia PCR) and Bryce Choquer (Tony Kart) splitting the wins while 2009 Senior Class Champion Chris Glover held on for a couple of top fives among the 28 kart field. In the championship points tally its Choquer on top by eight points over Wheeler thanks to two prefinal wins, a final win and a second place finish. In third is Glover followed by Michael Hogg (Top Kart) and Christophe Boisclair (Arrow Kart) to round out the top five. Look for local stand out Chad Grunow (Tony Kart) to be strong at Martensville, his home track and the emergence of Thomas MacGregor as he takes a break from his car-racing program.

In Rotax Masters Max it was Blair Gautschi (Arrow), Bob Wakeling (CRG) and Jerry Kroll (CRG) leading the way in the experienced division. Gautschi was perfect in Chilliwack and will need to stay focused as the CRG duo look to take away the top spot. Several local drivers maybe looking to add their name to the trophy presentations this weekend as well.

Rotax DD2 never fails to throw down some great action and look for racers to lean on the shift lever a little harder as they chase down double winner and points leader Kyle Stevens (CRG). Stevens, the 2009 DD2 Champion, is being hunted by Noel Dowler (Tony Kart) and Travis Macdonald (Arrow). Dowler and Macdonald split the second and third spots in the previous round leaving them tied for second just 11 back of Stevens perfect 178 score.

New to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals this year in Italy will be the DD2 Masters class. The WCC has followed up and made a seat on Team Canada available to the top two-speed veteran. Scott Campbell (Ital Kart) made the move up to Masters and swept the opening weekend of action. Chasing the multi-time Team Canada member is John Kwong (Intrepid) and Jeff Bachalo (Tony Kart).

East coast campaigner Garett Grist had his hands full learning the challenging Chilliwack track and holding off several drivers looking to make some noise. Grist was able to grab the win on Saturday in the rain and made a last lap pass to take the victory on the Sunday. Grist leads the points just nine ticks up on rookie standout Matthew Moniz (Mach 1) and front runner Austin King (Scuderia PCR). Look for Adam Dowler (Tony Kart), Marcus Brody (Vemme Kart) along with Emily Maddison (Scuderia PCR) to make some noise on the podium this weekend.

In the Mini Max class it’s Mark Newson (Scuderia PCR) on top of the points standings with 174 points courtesy of two wins in the opening weekend. Newsom is followed in the championship by Garrett Gulenchyn (Arrow) and Brendan Deibert (PCR Kart). Look for Tristan Merke (Birel) Jordan Brown (MBA) to challenge for podiums at Martensville.

A solid four-cycle program is a big part of the Saskatoon Kart Racers club and WCC organizers are hoping to see increased numbers in the Honda and World Formula classes this weekend. In Jr1 it is Garrett Gulenchyn (Arrow) on top followed by Stephan Bachalo (Arrow) and Alan Haggerty (Scuderia PCR). Gulenchyn and Bachalo split the opening weekend wins with both Haggerty and Ryan Malhiot (Arrow) taking home hardware as well. JR2 is lead by Bradley Dezall (Scuderia PCR) with Dalton Hubred (Ital Kart) and Matthew Shirley (Arrow) tied for the second spot. In Senior four-cycle racing it is Chris Genge (Arrow) on top, followed by Ron Adams (Arrow) and Greg Henderson (MS Kart). Genge took both finals but was unable to take a win in the pre-final races as Adams and Henderson shared in that honour. Look for another tight battle up front in Saskatoon.

“We count on the local track to provide the support the series needs to grow in the west,” comments Joey Guyon of Overdrive Motorsports and one of the WCC organizers. “The Saskatoon Kart Racers have always done a great job for the WCC and we look forward to coming back each year.”

As the designated Rotax Max Challenge series in the west, the WCC has secured four direct passes to Team Canada along with trips to the RMCGF in Lonato, Italy for Rotax Junior, Senior, DD2 and DD2 Masters. Several classes are wide open while others will see defending champions return to see if they can hold onto their crown. Along with the RMCGF invitations, the WCC has also secure support from the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas. Series organizer Andy Seesemann has offered entries to the 2011 edition of the RMC designated series for the Mini Max and Senior Max Masters classes. Drivers can choose from a fully paid weekend or entry fees into the entire six round series.

Saturdays racing was headlined by a great show in the Honda Sr. class. Although the final started in the dry, a brief shower near the mid-point jumbled the action and order on track. The foursome of Dalton Kellett, Randy Packham, Andrew Campbell and Johnny Flute, all swapped the lead position while struggling to find grip. With the shower lasting only a handful of laps, the track dried up quickly and in the end Flute took the victory on home soil, followed by Campbell. Randy Packham would get his redemption in the Honda Masters class though, as he would lead flag-to-flag to record the victory.

Other victors on Saturday would be: Braedon Alexander in Novice, Brandon Hawkin in Jr. Light, and Trevor Rancier in Jr. Heavy. In the 2-stroke classes, Sasha Aleksic stole the show in Rotax Jr. while Kenneth O’Keefe was in cruise control in Rotax Sr. while Darren White took the Shifter/DD2 class aboard a TonyKart Shifter kart. Finally Grant Cinnamon won the TaG Masters class.

Sunday’s action was highlighted by a wild Honda Masters race. A six-kart pack was formed in the opening laps headed by Saturdays’ winner Randy Packham and runner-up Jamie MacArthur along with Scott Brooks. The group fought through a brief light shower on their slick tires, tippy-toeing around the 1.5km track. In the end, Packham was able to hold on long enough to earn his second victory of the weekend.

In other action on Sunday, Braedon Alexander won again in Novice, Jeffrey Kingsly won in Jr. Light and Sean McPhee won an exciting Jr. Heavy race. Even showing up late and missing qualifying couldn’t stop Taylor Gates in Sr. Honda as he took the win in fine fashion. Finally, O’Keefe, White and Cinnamon doubled up in their respective classes with Sunday victories.

Two track records were also broken on the weekend as Andrew Massey posted a blistering 1:05.559 to hold the record in Honda Masters, while David Shutiak now holds the record in Rotax Masters with his time of 58.03 seconds.

All of the best international drivers are expected to arrive in Portimao, including the winners of the WSK Euro Series – Frenchman Armand Convers (Super KF), Belgian Jonathan Thonon (KZ1), Italian Ignazio D’Agosto (KF2) and Dutchman Max Vestappen (KF3). Roughly 120 drivers will be competing at the first round of the three event championship.

As we have seen the number of North Americans competing in Europe increase, so does the fact that one of the three rounds will be held in the United States. On July 29-August 1, the series will make stop number two at the F1 New Jersey circuit at the New Jersey Motorsports Park in Millville. The event will be the weekend after the third round of the WSK North American Series by CKI – July 23-25 – at the same facility.

A total of six North American drivers will contest the opening round in Portugal:

Phillip Orcic – Super KF: The headline Super KF category will see one North American – Canadian Philip Orcic. The 15-year old has spent some time competing in Europe over the last few years and has found himself hooked up with the Dutch team – Keijzer Racing. Racing three events in the Super KF category aboard the Zanardi/Maxter combination, Orcic scored one point in the WSK Euro Series (15th in the Sarno Final).

Gary Carlton – KZ2: The three-time North American shifter kart champion is eyeing at becoming an international karting star with his campaign of the WSK World Series. The Californian has signed on to run with the factory CRG-Maxter outfit once again and primed up for the World Series program with a great run in Sarno, Italy for the WSK Euro Series.

Phil DeLaO – KF2: eKartingNews.com 2008 Young Driver of the Year Phil DeLaO will make his European debut at the opening round of the WSK World Series. The Team Top Kart USA driver will join Comer s.p.a. factory team to pilot a Top Kart/IAME package. DeLaO scored his first WSK North American Series victory in May at his home track in Phoenix.

Gustavo Menezes – KF2: A two-time national vice-champion in JICA competition, Menezes has the most European experience of the six drivers racing in Portugal. After two years contesting events in the KF3 category, the 15-year old has made the jump to the KF2 division and now is part of the official Tony Kart Racing Team. In two starts in the WSK Euro Series, Menezes had a best finish of 16th at Sarno.

Tristan DeGrand – KF3: Getting a taste of European racing last season, Tristan DeGrand has made it his priority in 2010. Racing with Tony Kart satellite team – Ward Racing – DeGrand contested the WSK Euro Series with a best finish of 20th at Genk, Belgium. The 14-year old was crowned the KF3 national champion in 2009 in just his first year in the category.

Bas Lammers against Jérémy Iglésias. All throughout the 2010 European Championship this has been a fantastic contest between these two Intrepid team mates but also a contest to which their opponents have contributed. The leader after the first meeting in Sarno, and on pole position for the start of the first race this Sunday, Jérémy Iglésias (Intrepid-TM) was keenly hoping to finally grasp this international crown for which he has been bidding for several seasons. But the Frenchman couldn’t hold off a majestic Bas Lammers (Intrepid-TM) during the first race. The equation was therefore simple : whoever would finish in front of the other in the second race would be European Champion.

Beaten on time by Thomas Mich (Birel-TM), twice in 3rd place at Varennes and finally on the 3rd step of a Final podium, the duel had all of the spectators present holding their breath. Passing and repassing each other on this fast track favouring the hopes and aspirations of both, the two men served up an incredible spectacle in a fine sporting spirit for which ‘fair-play’ would be the very least that could be said. And if one final desperate move by Jérémy Iglésias would send the Frenchman sailing into the gravel after a slight contact, he would nevertheless be the first to congragulate his team mate at the foot of the podium.

“I am super happy to take away this new title”, explained his colleague Bas Lammers. “Jérémy is a fantastic driver and we have truly had a very sporting tussle. This is also evidence of our collaboration which we have worked on to achieve this double for Intrepid. On a more personal note, this race has been particularly difficult because my father is gravely ill. It was when thinking about him that I couldn’t prevent myself shedding a few tears on the podium. I dedicate this title to him.”

With three victories in four races, the Dutchman has hardly stolen his second consecutive European crown in KZ1, and the third after having also acquired a Formula A (100cc) title in 2003. As for Jérémy Iglésias, in spite of an understandable disappointment, he remained optimistic. “Last year, I lost the title after making several mistakes”, he recalled. “This year, I have had a truly super season and I have tried my utmost. I realised towards the end of the second race, I was not going to be champion. Two laps from the end, I had tried to pass Bas on the inside. There was the slightest contact, my front wheels came off the track and I had finished my race in the gravel trap. But I have no regrets and I certainly want to congratulate my team mate. This driver is the most decent and sporting I know.”

Behind the team mates and the Frenchman Thomas Mich, the top 5 in the Championship was also completed by the Frenchmen Anthony Abbasse (Sodi-TM) and Manuel Renaudie (PCR-TM). Less quick than at Sarno, British driver Jack Hawksworth (Maddox-Parilla) finished 6th, and was the first driver not powered by a TM motor, but in front of Belgian Yannick De Brabander (Intrepid-TM), running a fine second in the second race of his first season in gearbox karting. The evergreen Antonio Piccini (Intrepid-TM), the Dutchman Jorrit Pex (CRG-TM) and the Italian Antonio Piccioni (Parolin-SGM) had equally good results in finishing in the top 10 of this most sportingly contested Championship!

Just as in KZ1, the suspense had been intense in KZ2. Taking the honours in the first race, would the Dutch girl Beitske Visser (Intrepid-TM) be successful in beating all her male opponents to the finishing line and in doing so make history in taking the title ? For a while this young girl of just 15 years old made such an impression with her speed. But a very obvious push by Simone Brenna (TB Kart-TM) during the second race – the Italian driver subsequently being excluded by the Stewards – took away all Beitske’s dreams. During this time, the Frenchman Yann Pesce (Energy-TM) was seemingly best placed. Second in the first race, the local driver was momentarily thinking of himself taking the crown.

But this was without reckoning on Paolo De Conto (Energy-TM). Progressing well after a lowly 9th place in the first race, the Italian would finish the second race on the second rung – after the exclusion of Brenna – to take the crown in style. “This is fantastic to win this title,” an ecstatic Paolo declared. “When I had seen that I wasn’t in a high enough position to be champion, I just thought to attack as much as possible and to pass all those in front of me. I am looking forward to contesting the World Cup in September in Braga, where I hope to do battle with the best of the KZ1 class drivers.”

Living just a few kilometres from the outskirts of the circuit, the Frenchman Yann Pesce took immense pride in climbing onto the top step of the podium in front of his supporters. A great joy, but also a degree of frustration. “On crossing the finishing line as the winner I was thinking I would be European Champion,” he explained. “But then on the slowing down lap, I saw Paolo’s delight and I realised that he had done sufficient to be crowned Champion. I was really very disappointed… In another way, I cannot feel sorry for myself when I had initially only imagined myself in the top 10.”

The Dutchman Kevin Leitjens (Energy-TM) completed the Championship podium, as the 3rd driver mounted on an Energy chassis. The unfortunate Beitske Visser failed to make the podium but finished in front of the German Marcel Jeleniowski (Energy-TM), 5th despite being absent from Varennes, Simone Brenna (TB Kart-TM), Czech driver Jan Midrla (Birel-TM), the Italian Marco Pizzuti (Birel-TM), Croatia driver Kristijan Habelin (CR-Maxter) and Daniel Fuchs (Birel-TM) from Poland.

All this sporting spirit augurs well for the future on the Portugese track in Braga where the CIK-FIA World Cup for KZ1 takes place from the 9th to the 12th September. And if the spectacle served up at Varennes is anything to go by, the World Cup is going to be keenly and sportingly contested.

First up was the Sr. Super Sportsman Heavy category sponsored by BKS Racing Engines and Scott Saunders got fast time and the Screaming eagle with a flying lap of 47.883. In the heat race Felkins got hung out on the start allowing Saunders to jump out to a big lead. Around Halfway second through fifth all got together sidelining Bryan Eady and Leland Holden. Felkins lost several positions allowing Saunders to cruise to victory.

With two fast drivers coming from the back, the anticipation for great racing was strong. On the opening turn Saunders jumped out to the lead. Eady got to sixth by turn 2 got together with Felkins ending both their races. Leland Holden made a stellar run through the pack to take over the second place late. Saunders got the win but was removed from Post race tech giving the win to Holden. Bronson Eggert finished second with Colby Wright, Brian Gallagher and Ryan Casner finishing the top five.

The Kartel Motorsports Jr. 1 Comer took to the track and Parker Thompson grabbed the Screaming Eagle and fast time with a 50.209. In the heat Race Colton Herta and Curt Paul Jumped out to an early lead. Paul made a mistake and got fed to the Wolves fighting for second and dropped back. Herta got the win with Thompson second for the front row in the Main. On the start of the Final Herta jumped out once again with Paul on his tail after getting through traffic. The two worked together to pull away from the field. With 6 laps to go Herta had spindle issues causing him to drive off the track. This allowed Curt Paul to pull away to an uncontested victory and his first IKF Duffy. Parker Thompson was second with Zane Smith winning the battle for third. Blaine Rocha and Davey Manthei Jr. were the rest of the top five.

IKF TAG Sr. sponsored by Russell Karting was the fastest class of the weekend and Bobby Kelley set fast time for the Screaming Eagle with a 44.602 lap. Bobby Kelley got the jump on the start with Felkins in tow. The two ran away from the field with Felkins staying close to his bumper looking like what would setup a close race to the Duffy. The start of the Final looked the same with both jumping out to a big lead. As laps wound down Kelley began pulling away and he cruised to a 1.5 second lead and the Duffy.

The Jr. 2 KPV category sponsored by TNR Motorsports had one driver looking for his fifth Duffy of the weekend. Driver Jake Craig had won four Duffy’s already on the weekend and was looking for his fifth. He was off to a good start with winning the screaming Eagle with a fast time of 46.116. On the start of the Final David Vasquez jumped out to the lead. Vasquez paced the field running fast laps with Craig right with him.

Vasquez got sideways and let Craig by but pushed him across the line for the two to start together on the front row of the Duffy race. On the start of the Final Vasquez went spinning and Craig inherited the lead. Austin Elliott stayed close and put the pressure on the leader but as the checkered flew Craig worked himself a 1.271 second victory. Elliott was a solid second with Brandon Reed, Jason Hannegan and Sonny Cervelli the top five.

Last race on the weekend was KPV-4 Sponsored by Pro Kart Shop and Nick Johnston set fast time for the Screaming Eagle with a 46.354. In the heat Johnston looked like he had the race in hand with an easy victory. On the start of the Final Johnston again got the jump and began to pull away. Five laps in Kolby Araki found Johnston’s bumper and the two began working together. As laps wound down the battle became a four kart battle with Robby Harryman and Matt Johnson joining the train. Last lap Araki pulled the trigger in turn eight leaving one hairpin left before the checkered. Johnston dove back to the inside with Araki crossing him up with a drag race to the line. Araki got his second Duffy of the weekend and Harryman followed through to second. Johnston fell to third with Johnson and Felkins finishing the top five.

After the last trophy presentations of the night, previous Lake Speed award winners Matt Johnson, Jesus Vasquez, and Nick Johnston presented the award to the 2010 winner. A real heartfelt speech by Matt Johnson reminded how important Karting was for the development of young drivers, but the amount of Fun as well. Johnson the first winner of the award, happily named the 2010 Lake Speed Achievement award to five-time Duffy winner of the 2010 Grand Nationals Jake Craig, then stated the importance of sportsmanship for prerequisites to be chosen for the award.