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| November 21, 2012 |
| EKN Exclusive: 2012 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals - Team USA Profile - Junior Max |
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eKartingNews.com, the official online media partner of the United States Rotax Max Challenge, is proud to present the profiles of each member of Team USA, set to represent the Red, White, and Blue at the Kartodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal on November 28-December 1. Expectations are high with 19 drivers competing in the four categories this year, a record high for Team USA. In addition, the MAXSpeed Group - the distributor of all Rotax karting products through the United States and Caribbean - has offered up a $10,000 bounty to the first driver to secure a Rotax Grand Finals title.
Over the next four days, with the help of Ken Johnson at Studio52.us and GoRotax.com, we will look at each of the 19 drivers that make up the 2012 Team USA for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals. Full coverage can be found at the EKN EVENT PAGE.
This year’s Junior Max roster for Team USA will feature four drivers - two with Grand Finals experience and two making their debut. They will be looking to better the previous best finish for Americans at the event - 5th place by Nick Neri (2010) and Timmy Megenbier (2004). Rotax Grand Nationals runner-up Thomas Issa will represent Jamaica at the Grand Nationals.
 | | Oliver Askew |
Oliver Askew
Age: 15
Hometown: Jupiter, FL
2012 marks Oliver Askew’s second trip to the Grand Finals, having been a competitor last year in Abu Dhabi. This year Oliver earned his spot on Team USA by winning the Junior Max title in the Florida Winter Tour against some very stiff competition from around the world. The young driver rates that title as the highest accomplishment so far in his eight years of karting.
Oliver got the bug to race karts when his father took him to Palm Beach International Raceway for his seventh birthday to drive the rental karts there. From that moment on his passion has grown and he hopes to make a career of racing one day. As mentioned, Oliver was one of the lead drivers on the 2011 Team USA squad and he hopes that experience will help him in his quest for victory at the Algarve Circuit in Portimao, Portugal.
The Rotax Max Challenge is Oliver’s preferred series because of the high quality of competition, the level playing field and the opportunity to compete for his country at a World Championship. Oliver has received great support from Team USA sponsor Ocala Gran Prix. As such it’s no surprise he ranks that facility as his favorite.
 | | Juan Manuel Correa |
Juan Manuel Correa
Age: 13
Hometown: Miami, FL
Juan Manuel Correa started 2012 as one of the front runners in the Florida Winter Tour and continued that form throughout the summer, earning his ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals with a third place finish at the Rotax Grand Nationals. Juan started racing karts in his native country of Ecuador five years ago. Two years ago his family moved to Miami and Juan has been determined to make an impact on the American karting scene. He says his racing idols are Kimi Raikkonen, Fernando Alonso, Dan Wheldon, and, of course, his team owner Jay Howard.
Juan’s ambitions racing schedule has made it difficult to attend school sometimes. But, he has an agreement that as long as he makes straight A’s, he’s allowed more time off. Thus, racing and schoolwork dominate his time. But, when time allows, he says he also likes playing tennis and soccer. Interestingly, Juan says one of the biggest changes when moving to Miami was the heat. “Everyone thinks Ecuador is hot because it’s on the Equator.” he said. “But, where we lived was a high altitude so actually it was often cold,” he added.
In just a few years of racing, Juan has demonstrated a lot of talent behind the wheel of a kart. He plans to continue to develop those skills in both the US and Europe over the next few years. Hopefully some day his name will grace the side of and F1 or Indy Car.
 | | Santino Ferrucci |
Santino Ferrucci
Age: 14
Hometown: Woodbury, CT
At the young age of 14, Santino Ferrucci is already a veteran of racing in different parts of the world having spent time in Europe racing KF3. Santino qualified for Team USA by winning the 2012 United States Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals in dominating fashion. Whether the track conditions were wet or dry that week in South Bend, he was the driver to beat in the Junior MAX class. With the similar changing track conditions expected in Portugal, this could be a very good sign for the young talent.
Like most kart racers, Santino got started in racing with the help of his father. “I was five-years-old when my dad let me drive my first kart”, he said. “I loved it so much I just wanted to get back in and drive some more,” he added with a grin. He says his goals in racing are to first win the Rotax Grand Finals, then go on to win the Formula One and then NASCAR titles. That seems fitting since his two favorite drivers are Formula One World Champion Jenson Button and NASCAR champion Tony Stewart.
Away from karting Santino has many other interests that include golf, aerobics and riding ATVs. He says he used to play Gran Turismo 5 a lot, but that he played so much his father took it away. This, he says, is fine because he’d much rather drive the real thing.
 | | Ashley Rogero |
Ashley Rogero
Age: 15
Hometown: Naples Florida
2012 marks Ashley Rogero’s second trip to the Grand Finals, having also competed for Team USA in 2010 when the event was held in Italy at the La Conca Circuit. The young Floridian has been racing karts for 10 years and rates her win at this year’s Rotax Pan American challenge as her greatest achievement in racing.
Ashley started racing at the age of five when her dad, who also raced, helped get her started. She says her family has been racing a long time and that she cannot even remember a time where there hasn’t been at least one kart in the garage. Her future goals include trying to become a professional race car driver like her heros Dan Wheldon and Ayrton Senna. But, for now, she’s more focused on her karting achievements.
When not racing, Ashley likes to ride skateboard and longboards and keeps up with her studies in her 9th grade courses. She says she’s really looking forward to this year’s Grand Finals in Portugal and having her dad there to tune the kart chassis for her. |
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