|
 |
| February 20, 2012 News |
| Event News: Florida Winter Tour - Homestead - Rotax Max Challenge - Sunday Report |
| Article by: Ken Johnson and Bill Wright |
As the weekend comes to a close, both championships in Formula Kart Production’s Florida Winter Tour presented by SPORTALITY have reached their two-thirds mark, with one weekend left for each program set to run next month in Ocala, Florida.
On track this weekend were the seven classes that make up the Florida Winter Tour Rotax MAX Challenge. For the fourth consecutive year the Florida Winter Tour is the largest MAX Challenge program in the world, and this weekend continued to set very high entry numbers with drivers from all over the globe. Many drivers who compete in the FWT will tell you it’s the best place to find top flight competition and they’ll also tell you that this time of year, it’s the ONLY place to find the best competition, truly making the Florida Winter Tour “THE Winter Place to Be!”
However, it’s not just what happens on the track that makes the FWT so popular. The Florida Winter Tour allows families to get away on special vacations between racing events and enjoy the warm Florida weather. Actually, for a few participants the weather in Florida is sometimes a little too warm. Perhaps that’s the reason why the flavored ice stand was so popular this weekend as people sought to cool off with a tasty treat.
Another nice treat for the FWT crowd was the close up views of fighter pilots flying over from the nearby Air Force base. In the days leading up to the weekend’s events we were treated to a fantastic aircraft exhibition of F-16 and F-18 fighter jets, trainers and we even got to see an AWACS plane. You’ll note in the photo that the fighter planes were fully armed and ready for action.
The Homestead karting facility is located in the west parking area of the Homestead-Miami Speedway, home to the season-ending NASCAR Sprint Cup event. The facility is used for more than just racing. Many teams test there and this weekend there was a Nascar style driving school that allowed the curious to purchase “ride-alongs” in a stock car to see what it feels like on the high banks.
 | Nicholas Latifi dominated both days in DD2
(Photo: Ken Johnson - studio52.us) |
As mentioned, the Florida Winter Tour features the most geographically diverse entry list outside of the Rotax Grand Finals. And many of those drivers are multi-time National Champions and even World Champions. The Senior MAX field is stacked with so many champions that on Saturday, when doing the race call over FWT LIVE!, Formula Kart Production’s Bill Wright ran out of time to list them all as the karts were coming to the start.
Two of the International drivers making their mark here this weekend in Homestead are 2011 Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals Senior MAX World Champion Ben Cooper (UK) and 2012 Senior MAX Grand Finals runner up, David Sera (Australia). Ben was born and raised in Kent, England, however he has recently begun the process of relocating to Canada to further his racing career.
The 21-year-old Cooper said the opportunity to come to North America began with an offer from SRA Karting’s Michele Boisclair, who offered Ben more than a driving job. The offer included employment with SRA and a teaching position at a driving academy. “I’d been in a factory drive before, and I had little interest in doing that again,” said Ben.
Beyond the opportunity for a career in racing, Ben said part of his motivation was to be part of the Canadian team. “I’ve been watching the Canadians and the Americans for the last few years at the Grand Finals. They work as a team and have great team spirit. In the UK we have none of that and I’d love to be part of a positive team atmosphere for once.” he said.
Although Ben says karting is his passion, he also enjoys swimming and rugby. But, he says his number one goal in life is to be happy at home. “Racing success comes and goes. But at the end of the day it’s your family and friends that mean the most.”
David Sera is an Australian karting legend with 12 Australian national championships to his resume alongside his 2011 FWT Senior MAX championship. The 23-year-old from Melbourne has been racing for 16 years and has been to the Grand Finals four times.
 | Rene Martinelli took home Sunday's winner's trophy in DD2 Masters
(Photo: Ken Johnson - studio52.us) |
He says he come to the Florida Winter Tour for the seriously high level of competition. “The ability of the drivers here is extremely good. In fact, I’d say at the front of the grid it’s every bit as tough as at the Grand Finals.” He then went on to say, “My first Winter Tour was in 2007 and the level of competition was high, but in the last five years it’s gone up to a whole new level and will only grow from here.”
When back at home in Australia, David works as an employee for Arrow Karts developing their chassis for competition. After his karting success one would imagine some car racing teams would have their eye on David. Sure enough, he says the plans at the moment are to run some Formula Ford racing in Australia with the Tom Walkinshaw’s Holden development team before moving up to Australian V8 Supercars. While we hope David’s schedule will continue to allow him to compete in the FWT, we love the idea of having one of “our guys” to cheer for at the Bathurst 1000 in the next couple years.
Although there are numerous karters with multiple championships on their resume at the FWT, there are also young drivers who are just getting their start, but are already turning heads. One such driver is Polo, Missouri’s Mason Daughters. Mason is in his second full season of karting and has already impressed team owner Phil Giebler enough to take him under his wing.
Although Mason is still young, having turned 15-years-old the day before qualifying, he already knows what he wants to do in life. “I’d love to race cars, either NASCAR or Indy Cars. But, if that doesn’t happen then I want to fix up old cars,” he said. “That’s what my dad does for a living and I’d like to do it too, especially Mustangs from the 1960’s, those are my favorite,” says Mason.
Mason said he’s here at the Florida Winter Tour because, as he puts it, “The best racers in the world are here.” Although only 15, Mason has figured out that to be your best you need to compete against the best. That’s why for Mason daughters, the Florida Winter Tour is “THE Winter Place To Be!”
DD2
 | Justin Sirgany won Sunday's Micro MAX Final
(Photo: Ken Johnson - studio52.us) |
After Friday’s late afternoon qualifying sessions for Sundays races, the starting order for the Pre-Finals were set. In the SH Karting sponsored DD2 class, it was Nicholas Latifi (Canada) who continued his excellent string of results with a fast time of 46.221 to start the Pre-Final on pole with his countryman, Darren White, in second at a 46.538.
In the Pre-Final Latifi got the jump at the start with 2011 US DD2 National Champion Kristina Vorndran in pursuit. After a few laps Darren White reclaimed his second position followed by Cody Hodgson (USA). The top tree stayed that way to the end of the Pre-Final with another win for Latifi.
In the DD2 Final, Latifi kept his run of wins going and left the field to battle over second. That battle was waged among Hodgson, White and eventually Lorenzo Mandarino (Canada). In the end second went to Cody Hodgson with Lorenzo Mandarino rounding out the podium in third. It was a great run for Mandarino who had started the Final from the back row. In doing so, he picked up one of the ULV “Hard Charger” awards for his efforts.
DD2 Masters
In Keane Racing sponsored DD2 Masters, it’s beginning to look like the Alan Rudolph show as the American set his second pole position of the weekend. While Alan did win the Pre-Final, it was no easy cakewalk as Jean Valerio (Costa Rica) stayed right behind him for the bulk of the race. Behind Valerio, Rene Martinelli (USA) was coming on fast after starting sixth but couldn’t quite get close enough to the Costa Rican to attempt a pass.
The DD2 Masters Final was a very tight battle between Rudolph, Valerio and Martinelli as the three raced nose-to-tail for most of the race. On lap two Martinelli stuck his DD2 in front and kept it there until a firm shove from Rudolph at the end of the front straight sent Rene into a long sideways slide. Like Kyle Busch did the night before in NASCAR’s Bud Shootout, Rene saved the kart from what looked like certain carnage and kept it going.
The contact dropped Rene back to third but at least he was still going forward. In the end, Rudolph crossed the line first but was penalized for the incident. This left Valerio as the winner but an issue with his rear bumper eliminated him from the results. All this put Rene back on top as the winner. After the race he said it wasn’t the way he wanted to win, but that he’d been on the other end before and it was nice to have one go his way.
As for Valerio, he wasn’t too happy with the result. However, he did get his name drawn in the ULV custom suit giveaway so it was hard for him to feel too bad about his day’s effort.
Micro MAX
 | Oliver Askew owned the Junior MAX field at Homestead Karting
(Photo: Ken Johnson - studio52.us) |
In PSLKartingUSA.com sponsored Micro MAX qualifying, Canadian Antonio Serravalle qualified fastest by just three one-hundredths of a second over Dylan Tavella (USA). In the Pre-Final Antonio Serravalle and Justin Sirgany (Jamaica) hooked up in a two-kart draft and left the pack in a hurry. Lap after lap the two circulated with barely a Mojo tire width between them. In the last few laps Sirgany threw everything he had at Serravalle but Antonio was just able to hold him off at the line.
The Final was a replay of the Pre-Final with Serravalle and Sirgany pulling clear of the field to have a race of their own. This time they didn’t get too far from the battle for third. That battle, which was waged between Leonardo Rinaldi (Venezuela), Nicholas Brueckner (USA) and Saturday’s winner Harry Coulton (USA) was a good one, but the three never got close enough to challenge the leading duo.
At the finish it was Antonio Serravalle first to the line. But, as with some of the other classes on this day, a driving infraction penalty put him back in third. So, the Micro MAX Final podium was Sirgany in first, Rinaldi in second and Serravalle third.
MAX Masters
In ZCD Autosport sponsored MAX Masters, it was the United States’ Paul Costas turn to shine as he qualified fastest with a lap of 49.143 seconds. The Pre-Final win went to “El-Heffe” Jason Heffner who ran an excellent race after starting in the third spot.
In the MAX Masters Final, Heffner was beat into turn one by three other karts. Robert Maier (USA), starting on the outside of the front row, and then settled into leading the race to the finish. As the laps wound down Cristiano Piquet (USA) worked his way into second. After the race more penalties gave Maier a two position penalty. This handed the win to Piquet with James Vance-Lousada (Canada) in second.
Junior MAX
 | Logan Sargeant (524), Pedro Cardoso (543), Matthew Thomas (587) and Patricio O'Ward (506) wage a Titanic battle for the lead in Saturday's Mini MAX Final
(Photo: Ken Johnson - studio52.us) |
After his dominant run on Saturday, Oliver Askew (USA) was looking good to repeat on Sunday. Starting alongside Oliver in the Pre-Final would be the fast Dutchman Jordi Van Morsel with Gavin Reichelt (USA) third. Going into turn one in the Pre-Final, Reichelt stayed right on Askews bumper.
For the rest of the race, Reichelt, Van Morsel and Zachary Claman DeMelo (Canada) fought over the second position while Oliver Askew went about his business of winning the race. The battle for second was led most of the way by DeMelo but with four laps to go, Van Morsel slipped by cleanly and pulled away for a fine second place.
After watching the Junior MAX Final, one may want to check the name on the lease for the Homestead Karting facility because Oliver Askew raced this weekend like he owned the place. Fastest in all sessions, two poles, to Pre-Final wins and two Finals wins is as dominant as it gets.
Even after Sunday’s Final was stopped after five laps for a precautionary red flag, Oliver resumed his dominance to take a seven second win over the always fast Jordi Van Morsel. Just behind Van Morsel at the checkered flag was Parker Thompson in a well-earned third place after a tough battle with Van Morsel, Ashley Rogero (USA) and Sebastian Coulson (USA).
Mini MAX
In the RYSA Racing sponsored Mini MAX class, Pedro Tavarez de Moraes Cardoso (Brazil) was the fast qualifier and was hoping to finally have a race finish go his way after an unfortunate, and in these writers opinions untenable technical issue, took away his win on Saturday. On this day the young Brazilian ended up as the winner of the Pre-Final and this time it was Logan Sargeant’s (USA) turn to suffer the wrath of a driving infraction penalty which moved him from first to third in the Pre-Final results.
In the Mini MAX Final, Logan and Pedro were ready to throw down as both wanted the win. But, perhaps someone wanting the win even more was Mexico’s Patricio O’Ward who took the initial lead with Matthew Thomas(USA) in tow. These four waged an epic battle for the lead throughout the race that had to keep the viewers watching on FWT LIVE! glued to their screens.
As the race neared its end, Cardoso and Sargeant went to the front but never got away from their pursuers. At the finish it was Cardoso who managed to pull out the slimmest of margins to take a very satisfying victory over Sargeant and Thomas.
Senior MAX
 | Ben Cooper gets it all right in Sunday's Senior MAX Final and takes a very popular win
(Photo: Ken Johnson - studio52.us) |
Goodwood Kartways / Intrepid North America Senior MAX features some of the best drivers from around the world. After Friday’s qualifying session, the top three going into today’s Pre-Final were Danny Formal (Costa Rica), Ben Cooper (UK) and Saturday’s runaway winner Jesse Lazare (Canada).
In the Senior MAX Pre-Final, Ben Cooper returned to his winning ways with a one-second victory over Fritz Leesman (USA) and David Sera (Australia). We had a chance to visit with Ben after the Pre-Final and he was very happy to be back on top. He admitted that he was so displeased with the way he drove on Saturday that he barely slept Saturday night. One could see from the determination in his eyes that he was out to redeem himself. Perhaps not in the minds of the FWT attendance, we all know what he’s capable of, but rather, in his own mind.
As the Senior MAX Final got underway it was obvious Ben’s focus was still there as he shot to an immediate lead. David Sera and Pier-Luc Ouellette (Canada) weren’t about to let Ben have the win that easily though and stayed right on the Senior MAX World Champion’s bumper.
As the race progressed, Ouellette began to fall back a bit and Floridian Nick Neri reeled him in and took over the final podium position. Pier-Luc still held on for fourth but at the checkered the top three were Cooper, Sera and Neri.
The racing this weekend in Homestead was outstanding. With 4 out of 6 rounds done for the 2012 FWT season, everything is now on the line for the next event in Ocala. Going into the weekend, CRG led the Manufacturers Cup and USA held the lead in the Nations Cup. With the top places spread out through both standings, we will have some tight battles to keep track of for the last two rounds of the season.
For those that cannot attend the races in person, log onto FWT LIVE! at FloridaWinterTour.com for live streaming video, live timing and active viewer participation. Cheer on your favorite drivers and email "shout outs" to be read over the air and the local PA. Or, cheer on drivers from your country for the Nation's Cup Championship. Additionally, "like" the FWT Facebook page at Facebook.com/FloridaWinterTour for FWT information and news. |
|
|
Go Top
|
|
|
|
|
