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| November 27, 2012 News |
| EKN Trackside: 2012 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals - Tuesday Practice |
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Complete coverage can be found in the EKN Event Page
The 2012 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals entered its second day of on-track action at the Kartodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal. For the 19 Team USA members, it was the first chance to see where they stand up against the best in the world with the first two timed sessions taking place Tuesday, following the 20-minute break-in session on Monday. About half of the team faired well, with as the rest of the roster continued to make strides in the 30 minutes total for the day.
Obviously, the Rotax Grand Finals is an event in itself. The narrow chassis and engine limitations Rotax set out for the competitors is much different then the American drivers are accustomed to back in the States. The DD2 categories saw the carburetor limits restricted to just a 198 main jet for the remainder of the event between sessions today, sending a majority of the team moving their setup dramatically. Overall, the Ocala Gran Prix staff roaming the pits have been doing an excellent job at keeping everyone informed in the direction to go toward setup. The data analysis and GoPro debriefing after each session have been very informative for everyone.
JUNIOR MAX
 | Oliver Askew
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Oliver Askew - #113
Hometown: Jupiter, Florida
Mechanic: Mike Maurini
Twitter: @ollietrollie38
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:03.379
Session #3: 1:02.821
Notes:
The 2012 Florida Winter Tour champion opened up the day 14th in the Odd number Junior Group, about six-tenths off the pace. He was struggling with straight-line speed, and the data showed it. The goal was to adjust the carburetor to improve for Session 3. The changed help as he ended up eighth in his group, and tenth overall. Askew said the balance of the kart is great, but Maurini is still looking for more speed and believes more adjustment in the carburetor will help for tomorrow.
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 | Juan Manuel Correa
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Juan Manuel Correa - #121
Hometown: Miami, Florida
Mechanic: Bryn Nuttall
Twitter: N/A
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:03.766
Session #3: 1:03.181
Notes:
The young Florida driver was 26th in the Odd Junior group session to open up the day. Correa was also complaining of straight-line speed, even more so than Askew. Between sessions, they worked on changing the carburetor settings and also made a gear change. Correa improved for Session 3, ending up 21st in his group and improving his fast lap by over a half-second. Nuttall stated that the improvements were great, but they still need to adjust a little more on the chassis, engine and Juan’s attack of the circuit.
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 | Santino Ferrucci
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Santino Ferrucci - #130
Hometown: Woodbury, Connecticut
Mechanic: Mike Ferrucci
Twitter: @SantinoFerrucci
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:02.944
Session #3: 1:03.637
Notes:
The reigning US Junior Rotax National Champion was sixth in the Even Junior group, just under three tenths off the fast time of the session. He was struggling with the right corners, and the data proved it. They took the kart to the Birel support tent and it measured off on the front end. They adjusted the chassis and prepared it for the third session. Additional changes of taking teeth off the rear sprocket and lowering the tire pressure did not improve his time. He lost about seven-tenths in the third session, showing them the direction they do not want to go the rest of the event. The plan going into tomorrow is returning to the baseline setup they had previously, and going the opposite direction to find a few more tenths.
*************************
 | Ashley Rogero
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Ashley Rogero #158
Hometown: Naples, Florida
Mechanic: Jim Rogero
Twitter: @AshleyRogero
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:03.461
Session #3: 1:03.170
Notes:
The 2012 Pan American Challenge champion was 21st in the Even Junior session. During their test in Ocala, they ran a different seat then what is being provided here in Portugal by Birel. Between sessions, they changed seats from a 2 to a 1, hoping that would provide more leverage for grip, in hopes of improving their fast lap time. The seat change help for Ashley, as she ended up ninth in her group, improving her fast lap by three-tenths. She asked for a little more balance in the chassis, looking for more grip on the exit of the corners as they set up for Wednesday’s action.
SENIOR MAX
 | Phil DeLaO
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Phil DeLaO - #227
Hometown: Peoria, Arizona
Mechanic: Tim Lobaugh
Twitter: N/A
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:02.431
Session #3: 1:02.054
Notes:
The 2012 Challenge of the Americas champion was just 24th in the Odd Senior group, a full nine tenths off the quick time of the session. He was happy with the chassis, using a similar setup to the one he used to win the Pan American Challenge title in September, and adjusting to the grip level as they go along. His main concern was the engine/carburetor combination, where the gearing change from yesterday was too much and a new setting in the carburetor should improve his pace for the third session. Unfortunately for DeLaO, the changes made sent him in the wrong direction they were going. The lap time was faster, but so did everyone else at the top of the running order. He and Tim Lobaugh set out a game plan for tomorrow to go the opposite way, adjusting seat position, lowering the gearing and more adjustment in the front end. They also found the exhaust packing to be damaged, thus affecting the pace a bit.
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 | Sam Beasley
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Sam Beasley - #217
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Mechanic: Ben Beasley
Twitter: @sambeasley4
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:02.133
Session #3: 1:01.967
Notes:
Three-time U.S. Rotax Grand Nationals runner-up Beasley was ranked 16th in the Odd Senior group to open up the day’s action. His focus was on chassis setup, looking for more grip in the kart. While he feels the track will grip better as the event goes on, they still made a caster change for the third session. Beasley went a bit more quicker, but was outside the top-20 in his group. Looking at the data compared to the fastest USA driver, he’s lacking speed onto the front straight, which is hurting his overall max speed. The kart is drivable, but tire pressure and no power down the long straight are the focuses to improve his pace.
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 | Danny Formal
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Danny Formal - #230
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Mechanic: Donald Formal
Twitter: @DannyFormal
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:02.020
Session #3: 1:01.669
Notes:
Reigning U.S. Rotax National Champion was 13th in the Even Senior group to begin his day. His time was just over four-tenths off the quick lap in his group. His big change for the third session was dropping four teeth off the rear sprocket while try to take out grip from the front end of the kart to take away a loose condition in the rear. Formal was the quickest of the American group overall, ending up ninth in group and improving by nearly six-tenths. The gearing change helped as he was the quickest of the American down the long straight. Moving the seat back is on the checklist for tomorrow’s session to cure a loose rear end.
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 | Louie Pagano
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Louie Pagano - #254
Hometown: Camarillo, California
Mechanic: Chris Lobaugh
Twitter: N/A
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:02.005
Session #3: 1:01.965
Notes:
While Pagano was 12th in the Even Senior section, he was not happy with where they were on the kart. He’s learning the different Sodi brakes, and made changes between sessions as well as moving the seat position and the carburetor setting in hopes of improving his time. The third session for the Californian was not any better, gaining very little confidence in the package they have thus far. A lack of speed down the front straight is killing his overall lap time, so changing the gearing is a must for tomorrow’s sessions. An inspection of the exhaust discovered a damaged exhaust packing, and a replacement should help for mid-range to top end - something Pagano has been searching for all day.
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 | Andrew Palmer
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Andrew Palmer - #272
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Mechanic: Justin Stefani
Twitter: N/A
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:02.084
Session #3: 1:02.008
Notes:
The 2010 U.S. Junior National champion ended the Even Senior opening practice with the 18th quickest lap of the group. Overall they were happy with the kart and did not want to make any changes, but noticed the right rear hub had slid in about 2mm, affecting the handling of the kart toward the end of the session. Running nearly an identical lap time in Session 3, Palmer dropped outside the top-20 for his group. His main complaint was an under steer problem with the kart, something they hope to remedy for tomorrow.
DD2 MASTERS
 | Johnny Blair
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Johnny Blair - #413
Hometown: Puyallup, Washington
Mechanic: Eric Armstrong
Twitter: N/A
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:01.227
Session #3: 1:01.128
Notes:
The guy having the most fun just being at the Grand Finals has to be Johnny B. The 2012 U.S. Masters national champ was 13th in the Odd group, about nine-tenths off the fast time. After just two sessions on track, he’s still adjusting to the DD2 ride and learning the shift points around the track. He’s changed the gearing on the engine as well as some chassis adjustments for the third session. While the changes only gave him a one-tenth improvement, he remained 13th in the group. He’s still inching his way forward, happy with everything but adding in a side bar to improve a loose condition from mid-corner to exit.
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 | John Crow
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: John Crow - #419
Hometown: Long Beach, California
Mechanic: Brian Robson
Twitter: N/A
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:00.906
Session #3: 1:01.423
Notes:
The quickest driver in Session 2 for the DD2 Masters roster was Crow. He was ninth in group and 17th overall, still learning the track and the chassis after just 45-minutes with both. Before the session, he was the only driver under the Team USA tent to make a gear change from what they were permitted to run in yesterday’s break-in. They made no change to the engine or chassis for Session 3, just hoping to learn an even quicker way around the track. The mandatory jet change did not help Crow’s pace at all. With no changes to the kart, he went slower. Now at a crossroads, he’s trying to decide which way to go heading into the final practice session before qualifying.
*************************
 | Mike Jones
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Mike Jones - #428
Hometown: Sachse, Texas
Mechanic: Yonny Alberto Pena Hernandez
Twitter: N/A
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:01.491
Session #3: 1:02.192
Notes:
Unhappy with yesterday’s break-in session, Jones was a bit happier with they way they are going after the second session. He was 26th in the Even group, about one-second off the fast time. He was still looking for more grip and made changes to accommodate that need. The Pan American Challenge champion struggle, however, in the third session. He’s happy on the infield but the motor would cut out on the straight-away, even after discussing his situation with the Rotax tech staff. After returning the engine back to them after the session, only a changed coil is all that was done. Now he enters qualifying day with questions of what the engine will do.
*************************
 | Bill Lester
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Bill Lester - #435
Hometown: Windermere, Florida
Mechanic: Cale Wyse
Twitter: @Bill_Lester
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:01.621
Session #3: 1:02.014
Notes:
The word of the day was grip, and Lester was one of the many looking for it. He ended the session 23rd to start they day, 1.3 seconds off the fast time. Seat position was the major change between sessions, while also still coming to grips with the layout of the course. While Bill felt more comfortable with the kart, his lap time was slower. The adjustments were better, but now he’s looking to make even more - including another seat adjustment and adjusting the tire pressure lower for the final practice session.
*************************
 | Rene Martinelli
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Rene Martinelli - #437
Hometown: Tampa, Florida
Mechanic: Brian Fletcher
Twitter: N/A
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:00.995
Session #3: 1:01.024
Notes:
A three-time Grand Finals participant, Martinelli knows what it takes to be fast. After just two sessions, he’s happy with where they are now sitting 10th in the Odd group. The engine feels very strong, he was just struggling with the rear of the kart, tight on the exit of the corners. The third was not any different, as the tight condition remained and he did not improve his fast lap. Lowering the tire pressure is next on the list for changes, as well as some adjustment in the carburetor.
*************************
 | Alan Rudolph
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Alan Rudolph - #448
Hometown: Gilbert, Arizona
Mechanic: AJ Whisler
Twitter: N/A
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:01.241
Session #3: 1:00.641
Notes:
The Florida Winter Tour and U.S. Grand National champion, making his first start at the Rotax Grand Finals, was not pleased with a 19th in the Even group end result for Session 2. Straight-line speed is where they are missing on the setup, Whisler focusing on getting the carburetor setting just right while Alan threw the book at the chassis before Session 3. The changes helped as Rudolph jumped to seventh in the group, improving his time by six tenths. The carburetion was point on and they progress with the chassis changes. Now they are looking for about another two tenths in the chassis to put them at the front.
DD2
 | Cody Hodgson
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Cody Hodgson - #329
Hometown: Escalon, California
Mechanic: Alex Speed
Twitter: @Chodgson55
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 59.822
Session #3: 59.829
Notes:
Two-time U.S. Rotax national champion began the day with the fast lap in the Odd grouping for DD2, third overall. He was real happy with everything, knowing just what they needed to do coming into the event following all the testing at Ocala Gran Prix. The engine he drew seems to have some horsepower, and a slight ride height change on the front was on the order between sessions. The change made the kart more comfortable, but the stop watch showed the same time. Now his plan is to move back to the previous setup and not drive as hard through the tight sections of the circuit.
*************************
 | Fritz Leesmann
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Fritz Leesmann - #338
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Mechanic: Neil Hodgson
Twitter: N/A
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:00.538
Session #3: 59.984
Notes:
Disaster struck Leesmann in the second session as the engine seized a piston after just eight laps. While he felt comfortable with the balance of the Mach 1 chassis, the engine was lacking power, and finally showed the nature of the problem when he was stranding on track. Rotax replaced the cylinder and the piston for him to try and improve his time for Session 3. With the repaired engine ready, Leesmann was finally able to lay down a solid lap, putting him 15th in his group and only four-tenths off the fast lap. Similar to Hodgson, Leesmann is over-driving the kart which is hurting his overall performance on the lap time. A front end change and a minor carburetion change will be his changes heading into Wednesday.
*************************
 | Kristina Vorndran
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Kristina Vorndran - #359
Hometown: Dudley, Massachusetts
Mechanic: Wes Phillips
Twitter: N/A
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 1:00.450
Session #3: 1:00.415
Notes:
The 2011 U.S. Rotax national champ was 18th on the opening session of the day. Brake issues during the break-in session Monday were improved on, but a lack of power out on the bottom end of the engine sent her kart to the Rotax trailer for review. They diagnosed a new engine for Vorndran, putting them behind a bit on data collection but now on the right path.
*************************
 | Joey Wimsett
(Photo: GoRotax.com) |
Driver: Joey Wimsett - #361
Hometown: Beavercreek, Oregon
Mechanic: Mike Rolison
Twitter: @JoeyWimsett27
Fast Lap:
Session #2: 59.915
Session #3: 1:00.001
Notes:
Making his first DD2 start at the Grand Finals, reigning U.S. national champ Wimsett ended the Even group third, just ahead of defending Grand Finals champ Ben Cooper. For jumping into the kart for the first time, Joey is still learning the kart, especially the way the brakes work compared to the CRG kart he’s used to. A track width change was the only thing they did between sessions. After the mandatory jet change for all the DD2 categories, Wimsett’s pace slowed down just enough to move outside the top-10 in his group. They made improvements on the chassis setup, but now he had a bog on the low-end. |
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