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| December 24, 2012 News |
| GoRotax.com Driver of the Month Presented by eKartingNews.com - November 2012 - Johnny Blair/Juan Manuel Correa |
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Thanks to the new partnership between MAXSpeed Group and eKartingNews.com, a monthly program has been devised to promote outstanding drivers in the Rotax Max Challenge. The new program - GoRotax.com Driver of the Month presented by eKartingNews.com - is based off a similar program the leading karting website offers each month, focused on the United States ‘Rotaxians’. Each month, the staff at MAXSpeed and EKN will determine one driver to profile who promotes Rotax and karting in general in a positive fashion, along with standing out on-track. Each driver’s accomplishments will be highlighted, in addition to getting to know the Driver of the Month.
There was a lot of attention by the karting community on the Team USA squad this year at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals. MAXSpeed Group, the United States distributor for all Rotax products, posted up a $10,000 bounty to any American who could score a victory at the Kartodromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimao, Portugal during the week of November 24-December 1. Despite a valiant effort by the 19 drivers competing under the Red, White and Blue flag, no American driver reached the podium in the four categories. There were a number of bright moments throughout the week, including the performances and positive attitudes from Johnny Blair and Juan Manuel Correa. Both have been selected the GoRotax.com Driver of the Month for November 2012.
 | JMC finish 22nd at his first Rotax Grand Finals in his first year in Junior Max
(Photo: Ken Johnson - GoRotax.com) |
The 2012 season was the rookie Junior year for Juan Manuel Correa, an Ecuador native that began karting five years ago and continued when he and his family moved to Miami in 2010. After producing a solid Cadet career, he carried that to the Junior Max category, starting out the season seventh in the Florida Winter Tour standings with two podium finishes in the season finale. Later on, he would secure his ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals with a third place performance at the United States Rotax Grand Nationals, and backed it up with a runner-up finish at the Pan American Challenge event.
Making his first Rotax Grand Finals start, the Team MDD driver slowly worked his way up the time sheets during practice and throughout the event, which is what made JMC stand out. After qualifying, he was the quickest Junior driver under the Team USA tent - placing 32nd overall. Starting from the outside of row eight in the heat races - not a very high percentage starting position with the design of the track’s opening three corners being right-hand turns - Correa fought through the starting battles and record two very strong results once racing began. Finish seventh in the first seven-lap run, he placed 11th the next time out. The final heat saw a drying track for the Junior group after practice was run in wet conditions. This time he was a victim of contact and was shuffled off the track in turn one at the start. He rejoined the race outside the top-20 and began regaining positions but a small error in one of the damp corners sent him off the track. He would go on to finish 22nd and earn a 21st starting spot for the Prefinal.
Now on the inside lane, he took advantage at the start to gain a number of positions at the start of the 11-lap event. He would end up 14th with a chance to move inside the top-10 in the main event. Unfortunately, the outside lane once again struck bad luck for JMC as he would be involved in an opening lap incident and fell down the order quickly. He recovered to finish 22nd overall in his first Rotax Grand Finals start. Throughout the entire week, he continued to fight hard and improve as a driver while his mechanic Bryn Nuttall kept finding more and more speed out of their spec Junior Max package. With another two years of Juan Manuel Correa in the Juinor ranks, we could see him as a Team USA member two more times.
 | Blair was second quickest of Team USA in qualifying for DD2 Masters
(Photo: Ken Johnson - GoRotax.com) |
Blair was also making his first start at the Rotax Grand Finals, but also making his first start in a DD2 package after winning the U.S. Rotax Grand Nationals in the Masters Max category. Only a test weekend with the Team USA squad at the Ocala Gran Prix was his only time in a two-speed Rotax ride. From the moment he arrived in Portugal, he walked around with the biggest smile of anyone, just happy to be at the ‘Olympics of Karting’. He too continued to improve as the event progressed, and come qualifying he was second best behind veteran Alan Rudolph in the DD2 Masters category. Posting the eighth quickest time in his group, he was classified 26th overall. Starting 14th in the heat races, he advanced to 11th in his first run, but came on the scales just 0.1kg underweight and was excluded from the results. This put more emphasis on his remaining heat races to try for a higher starting spot in the LCQ.
The second heat race was similar to the first, placing 11th which led to some hope. Unfortunately, he was shuffled back in the third heat, which he ran in wet conditions for the first time aboard a DD2 kart. He ended up finishing 22nd, placing him 47th overall in the standings. Now into the LCQ, Johnny started 19th, needing to finish sixth to continue on. Early on he made some great moves to gain positions but was caught up in an incident that dropped him down the order. He pushed on to finish 20th and ended his driving at the event. Blair returned the following day to cheer on the rest of Team USA and still carried that familiar smile we saw him with at the start of the week. He stated to EKN that he learned a lot over the week and it has motivated him to try and return to the Grand Finals in 2013.
GoRotax.com Driver of the Month Presented by eKartingNews.com
November 2012 - Juan Manuel Correa
 | GoRotax.com Driver of the Month - November 2012 - Juan Manuel Correa
(Photo: Ken Johnson - GoRotax.com) |
Bio
Born: Quito, Ecuador - August 9, 1999
Hometown: Miami, FL
Parents: Juan Carlos Correa/Maria Correa
Siblings: Ana (4), Jose Antonio (9)
Height/Weight: 162 cm / 113 lbs
Education: Palmer Trinity School
Job: Student
Racing Resume
Chassis: Praga
Engine Service Center: Bryn Nuttal- Ogden racing engines
Sponsors: Bell, Praga, Pro Racing, Palmer Trinity Schools
United States Rotax Max Challenge Home Series: South Florida Rotax Max Challenge
Years Karting: 6
How did you get started in karting? I went to watch a race and then I tried a kart. I liked it, so my dad got me started with lessons. After a couple of months I was already racing.
What has been the high point in your racing career? Winning the ticket for Portugal and racing on Portugal.
What are your goals in racing? My goal is to become a F1 or IndyCar driver
In a few words, how would you describe your driving style? I think that my driving style is a mix between smoothness and aggressiveness. For example, I can be very smooth through some fast corners and then be very aggressive in the breaking point.
2011 Accomplishments: I had a couple of podiums in the Florida Winter Tour. I won the Pan Am in Mini Max, but then got disqualified for docking my head in the straight, and got moved onto second place. Won a heat in the SuperNats and finished third in the other one in TaG Cadet
Likes
Favorite Track: Palm Beach International Raceway
Favorite form of professional motorsports: F1
Favorite karting driver: I admire my coach jay howard.
Favorite professional driver: Alonso
Favorite website: Youtube
Favorite movie: 21 Jump street
Favorite actor/actress: Jonah Hill
Favorite music/group: Eminem
Favorite vacation/activity spot: the beach
Favorite food: Sushi
The Real Deal
What do you do when not at the track? I go to school, I play Tennis, I do a lot of homework, I train to stay fit.
What are your goals outside of karting? My main goals outside of karting are: be a good student, and love my family.
What type of street car do you drive? N/A
What type of street car would you like to drive? For my first car I would like to have a BMW M5
What are your pet peeves or things that irritate you? The thing that irritates me more are my little sister and my little brother.
What is your favorite aspect about racing in the Rotax Max Challenge program? My favorite aspect about racing in the Rotax Max Challenge program is that everybody has the same equipment so it makes the racing very competitive, which makes you drive harder and better in order to get results. And that has been very helpful in my development as a driver.
GoRotax.com Driver of the Month Presented by eKartingNews.com
November 2012 - Johnny Blair
 | GoRotax.com Driver of the Month - November 2012 - Johnny Blair
(Photo: Ken Johnson - GoRotax.com) |
Bio
Born: April 27, 1980
Hometown: Puyallup, Washington
Marital Status: Happily Married
Children: Dylan Rain Blair
Height/Weight: 5’ 11”/ 180
Education: Graduated Franklin Peirce High School
Occupation: Hardwood Floor Finishing Expert at Blair and Son Floor Co.
Racing Resume
Chassis: Tony Kart
Engine Service Center: Collins Racing Engines
Sponsors: my wife Karla Blair, Blair and Son Floor Co, Seattle Karting Specialties, Collins Racing Engines, Eric Armstrong, Byers Custom Paint
United States Rotax Max Challenge Home Series: Northwest Gold Cup
Years Karting: 12
How did you get started in karting? I first became interested in go-kart racing at the age of 12 when I saw a dirt oval race at a local event. I told my parents I wanted to race go-karts. I began by racing dirt oval and after one season shifted to asphalt. For the following seven years I raced dirt in the winter and asphalt in the summer.
What has been the high point in your racing career? The high point of my career has been most recently the opportunity to represent the USA in the Rotax Grand Finals in Portugal.
What are your goals in racing? My goals are to always enjoy what I am doing to the fullest, to go as far as I can and to always do my best.
In a few words, how would you describe your driving style? Old School
2011 Accomplishments: My 2011 accomplishments do consist of racing, however, I did father a son on May 18, 2011 and I am very fast at changing diapers.
Likes
Favorite Track: Puget Sound Go Karting Association
Favorite form of professional motorsports: Formula One
Favorite karting driver: Kyle and Connor Wick
Favorite professional driver: Sebastian Vettel
Favorite website: ekartingnews.com
Favorite movie: Saving Private Ryan
Favorite actor/actress: Woody Harrelson
Favorite music/group: Pink Floyd
Favorite vacation/activity spot: Mt. Rainier/Snow Boarding
Favorite food: Chinese Food…gotta love the fortune cookie
The Real Deal
What do you do when not at the track? When I am not at the track I can be found working, spending quality time with my family, Spinning Drum and Bass, or river fishing for salmon.
What are your goals outside of karting? To be a loving husband and father and to continue to build the company my grandfather started.
What type of street car do you drive? 1973 Chevy Nova SS
What type of street car would you like to drive? 1956 Ford Thunderbird
What are your pet peeves or things that irritate you? My pet peeves and things that irritate me are being asked to repeat myself, unnecessary outbursts of anger, and most of all when my wife doesn’t close the bag inside the cereal box to keep it fresh.
What is your favorite aspect about racing in the Rotax Max Challenge program? My favorite aspect about racing in the Rotax Max Challenge program is having the opportunity to meet the other racers and their family and cultivate meaningful relationships with them |
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