Rok Cup International Final 2014

[Rob Howden]

Good day, karters! The 2014 running of the Rok Cup International finale kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday) with the initial practice sessions, and runs through to the Saturday main events. The field will include almost 30 drivers from North and South America, many who have participated in the Rok Cup USA and Rok Cup Canada series. We will be posting race results, photos and paddock information in this thread so that interested readers can have one location to get updated.

It should be an exciting weekend, as some extremely talented North Americans will be participating in the event. We’ll be posting our event preview today.

Rob Howden - eKartingNews.com Publisher / Editor - @RobHowden

[David Cole]

HERE is the preview story, including the number of drivers from North and South America in attendance

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[David Cole]

Photo from Canadian Remo Ruscitti

Little bit of a different look this weekend. Kart is all ready for the weekend at the Rok International Finals here in Lonato

A photo posted by Remo Ruscitti (@rrusc) on Oct 10, 2014 at 10:57am PDT

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[Jim Derrig]

Remo’s wicked fast.  Go Remo!

[David Cole]

AJ Myers ride is ready for this weekend

Post by Mike Myers.

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[David Cole]

USPKS champion Dylan Tavella getting his kart ready with Tiffin Willareth and Charlie Swayne working on his Tony Kart

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[David Cole]

Olivier Bellanger on the grid before a practice session

 

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[David Cole]

Straight from the Rotax Pan American Challenge – Ariel Castro is ready to race

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[Rob Howden]

THURSDAY – OCTOBER 23 – NON-QUALIFYING PRACTICE

Official free practice was run this morning at South Garda Karting, and the drivers are now into the afternoon sessions, which is classified at Non-Qualifying Practice. Qualifying for tomorrow’s heat races will cap today’s on-track action.  The class order is Rok, Junior Rok, Super Rok, Mini Rok, Rok Shifter.  The midday temps are in the high 60s and the track is enjoying sunshine.

In the Junior Rok class, Olivier Bellanger and Ryan Norberg were both in the front half of their session, Bellanger in 12th and Norberg in 14th, less than a half-second off the lead pace.

The North American contingent struggled in Super Rok. Remo Ruscitti led the way, sitting 24th in the first afternoon session, right around 0.8 seconds off the lead pace in Group 1. Don McGregor is running in the E30 class (over 30 years of age) and was 27th, while Joran Redlin ran just two laps before being collected by a driver who went off track, then shot back into the racing line, hitting Redlin in the right rear and bending his axle. In the second group, Chris Eagles is also running in the E30 class and is 2.9 seconds back in 34th, and has work to do to find speed. Rok Cup USA champ Dustin Stross was in the pits early, having turning just three laps.

In the first group of Mini Rok, Ricardo Villasmil was 23rd, back by just over a second. Canadian Antonio Serravalle looks good in Group 2, sitting 11th, less than three tenths off, while Mathias Rameriz was 21st. Lachan DeFrancenso led the North American contingent in Group 3, finishing up fifth, 0.373 off the fast time in the group, while David Morales was 25th. In the final group, Jagger Jones looks to be in the hunt, sitting fifth, just 0.195 back. Dylan Tavela was seventh (+0.309) while Jace Jones was 17th (+0.657).

Of the six Rok Cup USA drivers is Rok Shifter, AJ Myers has the best pace, running sixth in the session, off by just over a tenth. Augie Lerch was 22nd, over seven tenths back. Four of the drivers are in the E30 class (Masters) and it was Brazil’s Valdir Belizario who was quickest, coming in 24th overall and third of the eight E30 drivers. Rok USA champ Gonzalo Aponte was 28th, while Tom Hankinson and Daniel Miglorancia were 32nd and 34th, respectively.

Live timing can be accessed via the following link:

http://www.apex-timing.com/live-timing/southgardakarting/index.html

Rob Howden - eKartingNews.com Publisher / Editor - @RobHowden

[David Cole]

Qualifying – Rok

30. Ariel Castro (E30)-46.142 +1.050 (10 laps)

Castro was fourth in the E30 group, roughly 6 tenths off the group top qualifier in the 14th overall position. Castro is the only Rok Cup USA driver in the category.

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[David Cole]

Qualifying – Junior Rok (Group 1)

13. Ryan Norberg-45.416 +0.178
16. Luis Jose Forteza III-45.434 +0.196
22. Olivier Bellanger-45.558 +0.320
29. Jacobo Camacho (Columbia)-46.053 +0.815

Norberg and Forteza bounced around the top-10 all session, as a large group of drivers continued to post fast lap after fast lap. The highest position was sixth for both, ending up 13th and 16th in the group. Bellanger remained near the 20th position the entire time. Overall, after the second group was completed, Norberg and Forteza end up 21st and 24th.

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[David Cole]

Qualifying

Super Rok (Group 1)

19. Remo Ruscitti – 44.820 +0.456
25. Jordan Redlin – 45.081 +0.717
31. Don McGregor (E30) – 45.595 +1.231
32. Christian Pottolichio – 45.609 +1.245

Super Rok (Group 2)

25. Dustin Stross – 45.476 +1.194
36. Chris Eagles (E30) – 47.056 +2.774

It was a tough session for the American and Canadian drivers. Ruscitti was into the top-10 on the out laps, but fell back and did not return, ending up recorded the best lap of the six drivers in the 31st overall position. McGregor was seventh in E30 for his group, 11th overall. Both Eagles and Stross were able to get quicker at the end, but both are still off the overall pace.

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[Karl Rickert]

Thanks for the updates Rob and David! Any word on Live Video or Audio from the site this weekend?

Thanks

Karl Rickert

KARTS

livekarts.com

[David Cole]

Qualifying

Mini Rok (Group 1)

23. Ricardo Villasmill – 51.134 +1.157

Mini Rok (Group 2)

3. Antonio Serravalle – 50.222 +0.181
6. Gianluca Petecof – 50.309 +0.268
23. Mathias Ramirez – 51.174 +1.133

Mini Rok (Group 3)

2. Lachlan DeFrancesco – 50.701 +0.157
13. Colin Queen – 51.145 +0.601
16. David Morales –  51.185+0.641

Mini Rok (Group 4)

6. Jagger Jones – 50.823 +0.336
9. Dylan Tavella – 50.872 +0.385
17. Jace Jones – 51.092 +0.605

Serravalle flirted with fast time in group, ending up third but recorded the fast time of all the North and South American contingent on hand. His time put him an amazing 5th overall of the over 100 drivers. Brazilian driver and Rok Cup USA champion Petecof was right there, just a tenth off his time. Queen and DeFrancesco were toward the top early in Group 3, with DeFrancesco second in his group but nearly half a second off Serravalle’s time. DeFrancesco did go purple in sector 3 on his last lap for his group. Morales was quick on his final circuit, ending up just off Queen’s time. Jagger and Tavella moved up the order toward the middle portion of the session and remained in the top-10 of the final group, ending up about six tenths off Serravalle.

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[David Cole]

Qualifying

Shifter Rok

13. AJ Myers – 43.244 +0.219
23. Augie Lerch – 43.571 +0.546
26. Valdir Belizario (E30) – 43.771 +0.746
29. Gonzalo Aponte (E30) – 44.070 +1.045
31. Tom Hankinson (E30) – 44.429 +1.404
33. Daniel Miglorancia (E30) – 45.129 +2.104

Myers and Lerch took two laps to warm-up before laying down their fast times. Toward the end of the season, it seemed they were trying to find space on the track and were unable to, as they had sporadic lap times in the final two minutes. Myers was in the top-10, but fell to 13th in the final laps. Brazilian Belizario was best of the E30 crew, fourth overall of the elder drivers.

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[David Cole]

AJ Myers – Qualified 13th in Shifter Rok

Post by Checkered Motorsports PCR USA.

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[Rob Howden]

Friday, October 24, 2014

Heat Races – Round #1

Rok:
27. Ariel Castro (4th overall in E30)

Junior Rok:

(A vs B)
6. Ryan Norberg (3.144 seconds)
32. Jacobo Comacho

(C vs D)
8. Olivier Bellanger
13. Luis Jose Forteza III

Super Rok:

(A vs B)
26. Don McGregor
28. Jordan Redlin
29. Christian Potolicchio

(C vs D)
7. Remo Ruscitti
20. Dustin Stross
30. Chris Eagles

Mini Rok:

(A vs B)
7. Dylan Tavella
15. Ricardo Villasmill
23. Jace Jones

(E vs F)
1. Antonio Serravalle
10. Mathias Ramirez
15. Colin Queen

(C vs D):
10. Jagger Jones

(G vs H)
6. Lachlan DeFrancesco
8. Gianluca Petecof
11. David Morales

Rok Shifter:
15. Gonzalo Aponte
19. Daniel Miglorrancia
26. Augie Lerch
27. Thomas Hankinson
29. Valdir Belanzario – DNF
30. AJ Myers – DNF

Rob Howden - eKartingNews.com Publisher / Editor - @RobHowden

[Rob Howden]

Heat Races – Round #2

Rok:
22. Ariel Castro (2nd in E30)

Junior Rok:

(A vs C)
1. Ryan Norberg (HUGE WIN)
32. Jacobo Comacho

(C vs D)
10. Luis Jose Forteza III
16. Olivier Bellanger

Super Rok:

(A vs C)
23. Dustin Stross
28. Jordan Redlin
30. Don McGregor
32. Chris Eagles

(B vs D)
22. Christian Potolicchio
35. Remo Ruscitti

Mini Rok:

(A vs C)
18. Ricardo Villasmill

(E vs G)
9. Antonio Serravalle
14. Mathias Ramirez
24. Gianluca Petecof – DNF

(B vs D)
3. Jagger Jones
13. Dylan Tavella
23. Jace Jones

(F vs H)
4. Lachan DeFrancesco
13. Colin Queen
21. David Morales

Rok Shifter

16. AJ Myers
21. Augie Lerch
25. Gonzalo Aponte (E30)
27. Tom Hankinson (E30)
29. Daniel Miglorancia (E30)
32. Valdir Belizario (E30) – DNF

The Rok Shifter category started the second heat based on the results of the first heat race. Aponte and Miglorancia started inside the top-20, but fell down the order. Myers, who did not complete a lap in ‘Manche 1’, advanced 10 spots on the opening circuit to be 20th. He ended up gaining four more spots in the remaining nine circuits to set up a run toward the front in Heat #3 Saturday. Lerch gained five spots to finish just outside the top-20.

Rob Howden - eKartingNews.com Publisher / Editor - @RobHowden

[David Cole]

Heat Races – Round #3

Junior Rok:

(A vs D)
5. Ryan Norberg
31. Luis Jose Forteza – DNF
14. Olivier Bellanger
28. Jacobo Camacho

Norberg was up to seventh after starting 11th, and was the quickest driver on the track. He fought his way up to fifth, earning purple in sector 2 and fast lap of the race. Forteza retired on the opening lap, with Bellanger gaining four spots in the eight lap race.

Super Rok:

(A vs D)
10. Remo Ruscitti
17. Jordan Redlin
23. Don McGregor (E30)

Ruscitti gain one spot at the start and then jumped up to 12th by lap three. In the final laps, he gained to more to finish 10th. Redlin gained six spots while McGregor was fourth of the E30 drivers, moving up six total spots in the 10 laps.

(B vs C)
23. Dustin Stross
34. Christian Pottolichio
35. Chris Eagles (E30)

Eagles retired on lap one, with Pottolichio out with three laps remaining. Stross was 25th after the first lap and gained two more positions.

Mini Rok:

(A vs D)
16. Jagger Jones
17. Ricardo Villasmil

Jones was running inside the top-10 until two laps remained and he was shuffled back to 18th. On the final lap, Jones went purple in sector 2, running his fast lap to gain two spots by the checkered flag.

(E vs H)
1. Antonio Serravalle
6. Lachlan DeFrancesco
12. Mathias Ramirez
14. David Morales

Serravalle led early on but was then pushed back to second on lap five. On the final lap, the Canadian passed for the win. DeFrancesco was fifth after the first lap, ending up losing on spot. Ramirez had a stellar drive from the back, gaining 11 spots with Morales up two from his grid spot.

(B vs C)
9. Dylan Tavella
21. Jace Jones

Tavella did not move much in the eight laps, getting up to eighth at one point but fell back to ninth on the final lap. Jones was inside the top-20, but fell back toward the end of the session, dropping four spots from where he started.

(F vs G)
7. Gianluca Petecof
14. Colin Queen

Petecof fell back to seventh at the start after sitting sixth on the grid. He tried to fight his way forward, but remained in the same position. Queen was 12th after the opening circuit, but fell back two spots on lap four, where he remained to the checkered flag.

David Cole - EKN Managing Editor

[Rob Howden]

Friday, October 24, 2014
Prefinal / Third Round Heats / Finals

Mini Rok – Prefinal A
11. Jagger Jones (transfer to Final)
25. Dylan Tavella (transfer to Final)

Mini Rok – Prefinal B
11. Mathias Ramirez
17. Gianluca Petecof (will run B Main – Bridgestone Final)
29. Colin Queen (will run B Main – Bridgestone Final)
30. David Morales (will run B Main – Bridgestone Final)

Junior Rok – Prefinal A
16. Jacobo Camacho (transfer to Final)

Junior Rok – Prefinal A
5. Ryan Norberg (transfer to Final)
13. Luis Forteza III (transfer to Final)
28. Olivier Bellanger (will run B Main – Bridgestone Final)

Rob Howden - eKartingNews.com Publisher / Editor - @RobHowden

[Rob Howden]

Friday, October 24, 2014
Prefinal / Third Round Heats / Finals

Rok – Heat 3
23. Ariel Castro (E30)

Rok Shifter – Heat 3
24. Gonzalo Aponte (E30)
28. Augie Lerch
29. AJ Myers

Rob Howden - eKartingNews.com Publisher / Editor - @RobHowden

[Rob Howden]

Friday, October 24, 2014
Prefinal / Third Round Heats / Finals

Super Rok – Prefinal A
17. Remo Ruscitti (transfer to Final)
18. Dustin Stross

Super Rok – Prefinal B
18. Jordan Redlin
26. Don McGregor (E30)

Rob Howden - eKartingNews.com Publisher / Editor - @RobHowden

[Rob Howden]

Friday, October 24, 2014
Finals

Mini Rok – Bridgestone Final (B Main)
2. Gianluca Petecof
10. Dylan Tavella
13. David Morales
18. Colin Queen

Mini Rok – Final
10. Jagger Jones
13. Antonio Serravalle
16. Mathias Ramirez
25. Lachlan Defrancesco

Junior Rok – Final
15. Ryan Norberg
21. Luis Forteza III
28. Jacabo Camacho

Rok Shifter – Final
17. Augie Lerch

Super Rok:
17. Remo Ruscitti

Rob Howden - eKartingNews.com Publisher / Editor - @RobHowden

[Author]

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