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| November 30, 2009 News |
| Rotax Grand Finals 2009 Team America Preview - Junior Squad |
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A total of 12 drivers from the United States will make the America’s Team at this year’s edition of the Rotax Grand Finals in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt on December 7-12. Labeled the ‘Olympics of Karting’ the 10th edition of the event will make a second return to Egypt, having hosted the event in 2003.
Today, EKN takes a look at the four representatives flying the USA colors in the Rotax Junior division, battling for the world title. On December 7, EKN will examine the overall event with a breakdown on what the drivers from the United States will experience. eKartingNews.ca will provide Trackside Live coverage presented by WSK North American Series Florida Cup and will kick off with reports trackside on the United States and Canadian contingent December 8.
 | Nick Neri
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Nick Neri
Age: 14 (December 5)
Hometown: Ocala, FL
Rotax Max Series: Northern Florida
Grand Nationals Finish: 1st
Certainly one of the top Junior drivers in the country, Nick Neri is certainly gunning for the world title. The 2006 Mini Max Grand National champion earned his second US title back in September earning his first Junior crown in convincing fashion. Despite winning the Grand Nationals, Neri earned his spot on the team via the transfer slot earned by capturing the Florida Winter Tour Rotax Junior championship. Neri stood on the podium five of six feature races, including a victory in the opening round. Aside from Rotax competition, the Ocala Gran Prix driver battled for four championships in the WKA Manufacturer’s Cup Series. The Florida driver earned the title in the HPV Jr. Heavy division while placing in the top-four in three other divisions.
 | Ethan Ringel
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Ethan Ringel
Age: 15
Hometown: Windermere, FL
Rotax Max Series: Northern Florida
Grand Nationals Finish: 2nd
Making a huge improvement in just one year, Ethan Ringel did what he needed in order to put himself on the America’s Team. One year ago, Ringel was outside the top-20 at the Grand Nationals. In ’09, he was inside the top-10 for most of the event. A DNF in the third heat cost him good starting spot for the Prefinal but Ringel made up a positions to finish 11th. In the main event, Ringel raced is way onto the podium as the fastest kart on the track to make it an Ocala Gran Prix 1-2 finish. Making his first trip to the Grand Finals, Ringel will show he has the speed to compete.
 | Jake French
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Jake French
Age: 13
Hometown: Sachse, TX
Rotax Max Series: Southwest Regional Cup-North Texas Karters
Grand Nationals Finish: 3rd
Making it two former Mini Max Grand National champions on the Junior squad, Jake French will make the journey to Egypt in next week. The Texan won his Grand National back in 2007 in Colorado but did not compete at in Shawano for the ’08 event. Instead, French was a pole sitter for the S5 category at the SKUSA SuperNationals that year. In 2009, the 3G Kart Racing driver was ranked on top of the United States Rotax Kart Challenge National Point Standings, earning a championship in the Southwest Regional Cup along with a IKF Road Race Grand National victory in Rotax Junior. At the Rotax Grand Nationals, French was a consistent top-10 challenger and made his way forward in the main to the podium and earn a trip to Egypt for the Grand Finals.
 | Alec Udell
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Alec Udell
Age: 14
Hometown: Spring, TX
Rotax Max Series: Southwest Regional Cup
Grand Nationals Finish: 4th
In his first year in the Junior category, Texan Alec Udell will make his first trip to the Rotax Grand Finals. The number 1 Mini Max driver in last year’s United States Rotax Kart Challenge National Point Standings, Udell was able to earn the final slot for this year’s America’s Team for the trip to Egypt. The Kart Nation driver competed alongside French all season, finishing second in the SWRC Rotax Junior standings and fourth in the United States Rotax Kart Challenge National Point Standings. At the Grand Nationals, Udell was inside the top-five in all his on track sessions. A deflated tire nearly took him out of the Prefinal however he was able to nurse his machine to fourth place run after running second. In the Final, Udell fought valiantly to secure the fourth place after just missing out on the third position. With Neri taking the Florida Winter Tour ticket, Udell’s fourth earned him the final spot on the America’s Team for Egypt. |
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