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| December 02, 2009 News |
| Rotax Grand Finals 2009 Team America Preview - Senior 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 Senior 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.
 | Phillip Arscott
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Phillip Arscott
Age: 20
Hometown: Portland, OR
Rotax Max Challenge Series: Northwest Gold Cup
Grand Nationals Finish: 1st
Leading the Senior squad to Egypt will be reigning Grand Nationals champion Phillip Arscott. The Pacific Northwest driver will be making his second straight trip to the Grand Finals, having finished second at last year’s Grand Nationals leading to a 25th place run in the Grand Finals main event in La Conca, Italy. The calm and collected Arscott is a driver of all trades, having race on the national tour in ICA competition, earned Expert status in IKF with multiple Duffy victories on both sprint and road racing circuits, and now holds the title as a Rotax national champion. In Norman for this year’s GNs, Arscott competed aboard a Tony Kart machine with expert Rotax tuner Blake Choquer. The combination won all three of his heat races after recording the second fastest lap in qualifying, missing out by just six-hundredths of a second. In a wet and wild Prefinal in the wet on slick tires, Arscott showed his car control prowess to the victory before going untouched in the main event for the national crown.
 | Victor Pedrosa
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Victor Pedrosa
Age: 22 (December 9)
Hometown: Ocala, FL
Rotax Max Challenge Series: Northern Florida
Grand Nationals Finish: 2nd
Competing as the oldest Senior driver on the squad, Victor Pedrosa brings a vast amount of experience to the team despite making his first Grand Finals. The native Brazilian, now residing in Florida, is always among the quickest drivers when competing. Pedrosa was second in the Rotax Senior point chase in the Florida Winter Tour, as well as the KF2 division. A mechanical issue took him out of contention on the ’08 Grand Nationals while contact in ’07 ended his run at the title. Pedrosa - teamed with Ocala Gran Prix and Race Tech Development’s Mike Maurini turning the wrenches - was running in the top-five each session on track in this year’s GNs until a penalty put him 13th in the final tally and hurt his starting position for the Prefinal. After starting 11th, Pedrosa impressed the paddock in the wet-weather conditions to climb up to fourth. In the main, Pedrosa quickly grabbed the second spot but had to fight until the closing stages to lock in the position and a trip to Egypt for the Grand Finals.
 | Joey Wimsett
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Joey Wimsett
Age: 20 (December 7)
Hometown: Beavercreek, Oregon
Rotax Max Challenge Series: Northwest Gold Cup - Challenge of the Americas
Grand Nationals Finish: 3rd
Joey Wimsett - the current number one in the EKN TaG Driver Rankings - will be making his first trip to the Grand Finals. The Champion Racing/Intrepid USA driver has been a front runner on the national scene after his breakout season in 2007 during his rookie Senior year. Turning his focus to Rotax competition in ’09, Wimsett went full-force by battling for the Challenge of the Americas title in the early months of the season before securing a Northwest Gold Cup regional title. At his first Rotax Grand Nationals, Wimsett was best in the timed qualifying sessions, edging out Arscott for the honor. After a runner-up to Arscott in the opening heat race followed by two heat wins, Wimsett started alongside on the front row. A great wet weather race between the two saw the two hold their front row positions for the main. A slow start cost Wimsett an early chance at battling for the win, instead battled for the second spot with Pedrosa until settling for third. Wimsett has competed on the international scene, running at the IAME International Challenge two years straight.
 | Stepanova Nekeel
(Photo: On Track Promotions - otp.ca) |
Stepanova Nekeel
Age: 17
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Rotax Max Challenge Series: Northwest Gold Cup - Challenge of the Americas
Grand Nationals Finish: 7th
Rounding out the Pacific Northwest trio, Stepanova Nekeel was a late edition to the America’s Team for the Rotax Grand Finals. With Challenge of the Americas champion Wes Phillips unable to accept the free entry, the spot was handed to Nekeel. A three time podium finisher in the program, Nekeel finished fifth in the points chase. Also this year, Nekeel ran second to Wimsett in the Northwest Gold Cup program, all aboard the German-manufactured Mach 1 chassis. The privateer was among the quickest at this year’s Grand Nationals, running inside the top-five for the majority of the event. Starting the Prefinal fifth, Nekeel was shuffled back to 11th but was able to work back up to seventh in the Final. Listed as one of his goals in his early EKN Drivers Page listing, Nekeel’s goal was to race karts in Europe. Similar however more importantly, Nekeel will battle the best Rotax racers from around the world in Egypt. |
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