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| March 16, 2012 News |
| Event News: Florida Winter Tour - Ocala - Rotax Max Challenge - Preview |
| Article by: Ken Johnson and Bill Wright |
It’s hard to believe this will be the last weekend of Florida Winter Tour competition for 2012. They say time goes fast when you’re having fun. But it goes by seriously fast when having “SERIOUS FUN!” at “THE Winter Place To Be!” .
The fourteenth annual FWT, this year presented by SPORTALITY, continues its fourteen year tradition of growth. With two races left to run the 2012 FWT has set an all-time participation record with more than 400 drivers from 27 countries and all six karting continents accounting for an average of 704 entries per month, and we’ve still got this weekend to go.
We’ve experienced beautiful weather and glorious sunshine. We’ve seen several races decided by inches. We’ve witnessed reigning and former World, National and Regional Champions dueling head-to-head and watched aspiring champions on their way up. This weekend we find out who’s the best of the best.
As the final two rounds of the 2012 Florida Winter Tour season, several types of championships will be decided. Paramount among those is the Nations Cup and Manufacturers Cup Championships. In the Manufacturers Cup, a strong weekend from CRG at last weekend’s Formula Kart season finale sees them back atop the point’s structure by the narrowest of margins over Tony Kart, with Intrepid making up ground in third. This is going to be an exciting battle to watch, as it will most likely go down to the final lap of the final race on Sunday. In the Nations Cup the United States holds a commanding lead into the final weekend over Canada and Venezuela, with Jamaica and Mexico rounding out the top five in the competitions between the 27 countries represented. To follow the positions of where the nations and manufacturers stand, visit the POINTS link at the FWT web site for the most current standings.
After some great performances throughout the season a handful of competitors are in a hotly contested battle for a huge scholarship program provided by Skip Barber Racing. The Skip Barber Awards are open to eligible drivers who are interested in adding car racing to their motorsports activities and registered for the program. Drivers accumulate points from their participation in both the Formula Kart and Rotax MAX events. The awards for the top three in Skip Barber points are:
1st: Three Day Racing School, Two Day Advanced Racing School and a Full Season (eight races) in a Skip Barber Summer or Winter series.
2nd: $15,000 in “Skippy Bucks”
3rd: $10,000 in “Skippy Bucks”
With an awards package like this, it’s no wonder drivers who aspire to race cars have been so focused on the prize. After last weekend’s FWT Formula Kart races, Kyle Kirkwood (USA) remains in the lead with 1887 points. With a pair of podium finishes, Danny Formal (Costa Rica) moves into second with 1783 points and Ashley Rogero (USA) shrugged of some bad racing luck to remain firmly in the hunt with a total of 1745. Don’t count out Canadian Alex Guenette, close behind in fourth.
On a special note, Formula Kart Productions is very proud, and extremely humbled, to be able to present the inaugural Dan Wheldon / FWT Karting Ambassador Award to one deserving recipient. Dan was a very popular figure at the Florida Winter Tour. Not just for what he’d accomplished in racing, but for whom he was and how he cared for and treated others. We have no doubt there will be some emotion shared when presenting this annual award and that it will become a cherished recognition of accomplishment and positive persona at FWT for years to come. To learn more about the requirements for nomination for the award see the FWT news story at floridawintertour.com/news/60-2012/326-dan-wheldon-fwt-karting-ambassador-award.html . To nominate someone for the award send an email to live@floridawintertour.com .
The Rotax Grand Finals spots are on the line in the four RMC Grand Finals classes. In DD2 it’s a two horse race as 2011 Grand Finals standout Nicholas Latifi (Canada) leads the points and looks poised to take his first FWT title after two final wins in a row. However, American standout Cody Hodgson (USA) could spoil Latifi’s plan as he sits just 19 points back coming into the weekend.
Reigning and two-time Rotax Senior World Champion Ben Cooper (UK), reigning and two-time Rotax DD2 World Champion Pier-Luc Ouellette (CANADA) and American standout Danny Formal (Costa Rica) have proven that the cream really does rise to the top and it appears the FWT RMCGF Senior class transfer spot will go to one of these three.
In Rotax Junior Oliver Askew (USA) has been on a tear, winning the last three finals. It’s Askew’s spot to lose, but Parker Thompson (Canada) is close enough to make it interesting. If either of those two falters look for 2010 Rotax Junior World Champion Jordi Van Morsel (Holland) or Ashley Rogero (USA) to step up and take the spot.
In DD2 Masters U.S. shifter standout Alan Rudolph has a commanding lead, and looks set to complete his goal of representing the U.S. at the Grand Finals. It will take some luck for reigning FWT DD2 Masters Champion Rene Martinelli or Canadian Ryan Horses to take the spot. But racing luck is fickle. We’ll know after this weekend.
As with all events in the 2012 Florida Winter Tour season, log on to watch the racing action live at Formula kart Production’s FWT LIVE! (floridawintertour.com/fwtlive/2012) FWT LIVE! Features live streaming video, live timing and encourages audience participation with the ability to email the announcer to send “shout outs” to your favorite drivers and teams. |
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