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| June 29, 2012 |
| Driver News: K1 RaceGear-Sponsored Olivier Bellanger Closes FKCS with Great Results |
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Despite tropical storm Debbie knocking on Florida coastline, top competitors headed to Jacksonville last weekend for the final round of the Florida Karting Championship Series.
Among the fierce Ocala Gran Prix race squad, K1 RaceGear sponsored pilot Olivier Bellanger was determined to end his Rotax MiniMax stint on a high note before moving up to the junior class. As always, the ultra competitive MiniMax class provided spectators plenty to cheer for with non-stop nose-to-tail racing action throughout the packed field at the famed super fast racetrack, home of one of the longest straight-aways and awesome banked turns.
Out of the gate, Bellanger’s OGP powered Tony Kart was very quick in practice sessions, setting the tone for competitors to bring their A game. Few adjustments were made for qualifying and Bellanger was able to secure the second position, losing P1 to teammate and OGP sponsored driver Mathias Ramirez. Rounding out the top five were South Florida’s newest hot-shot Michael Benyahia, top Venezuelan driver Rubens Grillet and OGP teammate Aaron Bass.
With powerful winds blowing through the area but still a dry track, all competitors were anxious to get down to business and start racing. The pre-final race kept the same quintet battling up-front and exchanging positions all the way to the checkered flag, in the end it was Grillet, Benyahia, Bellanger, Ramirez and Bass in that order.
Confident that he could earn the top step of the podium in the final, Bellanger was determined to display his racing skills and give spectators plenty to cheer for. The feature race was a great illustration of bumper-to-bumper racing, multiple lead changes and last corner passes that fans have expected to experience from the very talented field of Rotax MiniMax drivers. Ultimately, the “fab-five” battled fiercely but Bellanger demonstrated his tenacious hunger for wins and despite a last corner pass by teammate Ramirez, Olivier stayed on the outside wheel-to-wheel to regain the lead and cross the finish line first.
The soon-to-be teenager was ecstatic, “I am so happy right now, this was an awesome race! I won’t turn my back on winning easily but it is so satisfying to win a race after such a hard fought battle. For 16 laps we all kept pushing our karts to the maximum of their performance, we kept passing one-another every lap trying to break away. When I realized that the race would have to be determined on the last lap I gave the lead away and made sure to stay in second or third to position myself for the final attack. I made a great pass on Rubens with 1 ˝ laps to go, bringing Mathias in my tow for white flag, then I protected the line for the last lap but Mathias forced a challenge in the last corner taking the inside. I did not budge and kept my kart side by side forcing him to back off after the exit of the turn. This was really one of my best wins, it was so much fun and I can’t thank enough all my racing buddies for giving 110%. It is experiences like these that have made me a better and stronger racing driver. I also want to thank everyone at OGP but especially Team Manager Nate Grindell for his advises on race strategies, my awesome sponsor K1 RaceGear with Bob Harris and his team, these guys rock, they are passionate about racing and so supportive. Of course I want to thank my parents and sister for their dedicated help.”
Unfortunately, Olivier was handed a 3 second penalty after the race for a starting lane violation which moved him back to third in the final results.
Olivier also competed in the Vortex Tag Cadet class and after a disappointing qualifying session that only gave him a P9, the tenacious youngster worked his way to the front to finish in fifth aboard an ill prepared chassis that was mounted with the wrong axle for this track. “I take full responsibility, expressed Bellanger senior working as his son’s mechanic. We quickly figured that we had the wrong axle for this very fast track, we talked about it and decided to spare the expense of a new axle and put that money in the “saving jar” for the US Grand Nationals. I was confident Olivier would be able to make-up our challenges by his driving abilities. Considering it all, I am very proud that he managed to finished fifth in that class. This was a great weekend for Olivier, he wanted to finish this series on a high note before moving up to junior and I am glad that he accomplished it.”
Bellanger will be back at the OGP facility in two weeks for the last race of the Rotax Max Challenge. In the meantime, Olivier will be working hard at trying to secure funding to help him go to the US Grand Nationals held in August at the Michiana Raceway Park in South Bend, Indiana.
For more race info, sponsorship or endorsement opportunities, please contact Olivier at olivier.bellanger@live.com |
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