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| August 21, 2012 |
| Team News: d’Orlando Racing Drivers Turn Heads at United States Rotax Grand Nationals |
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 | Nicholas d'Orlando had an impressive run in Micro Max scoring a heat race win and a sixth place result in the final
(Photo: dorlandoracing.com) |
After completing the fifth round of the World Karting Association Manufacturer's Cup and making the trek from Illinois to northern Indiana, d'Orlando Racing (DRC Inc.) pilots Michael and Nicholas would see action in the United States Rotax Grand Nationals. Taking place at the Jet Karting of Michiana Raceway Park facility under changing weather conditions throughout the week, Nicholas claimed a sixth place result in Rotax Micro Max, while Michael would run close to the front of the field in Mini Max, but would have some bad racing luck in the final.
After progressing through the unofficial test days leading up to the event, Michael would begin his quest for a national championship with a solid fifth position in the last official timed practice. Excited for Thursday morning qualifying, on again off again rain would move into the area throwing a wrench into the results. Qualifying in the tenth position, Michael would start each of his three heat races from outside row five.
Looking for consistent finishes to help with his starting position on Saturday morning, Thursday afternoon's heat one would not go as planned as Michael crossed the line in 20th in a rain soaked race. Back on track Friday, Michael would garner a fifth place result in heats two and three, as well as the fastest lap in the third and final heat race. Calculating the points for Championship Saturday, Michael would begin the prefinal from the eighth position.
Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Nicholas d'Orlando would compete in his second ever US Rotax Grand Nationals in the Rotax Micro Max class. After topping the final official practice session on Wednesday afternoon, Nicholas would be on track Thursday for two official sessions, both on grooved Mojo rain tires. After qualifying in the fourth position, Nicholas completed his rain soaked first heat with a tenth place result.
Friday would prove to be a little better for the youngest DRC Inc. pilot as Nicholas would progress through a wet heat two to come home sixth and then top the charts in heat three with his first career Grand National heat race victory. With race officials going to work to set Saturday's prefinal grid, Nicholas would slot into the fifth position, as he would look to turn up the wick on Championship Saturday.
With lake-effect rain once again hampering Saturday morning's proceedings, both Michael and Nicholas would be forced to complete their prefinals in the dismal weather. Coming from eighth on the grid, Michael would cross the line in tenth. Nicholas would start from the fifth position in Micro Max and as his brother did, he would lose two positions before the final checkered flag flew. Penalized another two positions for a post race technical infraction, Nicholas would start his main event from the ninth position.
With rain moving out of the area before Saturday's opening ceremonies, dry weather racing tires would be mounted on each of the d'Orlando Racing J3 Competition prepared Kosmic chassis for the long main events. First on track would be the Micro Max class and Nicholas went on a tear early. Gaining four positions in the opening two laps, the young driver would settle into the fifth position while the leaders stretched their gap.
Circulating the track by himself, Nicholas would push hard and look to make up lost ground, Utilizing all of the racing surface, Nicholas would make a minor mistake on the exit of corner seven that would see his closest rivals close the gap and eventually pass him. Falling back to the eighth position, Nicholas was determined to make up for his mistake, moving back forward to the sixth position, narrowly missing a top five result.
 | Looking for the national title, Michael d'Orlando would encounter contact in the main event and come home 19th
(Photo: dorlandoracing.com) |
In the Rotax Mini Max main event, Michael started in outside row five but would run into trouble on the opening lap as he was hit from behind entering the chicane and sent off the racing surface. Falling to the tail of the 36 kart field, the WKA podium winner would battle back for a 19th place effort.
"The results were not what we had hoped for but the progress shown by both Michael and Nicholas is very impressive in such a short time," expressed Sherri d'Orlando. "In merely a few months Nicholas went from the LCQs in the Florida Winter Tour to the front group at a national level and Michael's natural skills and abilities are coming to the forefront as he becomes one to watch in the Rotax Mini Max division.
After an extensive prep time, as well as a long race week, DRC Inc. would sincerely like to thank the efforts of everyone at J3 Competition. Additional thanks to Ricardo Legree of Legree Motorsports and Peter Serravalle of PSerra Racing, and all of their partners at Integrity Consulting Group and The Graphic Department.
DRC Inc. will now shift their focus to the final round in the WKA Manufacturer's Cup. Taking place at the ultra-fast New Castle Motorsports Park facility in New Castle, Indiana September 14-16, Michael and Nicholas d'Orlando will look to finish their WKA program with a victory.
For more information on Michael or Nicholas d'Orlando, along with partnership opportunities, please visit http://www.dorlandoracing.com. Be sure to follow Michael and Nicholas on Facebook (Michael d'Orlando Racing or Nicholas d'Orlando Racing) and Twitter (@dorlandoracing) to stay up to date on news, information, photos and results. |
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