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| October 15, 2004 News |
| EKN Trackside: World Superkart Challenge Qualifying |
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The fourth annual World Superkart Challenge has hit the track running with the debut edition of the U.S. Superkart Championship on the line as well. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca is the host for the popular festival of speed and the draw of the famed Corkscrew has proven large enough to fill the paddock with competitors from five countries. The glory of both ultimate victory and championship gold is up for grabs this weekend and after, a single morning qualifying session, the drivers hit the track this afternoon (Friday) for their qualifying runs. Race organizers split the field into two groups to provide ample track room for the two categories that run under the U.S Superkart banner – Formula E 250cc twins and the single cylinder Intercontinental E (ICE) cars.
In the Formula E class, last year’s ICE victor Kyle Martin showed the way, posting a stellar 1:24.554 to outrun two-time event winner Eddie Lawson, who turned a 1:25.212 to sit second. Martin is running as part of Riley Will’s BRC Race Engineering squad, piloting a PVP chassis powered by one of Will’s potent new BRC 250 billet twin engines. The engine manufacturer has put together what he calls his ‘dream team’ with Tom Dyer and Joe White joining Martin under the tent. Dyer has Leading Edge’s Greg Bell on the wrenches on his Zip Eagle II and has been quick despite turning his first laps this morning, powering to the third fastest time with a 1:25.959. White sits seventh with a 1:26.669.
U.S. Superkart Championship leader J.R. Osborne looks strong in fourth, steering his carbon-fiber skinned P1 to a 1:26.22 on the qualifying chart. Aussie top guns Warren McIlveen and Sam Zavaglia are fifth and sixth in their Stockmans. Cory Fancy (PVP), Reggie Brown Jr. (P1) and Kerry Coulson (PVP) round out the top ten. Midwest star Johnny West stuck another cylinder during the opening laps of qualifying and coasted into the pits, jumping into his T-car to qualify 21st with a 1:31.711. He will now run the second entry for the remainder of the weekend.
Texan Jim Ingram (PVP) scored the pole in the ICE class, running a strong 1:30.547 to top championship leader Andy Kiker (Anderson), who posted a 1:31.089.
The Prefinal is set for 10:45 am PST tomorrow morning (Saturday) with Martin and Lawson leading the field to the green flag for a 25-minute run. The results from this heat race will set grid for Sunday afternoon’s main event, which is scheduled as the last race of the weekend.
Stay tuned for updates all weekend on EKN and the complete in-depth event report in the December issue of Super Kart Illustrated – http://www.superkartmag.com.
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