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| November 01, 2006 News |
| Rotax Grand Finals 2006 Team Gearbox Preview - Junior Team |
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A total of 26 drivers from the United States, Mexico and Jamaica will make up the America’s Team Gearbox when squads from around the world travel to Portugal in two weeks for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals 2006. Today, we will have a look at the five U.S. Junior drivers, along with the Jamaican and two Mexican representatives who will battle for the world title as well.
To discuss this year's event, click HERE for the Official EKN Discussion Thread.
To follow the event through EKN reports and results, bookmark HERE
 | | Timmy Megenbier |
Timmy Megenbier
Age: 15
Hometown: Melrose Park, IL
Years Racing: 10 years
Rotax Max Series: Michiana Raceway Park
Grand Regional Finish: 3rd
Grand National Finish: 1st
Having raced karts for the last ten years, Megenbier is no stranger to the pressure of high-intensity competition. Along with his participation in the Stars of Karting series in recent years, Megenbier was also a member of the US contingent at the Rotax Grand Finals in 2004 in the Canary Islands, where he finished an impressive fifth in the Junior category.
After starting his karting career at the ripe old age of five when his father surprised his with a kart at Christmas, Megenbier jumped right into racing that following summer racing five hours from home to the track in Muncie, IN. Subsequent years of racing and the club and regional level resulted in many championships, including a WKA Manufacturer’s Cup title and three Grand National wins.
Self-described as a deliberate and aggressive driver who looks to seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher as his idol, Megenbier is extremely focused at returning to this world event to step onto the podium. Megenbier’s victory at the Rotax Max Grand Nationals this past September has put him in the key position to take a run at the top step of the podium in Portugal.
This year’s trip to the Grand Finals will likely be Megenbier’s final shot as he continues to develop his career in car racing, running both the Skip Barber National program and the Kenyon Midget series to rack up seat time. This approach has proven to provide solid results as the 15 year-old was very impressive in his Rotax Grand National victory. After a top-five result in 2004, an outright win in Portugal is the only thing on his mind this time around.
 | Austin Isaac
(Photo: Ken Johnson - soa-design.com) |
Austin Isaac
Age: 16
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Years Racing: 7 years
Rotax Max Series: Miller Motorsports Park
Grand Regional Finish: 3rd
Grand National Finish: 2nd
One of two drivers representing the state of Utah in the Junior division, Austin Isaac will be going to Portugal as the Junior Grand National runner-up. In a interesting entrance into our sport, Austin’s father received an old kart as payment from someone who owed him money. He and his sons dismantled it, cleaned and fixed it up, and then Austin and his brother shared it twice until they each got new karts. The Isaac family raced at the Wasatch Park Raceway until the Black Rock Raceway opened up in Salt Lake City. There, Austin was introduced to the Rotax package, where he was the Utah State Red Bull champion in 2004 and 2005.
Isaac will be making his first trip to the Grand Finals and is determined to not give up until the final checkered flag. At the Grand Nationals at Road America, Austin spun in the Prefinal but managed to work back up to seventh in the rain. The next day, he fought off everyone but Megenbier to finish second in the main event.
Isaac looks to his dad for guidance on and off the track, through the good and bad times. In addition to karting, they are also currently restoring a 1961 TR3A. He is also close with his brother, who he looks forward to competing against next year in the 125 Honda division. Austin likes to snowboard, as they live 10 miles from Snowbird where, last year on opening day, he broke both arms (nine fractures). He has also starting a second career, acting, as he was an extra in the movie "High School Musical"
 | | Michael Self |
Michael Self
Age: 15
Hometown: Park City, UT
Years Racing: 5 years
Rotax Max Series: Miller Motorsports Park
Grand Regional Finish: 1st
Grand National Finish: 3rd
Background:
A tenth grader at Park City High School in Utah, Michael Self has been racing since he was 11, when he got his start in the Cadet category. Michael graduated to the Rotax Junior category a year later, and he has elevated his level of performance in the category over the last three years.
Self’s home track is the Miller Motorsports Park in Utah, but his favorite track is the Road America Motorplex, where he performed well this past September to earn his invitation to the Grand Finals. Self also has on his CV a Rotax Junior victory at the 2005 Black Rock Summer Shootout. Michael aspires to be an open wheel race driver, with his favorite pilot being Michael Schumacher.
Self appreciates the sponsorship of SSC Racing and the opportunity to represent the United States at the Grand Finals in Portugal and is looking forward to being part of Team Gearbox.
 | | Jarvis Gennari |
Jarvis Gennari
Age: 13
Hometown: Pittsfield, MA
Years Racing: 5 years
Rotax Max Series: North Florida/South Florida
Grand Regional Finish: 7th
Grand National Finish: 6th
Gennari, the 2004 Rotax Mini Max Grand National Champion, will be making his first trip to the Grand Finals. In his first year in the Junior category, the two-time Florida Winter Tour champion has been consistently in the top ten throughout 2006. After finishing sixth in this year’s Florida Winter Tour against some of the top Rotax Junior pilots in the nation, Gennari qualified for the Grand Nationals with a seventh place finish at the East Grand Regional in Ocala, FL. Then, at the Grand Nationals, he went on to finish a strong sixth.
The 13-year old got involved in karting after his father's boss introduced them to the sport. Gennari won the 2004 Rotax Mini Max Grand Nationals at the XPLEX in Las Vegas and followed that up with a runner-up finish last year in the rain-soaked event at Michiana Raceway Park. Jarvis’ favorite track to race is the 103rd Street Sports Complex in Jacksonville and his favorite driver is Fernando Alonso.
With as much experience at such a young age, Gennari will only earn more knowledge in two weeks in Portugal as he will be racing against some of the best young pilots in the world.
 | | Connor Dimond |
Connor Dimond
Age: 15
Hometown: Canyon Lake, CA
Years Racing: 6
Rotax Max Series: Gatorz Karting Cup
Grand Regional Finish: 9th
Grand National Finish: 10th
The last U.S spot on Team Gearbox is filled by Connor Dimond. The 2003 Rotax Mini Max Grand National runner-up finisher will be making his first visit to the Grand Finals. Connor began racing when he was 8-years old and hasn’t stopped. This past Grand Nationals, he worked his way up from 18th to finish 10th, earning his second straight top ten finish at the GNs.
Connor’s favorite race is former karting, American F1 pilot Scott Speed, as he is proud of Speed being the only American in the world championship series. Connor’s dad is at the top of his hero list as he has learned so much from him, on and off the track. His favorite track is in North Hampton, England. When not racing, Dimond mostly plays golf and is at the gym but prefers to be at the track 24/7.
Timothy Stewart (Jamaica)
Age: NA
Hometown: Jamaica
Years Racing: NA
Rotax Max Series: NA
Grand Regional Finish: NA
Grand National Finish: 9th
Driver bio to come shortly
Rodolfo Camarillo (Mexico)
Age: 14
Hometown: Monterrey, Mexico
Years Racing: 2 1/2 years
Rotax Max Series: NA
Grand Regional Finish: NA
Grand National Finish: NA
Camarillo is a student at a bilingual school that is certificated world wide. His hobbies have been six years of karate, eight years of football, and two years of cycling.
Luis Carlos Martinez (Mexico)
Driver bio to come shortly |
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