2024 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals – Team USA – Thursday Report
Hodgson takes Senior MAX heat win as event moves into Prefinal action in Sarno
Team USA driver Oliver Hodgson won the BvsD heat race (Photo: Cody Schindel - CanadianKartingNews.com)
The second day of racing was contested on Thursday at the 2024 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals from the Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy. The day began with a damp circuit for warm-up but cleared up for the second and third round of heat races in the fourth day of on-track action for the 391 drivers from over 60 countries in the eight categories.
A handful of strong results for Team USA were collected on the day. The highlight was Senior MAX driver Oliver Hodgson securing a win in his Heat 2 outing. Unfortunately, contact knocked his exhaust loose in Heat 3, forcing an early DNF. With the diverse results in the 72-driver field, he still remains inside the top 15. All three Senior drivers for Team USA are inside the top 40, including Dalton Hanes who was the hard charger of the event thus far. He came from last to 18th in the second heat before gaining 28 positions in nine laps for the third.
The Junior MAX duo of Davin Roberts and Gage Korn were top five contenders all day. Roberts finished strong enough to be eighth overall in points heading into the Prefinal while Korn bounced back from his DQ in the opening heat yesterday. A runner-up in his second heat was followed by another top 10 result before a pushback bumper penalty dropped him down. He still remains in the top 30 in points going into the Prefinals. DD2 Masters driver John Bonanno kept himself inside the top 10 in the second heat, unfortunately a tram line penalty of three seconds dropped him outside, but will start the Prefinal from fifth – a one position improvement from qualifying. Jaxon Porter had two top 10 results to lead the trio in Mini MAX.
Friday will be Prefinal races for all the categories following a warm-up session. Between those sessions is the Rotax Drivers Parade and Picture. Those categories with 72 drivers will be cut down to 36 based on total points following the Prefinal races.
(Photo: BRP-Rotax)
Circuito Internazionale di Napoli in Sarno, Italy
Be sure to follow CanadianKartingNews.com to follow the action of Team Canada.
DD2 – Birel ART (72 Drivers)
#404 – Cooper O’Clair
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Qualified: US Trophy West Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 3 – 2021, 2022 (Junior Max), 2023 (Senior Max)
Qualifying (overall): 52nd
Heat Race Group: D
Warm-up (even): DNS
Heat 2 (BvsD): 16th +9.211 – 1:00.426
Heat 3 (AvsD): 27th +16.288 – 1:00.393
Heat Points: 43rd – 44 points
Prefinal A – Row 11
DD2 Masters – Charles Leclerc (36 Drivers)
#503 – John Bonanno
Hometown: West Deptford, New Jersey
Qualified: US Trophy East (Masters MAX Champion)
RMCGF Appearances: 2 – 2018, 2021
Qualifying: 6th – 1:16.661 +1.714
Warm-up: DNS
Heat 2: 11th +9.031 (TLP) – 1:01.215
Heat Points: 5th – 62 points
“I got a reasonably clean start and I think I came out sixth. I had made some changes to the chassis and engine, which I felt like it helped in some areas but hurt performance in others. Overall, I preferred the way yesterday’s kart drove. I was able to make a pass or two which is extremely difficult on this track, but also surrendered a couple spots. Finished in 7th, but I started with two wheels outside the tram lanes and cost me three seconds. I would have started 4th without the penalty but now looks like I’ll start 5th. Overall, I’m still very excited about how the week has gone. 52 years old and running at the front with an exceptionally talented DD2 Masters field. I only have two practice days in a DD2 since my last Rotax Grand Finals appearance back in 2021. Hoping for another good start and for Lady Luck to stay on our side.”
#528 – Laurentiu Mardan
Hometown: Arlington Heights, Illinois
Qualified: US Trophy Final Winner
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Qualifying: 25th – 1:18.059 +3.112
Warm-up: 15th – 1:02.638 +1.402
Heat 2: 23rd +13.480 – 1:01.193
Heat Points: 23rd – 31 points
E20 Senior – Sodi Kart (18 Drivers)
#615 – Patrick Ronveaux-Tordion
Hometown: N/A
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Warm-up: 8th – 1:36.241 +20.840
Heat 1: 14th +15.140 – 1:03.732
Heat 2: 13th +13.444 – 1:03.731
Heat Points: 15th – 47 points
Junior MAX – Praga (72 Drivers)
#213 – Davin Roberts
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina
Qualified: US Trophy Final Winner
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Qualifying (overall): 4th
Heat Race Group: D
Warm-up (odd): 15th – 1:37.768 +15.020
Heat 2 (BvsD): 4th +2.718 – 1:03.406
Heat 3 (AvsD): 5th +1.446 – 1:03.178
Heat Points: 8th – 98 points
Prefinal B – Row 2
“Happy with my speed today in the two heats. I continue to acclimate to the European driving style as it is very different from what I am accustomed to in the states. Nonetheless, by the third heat, I felt most comfortable in the pack. I continued to strive to learn from the advice of my teammates to improve my racecraft! Overall, happy with my heat race finishes today. Hopeful for positive results to earn a starting position in Saturday’s final.”
#216 – Gage Korn
Hometown: Aurora, Colorado
Qualified: US Trophy West Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 3 – 2021, 2022, 2023 (Mini)
Qualifying (overall): 9th
Heat Race Group: A
Warm-up (even): 11th – 1:38.450 +16.701
Heat 2 (AvsC): 2nd +0.881 – 1:03.070
Heat 3 (AvsD): 15th +6.200 (PBB) – 1:03.007
Heat Points: 29th – 63 points
Prefinal A – Row 8
Micro MAX – Formula K (36 Drivers)
#3 – Cameron Becker
Hometown: Englewood, Colorado
Qualified: US Trophy Final Winner
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Qualifying: 14th – 1:26.540 +2.662
Warm-up: 36th – 1:34.512 +22.527
Heat 2: 27th +11.997 (PBB) – 1:10.399
Heat Points: 26th – 27 points
“It started off pretty bad with getting a push back penalty and going off, but throughout the race I made a lot of positions back up. I’m looking forward to the Prefinal tomorrow.”
#6 – Yutaka Sonoda
Hometown: Tri Cities, Washington
Qualified: Canada Final Winner
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Qualifying: 22nd – 1:27.512 +3.634
Warm-up: 17th – 1:13.925 +1.940
Heat 2: 30th +14.986 – 1:11.038
Heat Points: 33rd – 19 points
Mini MAX – Birel ART (72 Drivers)
#104 – William Vetor
Hometown: Zionsville, Indiana
Qualified: US Trophy Final Runner-Up
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Qualifying (overall): 32nd
Heat Race Group: D (Row 8)
Warm-up (even): 10th – 1:08.306 +0.580
Heat 2 (BvsD): 30th +19.128 – 1:07.293
Heat 3 (AvsD): 28th +9.116 – 1:06.625
Heat Points: 58th – 29 points
Prefinal B – Row 15
“Today was a really tough one. The kart had great pace, but I got punted off the track in both heat races. The racing is so much more aggressive here, and learning the race craft required is just part of my development. Sadly, my pace today just didn’t translate to results. I am going to give it my all tomorrow and hope for a good result.”
#107 – Enzo DiGennaro
Hometown: Poughkeepsie, NY
Qualified: US Trophy East Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Qualifying (overall): 19th
Heat Race Group: C (Row 5)
Warm-up (odd): 24th – 1:21.043 +13.304
Heat 2 (AvsC): 14th +8.508 – 1:07.125
Heat 3 (BvsC): 17th +14.173 – 1:07.696
Heat Points: 21st – 73 points
Prefinal A – Row 6
“Racing was not kind to us. We struggled to get any momentum in the first heat race today and when we did, we were too passive. The second heat was just a brawl and once in the mid pack, we were unable to find any gains. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow in Prefinal.”
#108 – Jaxon Porter
Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona
Qualified: US Trophy West Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Qualifying (overall): 24th
Heat Race Group: D (Row 6)
Warm-up (even): 16th – 1:09.078 +1.352
Heat 2 (BvsD): 5th +2.370 – 1:06.622
Heat 3 (AvsD): 8th +1.956 – 1:06.863
Heat Points: 22nd – 72 points
Prefinal B – Row 6
“Today was a better day for my heats. I found some speed, fell back a bit in the start, but worked my way back, held my lines and finished P5, was a good finish. The second race on the day felt good. I worked my way up, battled, was up to 6th and headed further up, but had a small hiccup in the kart and fell back a few. Looking forward to the Prefinals tomorrow and will keep fighting my way forward.”
Senior MAX – Sodi Kart (72 Drivers)
#305 – Wesley Gundler
Hometown: Holly Springs, North Carolina
Qualified: US Trophy East Champion
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Qualifying (overall): 34th
Heat Race Group: B
Warm-up (odd): 4th – 1:24.385 +3.913
Heat 2 (BvsD): 13th +5.251 – 1:01.782
Heat 3 (BvsC): 22nd +11.635 – 1:01.185
Heat Points: 39th – 51 points
Prefinal A – Row 10
“Heat 2 went pretty well, making up four positions has it was a step in the right direction. Heat 3 was going good until I tangled with another driver. I made up as many positions as I could after that, but we still went backwards. I will need to work forward in the Prefinal to make the Final.”
#307 – Oliver Hodgson
Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona
Qualified: Canada Open
RMCGF Appearances: 3 – 2012, 2013, 2023
Wins: Senior MAX (2013) (UK)
Qualifying (overall): 20th
Heat Race Group: D
Warm-up (odd): DNS
Heat 2 (BvsD): 1st -0.155 – 1:01.537
Heat 3 (AvsD): 35th +5 laps – 1:02.485
Heat Points: 14th – 90 points
Prefinal B – Row 4
“A roller coaster of a day! Great heat two, taking a win from the row 5 starting position was a huge boost to know we could make a win happen starting outside of the front two rows. Heat three was a DNF as the exhausted silencer was ripped off by another kart in the opening laps. Somehow there has been enough variability in the results to be top 15 overall classification heading to the Prefinals. Game on for tomorrow.”
#313 – Dalton Hanes
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina
Qualified: US Trophy Final Runner-Up
RMCGF Appearances: 0
Qualifying (overall): 72nd
Heat Race Group: D
Warm-up (odd): DNS
Heat 2 (BvsD): 18th +8.472 – 1:01.335
Heat 3 (AvsD): 8th +2.587 – 1:01.385
Heat Points: 24th – 70 points
Prefinal B – Row 6
“It was a great day going from 36th-8th in the last heat race and 36-18th in the second heat. I’m just keeping my head down, staying out of trouble and made passes when they came to me. Huge thanks to my brother and mechanic Roman Hanes for making sure the kart is spot on all day.”
Archives
