Wickens
“rains” supreme!
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Wickens |
Mosport, Ontario - May 12
First Kart’s Robert Wickens showed the way in two classes of the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship at Mosport on May 12 – the inaugural race weekend for the series.
Wickens dominated the Formula Junior class. He qualified on the pole and then won both Formula Junior races in impressive fashion.
In what could have been a clean sweep of both classes for Wickens – Formula Junior and Canada Junior – came to an end when after qualifying the fuel in Wickens’ First Kart was found to be outside of specifications by the Series Officials.
“We had the same fuel – from the same jug – in all four of our First Karts, Robert’s was the only one that registered over the limit,” said a disappointed Tony Ventresca of First Kart. “Just to be safe, we flushed all four karts,” Ventresca added.
In Canada Junior, because of fuel problems, Wickens started from the back and by the end of race one he was up to third, behind race winner Daniel Coratti and Pearce Herder. In race two – starting third – Wickens took the lead by lap two and never looked back.
“I don’t know what happened with the fuel, but my Arnold engine ran great, and I just went forward in race one. The second race I got to the lead early and took the win. Both my First Karts worked well in the rain,” said an excited Wickens after the race. Behind Wickens in race two were Daniel Morad and Coratti.
Canada Senior was all Gold Kart’s Kyle Herder. Herder is very experienced in the rain and he was able to capitalize on the harsh conditions at Mosport. “The first race I got mixed up in a little mess in turn two, but I was able to drive back to take the win. In the second race, I had no problems from the pole,” said Herder after round two. Behind Herder in race one were Aaron de Heus and pole sitter Rob Oakman. In race two, Stefano Romano and Marco Di Leo rounded out the podium.
Formula Senior was a volatile group of the best shifter kart drivers in Ontario, and the crowd on hand was treated to a fantastic race - worthy of a prime time slot on any network.
In race one, CMP’s Frank Launi jumped to the early lead, but a mechanical failure sent him to the sidelines. That handed the lead to Hot Wheels Birel driver Alex Penfold. Birel’s Nathan Brown hounded Penfold until the two came up on a spun kart in the final chicane. Hurricane Racing’s MBA driver Matt Champagne was directly behind Brown, and he described the situation. “I saw Penfold take his normal line, but even where I was I could see the stalled kart sitting there. Penfold moved at the last second, while Brown went in the grass. I just motored through and came out with the lead.”
Champagne went on to win race one and lined up on the pole for race two. BC’s Jimmy Pelk Jr. put on a stunning drive to come from 30th after stalling on the grid to finish sixth.
Race two in Formula Senior was an all Birel affair. Champagne faded after the standing Formula 1 style start and the lead battle was between the Penfold brothers and Birel’s Marco Di Leo. The lead trio swapped positions repeatedly and finally it was Richard Penfold crossing the line first. He was followed by brother Alex and Di Leo. Eli Yanko and Jimmy Pelk Jr. rounded out the top five.
“It has been an up and down weekend for the Hot Wheels team,” said Alex Penfold, who now leads the Formula Senior championship on the strength of two second place finishes. “Our new Birels were working fine, but my dad was having to do a lot of work to get both of us to the front. This race was for him,” Penfold added.
There is no doubt that the first race weekend of the Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship was a success. With over 100 entries in the four classes, the Ontario Karting community has shown they welcome the opportunity that Sunoco, Ron Fellows, ASN Canada FIA and the Ontario Kart Racing Association has provided them.
Fellows was on hand for the first weekend and he talked about his impressions of the first weekend. “I think the weekend went well. There was some great racing, a lot of give and take between the drivers. The conditions made it tough, but I’m excited about the rest of the Championship.”
Races three and four of the 10 race Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship series are scheduled for June 15-16 at Innisfil Kart Club.