News Release

Herder, Morad, Hinchcliffe, and Champagne, all clean up at Goodwood

Left to right: Kyle Herder, Daniel Morad, James Hinchcliffe, Matt Champage

GOODWOOD, Ontario - July 21, 2002. The Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship made its first of two scheduled appearances for the 2002 season at Goodwood Kartways on the July 20-21 weekend. It also marked the halfway point of the season - rounds 5 and 6 of the 10-race championship.

Two of the Pfaff Motors Fast qualifier awards were settled on Saturday when MBA's Matt Champagne took the Formula Senior pole, and First Kart's James Hinchcliffe took the Formula Junior pole. On Sunday morning they were joined by Gold Kart's Kyle Herder in Canada Senior and Birel's Daniel Morad in Canada Junior. Ironically, all Pfaff Motors fast qualifiers went on to win both of their respective races.

In Formula Junior, Hinchliffe was determined to make the most of being on the pole and by the end of lap 1 in round 5 he had a 10 kart lead over Birel's Mike Meier. Meier had his hands full because First Kart's Robert Wickens was letting him know he wasn't happy being third.  Wickens' race went astray when he received a black flag (disqualification) for bumping Meier. That left the door open for Birel's Cale Meeks who was driving his way to the front after starting from the back. He came up behind Meier and the two had contact, costing Meeks the nose cone of his kart. Hinchcliffe cruised home for the win over Meier and First Kart's Simon Martin.
In round 6, it was once again Hinchcliffe building a big lead and taking a dominating win. Second went to Meeks and Meier was third.
"It wasn't as easy as it looked," said First Kart's Hinchcliffe. "My First Kart was great and the Maurini motorsports really help us. It is my home track, so it's great to win here."

In Formula Senior it was all Champagne in round 5. He led from flag to flag while being pressured by Birel's Mark Sampogna. Birel drivers also rounded out the top five with Mike Roth third, Alex Penfold fourth and Juliana Chiovitti fifth.
Round 6 was much the same, as Champagne won again, followed home by Sampogna and Eli Yanko. Nathan Brown and Alex Penfold got together on the final turn knocking them out of third and fourth respectively.
"My Hurricane MBA was perfect all weekend," said Champagne. "We needed to do a double here as I will have to miss the next two rounds at Shannonville due to the SKUSA ProMoto tour race. But we will be back here at Goodwood for the final two rounds and I can only hope things go as well as they did for us in these two rounds."

In Canada Junior race 5, it was a battle between Birel's Daniel Morad, Gold's Pearce Herder and Birel's Travis Walker. The three switched positions all race long and on the final lap Herder and Walker had contact - with Herder being given a subsequent black flag and disqualification for the incident. Morad took the win over Birel's Calvin Reid and Wickens. In round 6, It was once again Morad doing battle this time with MBA's Justin Mascoll, Wickens and Reid. All four were in the hunt and the final lap featured three wide action. Morad came out on top with Mascoll, Wickens and Reid right behind him.
"It was hard, but good," said a subdued Morad after the race. "It was a new Birel for us, and I guess this is the best way to start."

In Canada Senior, it was once again a Herder show. Kyle Herder dominated at his home track by winning both races. Juliana Chiovitti - making her first appearance in Canada Senior - was a strong second followed by Aaron de Heus and Rob Oakman.
"We were off in practice, but our changes really worked for qualifying and the races," said Herder. "We have a good point lead, so hopefully we can bring Gold a championship." The top three were the same in round 6, but Chiovitti had to drive back to the front after losing some positions on the start. Enzo Chiovitti had this to say about Juliana's debut in the SRFKC.
"I heard we were a second off," said Chiovitti. "But now I think it is only a couple of tenths." No one has been able to mount a solid challenge to Herder this year, but Chiovitti looks like she might head up the challenge at the next rounds in Shannonville at the beginning of August.

The objective of the SRFKC is to help foster a professional environment for kart drivers; help create a positive attitude towards appearance, conduct and discipline; help foster the employment of the best practices for the safe and fair running of competitions; and help kart drivers to move up the racing ladder to automobile racing.
Many of the top karters from Ontario and other provinces are scheduled to compete in four classes (Canada Junior, Canada Senior, Formula Junior and Formula Senior). The Formula Senior class will feature F125cc shifter karts, which are capable of exceeding 100 mph. Both Formula classes will make Formula 1 style standing starts.

At the end of the season, two drivers will be selected from each of the four classes plus the two drivers from the ASN Canadian National Championships will be invited to a one-day evaluation test at the Bridgestone/Firestone Racing Academy at Mosport, provided they are 16 years of age prior to the date of the test.
Out of those 10 drivers, two will earn a full scholarship to the 2003 Bridgestone/Firestone Toronto Star Wheels F2000 racing series.

For more information, please contact: Brad Brown, Sunoco Motorsports, www.sunoco.ca (416)-233-8727. ASN Canada FIA, Paul Cooke, www.asncanada.com, (905)-403-9000. Russ Bond, www.insidetracknews.com, (416)-962-7223



www.asncanada.com

****Photo credit. Left to right, Kyle Herder, Daniel Morad, James Hinchcliffe, Matt Champagne. Standing at back Sunoco's Brad Brown
Photo by Ed Gatner