Champagne flies at Barrie ! |
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Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship points leader podiums in SuperPro |
June
24, 2002 - BARRIE, Ontario
The Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship (SRFKC) boasts some of the best
talent in Canadian karting. That was put to the test as a number of the SRFKC
regulars ventured to the SKUSA Pro Moto Tour Eastern Round 2 race at Barrie,
Ontario on the weekend of June 22-23. The SKUSA Pro Moto tour is the "Formula 1"
of shifter kart racing in North America.
Hurricane Racing MBA driver Matt Champagne, from Fonthill, Ontario, and current SRFKC Formula Senior points leader, showed just how strong the SRFKC regulars are, as he finished second in the headlining Super Pro class, in Sunday's final.
"We've
been chasing the setup all weekend," said Champagne. "But I have to hand it to
this Hurricane Racing team, they didn't give up and they gave me a great kart
for the final. It was just awesome."
Champagne qualified a lowly 19th on Saturday, but he raced strong to come home
12th, but the MBA driver was anything but happy. "The motor is a little flat,"
said Champagne. "And at this level of competition, you just can't afford to be a
little off. Three tenths of a second is worth ten grid spots. We'll have it
sorted out by Sunday." Champagne was right, and by the time Sunday
afternoon was finished, the SRFKC Formula Senior points leader was on the
podium.
Other SRFKC regulars also competed at Barrie.
First Kart's James Hinchliffe had a great weekend and he came home seventh on Saturdays F80 Junior final. Right behind him was Robert Wickens. In S1, Innisfil pole winner, Tom Cadieux was third and Richard Penfold was fourth. The SRFKC Round 4 Canada Senior winner Frank Launi scored a pair of 11th place finishes after starting both finals from 30th position.