Florida Winter Tour Round 3 Qualifying Report

Clear skies set the tone for a picture perfect official opening day as 201 entries made their way around the Ocala Gran Prix facility for the third round of the 2019 Florida Winter Tour by ROK Cup Promotions. With the championships now in sight for many drivers,  qualifying proved crucial for those drivers who need to both defend their position at the top or make up ground as this weekend now becomes their last opportunity to make a move in the standings.

Shifter ROK

Local hotshoe Zachary Hollingshead (TB Kart USA) edged fellow Floridian Mathias Ramirez (PSL Karting / Birel ART) in Shifter ROK qualifying by .013. Both drivers aren't figured to be in the championship running, but they will be a factor in who wins here this weekend.

Jimmy Cabrera (AKT Racing / Kosmic Kart) has improved immensely from the first two rounds, placing third, followed by point leader, AJ Myers. Rory Van Der Steur (Team Felon / Tony Kart)  got himself into the top five just ahead of Danny Formal, who sits just seven points behind Myers in the championship.

Senior ROK

Diego Ramos (HR Motorsports / Kosmic Kart) put an end to the winning streak of Christian Brooks (Orsolon Racing / Tony Kart) by posting pole in the Senior ROK division with a time of 37.099. Through two rounds, Brooks had finished first in every scored session, until qualifying in fifth Friday afternoon.

Eduardo Barrichello (NF Sports / OTK) placed second ahead of Arthur Leist (PSL Karting / Birel ART), making it Brazilian sweep of the top three grid markers. Nicholas Hornbostel (REM / Kosmic) continues his solid winter season with a time that put the Canadian fourth and just ahead of Brooks.

Junior ROK

Canada's top junior drivers covered the front row in Junior ROK. Justin Arseneau (Speed Concepts / Tony Kart) edged out Dale Curran (REM / Kosmic Kart) with a time of 37.527. Joey Atanasio (REM / Tony Kart) directly trailed his teammate in third, followed by points leader Luca Mars (Speed Concepts / Tony Kart) in fourth. Paul Bocuse (Speed Concepts / Tony Kart) ran fifth, making it three Speed Concepts Racing drivers inside the top five.

Mini ROK

It was a noteworthy qualifying session for Supertune USA in Mini ROK, claiming the top three positions in the ultra-competitive category. Kai Sorenson (Supertune USA / Tony Kart) has picked up right where he left off in Miami, at the top of the charts in Mini ROK qualifying, posting a time of 40.647. Teammates Jorge Ortiz and Anderson Leonard trailed by one-tenth of a second in second and third.

Carlos Hernandez (AM Engines / Exprit) had his best effort of this Winter Tour, placing fourth, ahead of rookie driver Caleb Gafrarar (PSL Karting / Birel ART)

Shifter ROK Master

In one of the closest qualifying sessions of the day, Peter Licciardi (Team Midway / FA Kart) led Jordon Musser (PSL Karting / Birle ART) by .030 after posting a time of 36.776. Musser has made his return to ROK Shifter racing after picking up the win at the Las Vegas ROK The Rio event last October and has already made his presence felt. Point leader Luis Schiavo (Goodwood Karting / Kosmic Kart) slotted in third ahead of championship rival and first round winner Victor Jimenez. Hernando Sanchez (Goodwood Kartways / Formula K) joined his teammate Schiavo inside the top five as well.

Master ROK

Orsolon Racing picked up yet another pole position in Master Qualifyng with star Renato Jader David (Orsolon Racing / Tony Kart). David, continuing his perfect season thus far in the Winter Tour, turned in a 38.280 fast lap which was one and a half tenths quicker than Bruno Fusaro (NF Sports / OTK) in second. Adrian Donkers (VSR / Tony Kart), Camilo Rivera (NF Sports / OTK), and Sylvain Coulombe (Premiere Karting / FA) did enough to claim the final spots inside fast five.

Micro ROK

A pair of JC Karting teammates locked down the front row in Micro ROK with Oliver Wheldon (JC Karting / Kosmic) setting a quick time of 41.615 to beat points leader Beckham Jacir (JC Karting / Kosmic). Another contender for the championship, Karsyn Walters (Supertune USA / Tony Kart), placed third, followed by Christian Quijano (Zanella Racing / Parolin) and Salim Hanna (Tea Montoya / Tony Kart).

Notably, Enzo Vidmontienc (American Parts Motorsports / Benik), who sits just 63 points back in the championship, struggled in qualifying in the 10th position. 

100cc Junior

Series frontrunner, Chloe Chambers (MDR / Kosmic), has picked up the pole and a crucial five bonus points in 100cc Junior with a time of 39.200. With the bonus, the New Yorker now unofficially has taken the lead over Santiago Biagi (AM Engines / Exprit) as they head into heat racing on Saturday. Connor Zilisch has returned to FWT action after a rib injury sidelined the young North Carolina driver for the past couple months. Zilisch slotted in behind Chambers and ahead of Adam Maxwell (Top Kart USA) for second position. Kyffin Simpson (Speed Concepts / Tony Kart) qualified in the fourth spot ahead of Biagi.

L206 Senior

Many new faces are on site in the L206 category, led by Hunter Fox (MGM / Margay) and Amundsen Dylan (DP Racing / MGM) in first and second and the only two drivers to get under 43-seconds. Zachary Linsell (MGM / MGM) returns from round one to qualify in the third position ahead of point leader Jordan Prior (Prime Powerteam / Birel ART). Darry Timmers (Professional Racing / Intrepid) wrapped up the top five.

L206 Junior

As with its Senior counterpart, L206 Junior also exploded with many new entrants, including pole sitter Camden Gruber (Espionage / MGM). Gruber led Daniel Ali (REM / Kosmic) by the the slimmest of margins, a mere .013-seconds. With the second place qualifying effort, Ali sits ahead of two of his Canadian teammates, Nicholas Gilkes (REM / Kosmic) and Adam Ali (REM / Kosmic). Gianluca Savaglio (360 Motorsport) grabbed the fifth spot by .001 over point leader Nicky Palladino (360 Motorsport / Intrepid) in sixth.

For full results, please visit the ROK Cup USA event scoring page: http://www.apex-timing.com/goracing/results.php?path=/otkusa/2019/fwt3/