On Location: Florida Winter Tour Round 1 Miami

Event highlights from round one of the 2019 Florida Winter Tour, located at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. A total of 219 entries between 10 categories competed over four days of racing.

Jordan Prior (Prime Powerteam / Birel ART) emerged victorious in the hotly contested Briggs LO206 Senior category. At times during the 15-lap final it was a six kart gaggle at the front, but Prior and Zachary Linsell (MGM) were able to breakaway as the race wore on. By just .120, Prior edged Linsell at the stripe, followed by Mickael Aubin (PSL / Birel ART).

It was continued improvement for the Northeastern driver, Chloe Chambers (Mike Doty / Kosmic Kart), throughout the weekend. From her fourth place qualifying effort all the way to the win on Sunday, the Mike Doty Racing driver put in the work to earn the win on the final lap of the 18-lap feature.

Newcomer to the Florida Winter Tour, Jacir Beckham took the win in Micro ROK in convincing fashion for JC Karting. The South Floridian captured the pole position on Friday, won a heat race on Saturday, and started from the top position on Sunday before taking victory by over five seconds in the 15-lap final.

It was another impeccable weekend for Renato Jader-David in the Master ROK category. The 2.5-second win gives the Brazilian-American two Master ROK wins in a row dating back to the ROK The Rio finale in November. With three heat race wins, it also gives the Orsolon Racing driver five of the last six heat races and two straight pole positions as well.

From start to finish, Victor Jimenez (RPG / OTK) controlled the race in Shifter ROK Master, driving to a three-second victory that honestly felt even more comfortable than that. After a disappointing end at ROK The Rio last November, Jimenez bounced back in a big way to take a comfortable lead in the category's championship.

In a category that often times comes with multiple weekend winners and races down to the final corner, it makes it that much more impressive when a weekend belongs to a single driver. This weekend belonged to Kai Sorensen (Supertune USA / Tony Kart) from Lodi, California. After posting fast time on Friday, the 2018 Mini ROK Vice Champion went on to leave no doubt he's here to take the championship and earn his place on ROK Cup Team USA in Italy in October.

The first 17.5 laps the 18-lap Junior ROK Final was led by pole sitter Luca Mars, who had come under attack on multiple occasions, but had never relinquish the lead as the leaders made it to the final lap. At this point the gloves were off and Diego Contecha (Orsolon Racing / Tony Kart) and Brent Crews (Nitro / Kart Republic) wanted the top spot. With Mars defending, Contecha used some bumper to try and move the Pennsylvanian, unsuccessfully, in the turn four hairpin. Directly behind was Crews, who had now made it into third with a pass on Lucas Staico (Orsolon Racing / Tony Kart). As the lead three made their way into the turn five-six double-left, Contecha again pushed Mars unsuccessfully, but it was enough to leave room underneath for Crews to snake his way through, past both drivers, to take the lead as they exited turn six.

Despite not having any previous experience on the Vortex ROK GP engine platform or Orsolon Racing team, Christian Brooks could not have had a more impressive weekend. The Californian ran uncontested at the front of every session of Senior ROK, turning in a perfect scorecard and topping it off with the flag-to-flag victory in the 18-lap Final.

In their first true team effort at the Florida Winter Tour, Croc Promotions USA came in and put the Mad Croc brand under the spotlight in Shifter ROK with AJ Myers (Croc Promotions USA / Mad Croc) and Andrew Bujdoso (Croc Promotios USA / Mad Croc). Both drivers took part in leading the 18-lap final, but Myers ultimately got around Bujdoso late in the race to take the win over his teammate.

Heat races have concluded at the first round of the 2019 Florida Winter Tour in Miami, Florida. We discussed the day with Senior ROK front-runner Christian Brooks and Shifter ROK leader, Danny Formal.

A day and a half of free practice concluded on Friday morning, leading into an every-important part of the race weekend, qualifying. With sunny skies with temperatures hover around 80 degrees, it was a picture perfect setting for the start to the 21st season of the Florida Winter Tour.

The 21st year of the annual Florida Winter Tour kicks off today in sunny South Beach Florida. For the second year, ROK Cup USA holds the reins, but this year they have brought us to a location unseen before — the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. The new venue brings over a million square feet to work with that ROK Cup has used to set down nearly 8,000 barriers to claim their space. The announced track will emulate the famous South Garda Karting circuit, the Vortex ROK home track in Lonato, Italy.