Having wrapped up the first series of the 2013 karting schedule two weekends ago at the Rotax Challenge of the Americas finale, Team PSL Karting will be back on track this weekend to close out the second series of the new year. Taking to the Ocala Gran Prix facility in Ocala, Florida for the finale rounds of the Formula Kart Productions Florida Winter Tour (FWT), 12 Team PSL Karting pilots will look to end the series with wins and podiums, while several are in contention for class championship titles and the coveted Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals (RMCGF) invites.
"Ocala is always a close race, with the top 20 usually separated by only one or two tenths," explains Dominic Labrecque, PSL Karting Team Principal. "It's not very unusual for a track of this configuration. With a solid team of drivers, I think we will have a good chance at a few podiums."
Leading the charge for PSL/CRG pilots in Ocala is a duo of Rotax DD2 Masters drivers. Entering with all four final victories to his credit, three-time RMCGF World Champion Cristiano Morgado will look to sweep all six features races in the 2013 series. Entering as the championship points leader in the class, Morgado will need to fend off teammate Scott Campbell. Campbell has joined Morgado on the podium twice in FWT action to date, and two additional fourth place finishes have him chasing the South African pilot by 155 points. Once drops are calculated in, the title and corresponding RMCGF ticket for New Orleans will all come down to the final Ocala rounds. Completing the roster for PSL in the DD2 Masters category is Andre Fonseca, who currently sits fifth in the point standings thanks to consistent results in the over-32 class.
In the Rotax DD2 class, Jamaican standout Collin Daley will be back behind his PSL two-speed kart, after jumping into FWT action at the February Homestead rounds. Having earned a third place podium result in round three, the 2012 Rotax Pan American champ will look to top the blocks at the 0.6-mile Ocala circuit. Canadian Alessando Bizzotto will join Daley in the DD2 contingent for PSL and will be gunning for solid results against the small, yet deeply talented DD2 field.
American Jesus Rios Jr. will be back to take on the ultra-competitive Rotax Senior category, and will be joined by two PSL Atlantic supported drivers, Fritz Leesmann and Nathan Kelly. Rios Jr. enters the Ocala rounds after a strong showing in Homestead that produced two top-ten results. The multi-time karting champion also enters seventh in the overall Rotax Senior championship standings. Leesmann enters after claiming the Rotax Challenge of the Americas DD2 championship title two weeks ago, and will look to turn his racing luck around while in FWT Senior action. Fellow PSL Atlantic teammate Nathan Kelly will make his first start in the series for 2013.
In Rotax Junior, American Austin Versteeg will be joined by PSL newcomer Dominic Tesoro and Canadian Christophe Paquat. With PSL's junior program making great strides and showing the speed to run at the front, look for these three pilots to be on their game in Ocala. Completing the Team PSL Karting roster is yet another new face under the team tent. Texas-based driver Parker Chase will switch to PSL/CRG for the final rounds of the 2013 FWT, and will be gunning for podiums and wins in the Rotax Mini Max category.
"Coming into the final round, we have quite good expectations after the results from Homestead," adds Team Manger Andrew Campbell. "At the moment, we are confident with the direction of our Junior division, and will continue to further develop our Senior category equipment. In addition to the chassis, it's quite clear that our new partnership with JVD Power is proving to be successful. JVD's commitment to success has quickly defined themselves as a leading engine builder in North America."
"It has been a pleasure to be part of the FWT for 2013," concludes Stephan St-Charles, VP at PSL Karting. "Being one of the few teams who have participated since the conception of the Florida Winter Tour, we are already looking forward to the 2014 season!"
Team PSL Karting has been busy taking in practice at the Ocala Gran Prix as well as Friday's official qualifying sessions, which set grids for Saturday and Sunday's wheel-to-wheel action. Live video, timing and scoring, as well as audience interaction is available for this weekend's Florida Winter Tour action via the FWT Live! Broadcast page: http://floridawintertour.com/fwtlive/2013.
Team PSL Karting will be trackside in 2013 at the Florida Winter Tour Formula Kart and Rotax weekends, Rotax Pan American Challenge, the United States Rotax Grand Nationals, Eastern Canadian Karting Championship, Coupe de Quebec and the Canadian National Championships. Team PSL Karting is associated with CRG, Maxter Kart Engines, Rotax, Tillett Racing Seats, Sniper, Unipro, Douglas Wheels, Vega, MG Tires, Arai, Bell, ULV, Mir, Freem, Elf Fuels, Alfano, MaxJet Software, D.I.D. Racing Chains, KC and Power Mist.
To learn more about the World's #1 CRG distributor, sales & service, arrive & drive opportunities, PSL racing engines or dealer opportunities, please visit www.pslkarting.com or www.pslkartingusa.com.
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