WESTERN CANADIAN CHALLENGE - EDMONTON PREVIEW
	Rotax Max Challenge series enters the final weekend of 2010 competition at the ultra fast Stratotech Race Park
	Saskatoon, SK – Now in it’s fourth year of racing action, the Western Canadian Challenge is heading into the third and final round of Rotax Max Challenge competition at Stratotech Race Park located just outside of Edmonton, Alberta. Best known for great CFL football, this part of the country also has a rich history in motor racing including the running of the Indy Racing League which ran this past weekend on the streets of Edmonton. This will be the first year that the Stratotech circuit has been part of the WCC and drivers can expect to be treated to something very different. The facility opened in 2002 and played host to the ASN Canada FIA Canadian National Championships in 2006. This weekend will see the conclusion of the three-weekend, six-round regional series that brings the best from the west together for a full schedule of racing action as drivers look to earn titles and secure invitations to Team Canada. Covering several provinces and loads of kilometers, western kart racers are some of the most dedicated in the country. All the class champions will be crowned this weekend and will keep the bragging rights until next spring. In Rotax Senior Max it’s a Tyler Wheeler (Scuderia PCR) leading the way as he comes off a very strong outing at the most recent round held in Saskatoon. Wheeler sits just three points up on Senior rookie and 2009 WCC Rotax Junior Max Champion Bryce Choquer (Tony Kart) and just 13 ticks up on 2009 WCC Rotax Senior Max Champion Chris Glover (Arrow). The tight battle at the top will come down the final round for sure. In the fourth spot is Noel Dowler (Tony Kart) followed by another rookie in the fifth spot in Daniel Burkett (Arrow). In Masters it remains Blair Gautschi (Arrow) on top as he has from the opening round on the BC coast, going four-for-four in Rotax Masters Max wins. Gautschi is being chased by Keith Miller (Maranello) and Bob Wakeling (CRG) as they look to adds points to consistent 2010 finishes. Edmonton native and Stratotech regular Kyle Stevens (CRG) will look to use home field advantage to clinch his second WCC Rotax DD2 Max class title and return to the RMCGF for a second straight year. Stevens leads the point tally by eleven over Travis MacDonald (Ital Kart) who made the switch to the Karting Canada team for the Saskatoon round and earning his first win of 2010. In third spot its’ Chelsey Wilson (Alpha Kart), who is looking to keep the solid momentum rolling into the final round of action. Rotax DD2 Masters has Scott Campbell (Ital Kart) on top, as he has been perfect going four for four in 2010 as he looks to make his seventh trip to the RMCGF. Campbell has racked up the maximum 360 points you can earn so far in 2010. Chasing Campbell is Jeff Bachalo (Tony Kart) and John Kwong (Intrepid). In Rotax Junior the field is looking to the fourth and final invite to Team Canada from the Western Canadian Challenge. Leading the points heading into the final round is 2009 National Rotax Junior Max Champion Garett Grist (Birel) who takes a 27 point lead into the final weekend racing action. In second place is Austin King (Scuderia PCR) followed closely by Emily Maddison (Scuderia PCR) in third and Adam Dowler (Tony Kart) in fourth. Rounding out the top five is Gianfranco Sartor (Scuderia PCR) as he continues a solid rookie season in Junior. In support of the Rotax program an excellent field of Rotax Mini Max drivers. Leading the way is Mark Newson (Scuderia PCR) with a six-point lead over Brendan Deibert (Scuderia PCR). Garett Gulenchyen (Arrow) holds onto third just 12 back of Newson and only one point up on fourth place runner Tristan Merke (Birel). The top five is rounded out by John Brown (MBA). Making the start this weekend for the first time in WCC is Parker Thompson (Scuderia PCR). The WCC program also features a number of four-cycle classes making it a true regional series bringing the best of both four-cycle and two-cycle together. In Junior 1 the field is lead by Garrett Gulenchyn (Arrow) up by an impressive 24 points over second spot. The next three drivers are neck and neck looking to pounce if Gulenchyn falters. In second it’s Stephen Bachalo (Arrow) only one point up on Alan Haggerty (Scuderia PCR) in third and Jessica Dezall (Scuderia PCR) just two back of Haggerty in fourth spot. In Junior 2 the pack is lead by Bradley Dezall (Scuderia PCR) nine points up on John Buzza (Arrow) with Matthew Shirley (Arrow) holding down the third spot in the standings. “The series has gone really well through the first two weekends. The series volunteers and teams have done a great job,” comments Joey Guyon of Overdrive Motorsports and one of the WCC organizers. “Our program is growing each year and we really like what the future holds for racing here in Western Canada. Planning for 2011 will be underway immediately following this weekends action.” As the designated Rotax Max Challenge series in the west, the WCC has secured four direct passes to Team Canada along with trips to the RMCGF in Loconca, Italy for Rotax Junior, Senior, DD2 and DD2 Masters. Several classes are wide open while others will see defending champions return to see if they can hold onto their crown. Along with the RMCGF invitations, the WCC has also secure support from the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas. Series organizer Andy Seesemann has offered entries to the 2011 edition of the RMC designated series for the Mini Max and Senior Max Masters classes. Drivers can choose from a fully paid weekend or entry fees into the entire six round series. From the opening round in BC, the series headed east to the wide open spaces of Saskatoon, SK and will conclude this weekend at Stratotech Park in Edmonton, AB on July 30 – August 1 long weekend. For a list of events, rules, regulations and supplemental information go to maxchallenge.ca.
	Related links: http://www.maxchallenge.ca
	Recent Rotax News: ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE GRAND FINALS: TEAM CANADA IS NOW COMPLETE AUSTIN MILWAIN SCORES TRIP TO ROTAX WORLD FINALS NICHOLAS LATIFI EARNS TRIP TO ROTAX WORLD FINALS! Lazare sixth at Nationals PARKER THOMPSON SHOWS SPEED AT CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS PSERRA RACING DISPLAYS STRONG PERFORMANCES AT CANADIAN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN MONT-TREMBLANT JAMES DEAN TAKES CANADIAN NATIONAL TITLE Devlin DeFrancesco, WSK Master Series Preview Darrell Smith from Rotax will be at the 2010 Canadian Championships Prime Kartsport, Canadian Nationals Preview