2013 CKN Year in Review Awards: Most Improved Driver

Looking back at the successful year that 2013 was, we here at Canadian Karting News decided to create our own set of awards, all pertaining to categories we feel worthy. Throughout the final weeks of 2013, we will highlight an award for categories such as Junior and Senior driver’s of the year, helmet design of the year, Canadian event of the year, best appearing kart among many others.

While these are all the opinion of CKN, you can let us know who you think deserved each award. Using the comments below each article, let us know who you feel was worthy of the award and a short blurb why you believe so.

*Most Improved Driver in 2013*

Nominee’s:
– Alessandro Bizzotto
– Charlotte Lalonde
– Samuel Lupien
– Christophe Paquet
– Elvis Stojko
– Patrick Woods-Toth

Winner: Elvis Stojko

It is great seeing drivers progress throughout the year, moving from the middle of the pack to challenging for podiums and victories, making themselves noticed. With so many drivers putting their every ounce of effort into pursuing their dream and improving through the ranks, it makes our decision on the most improved driver of 2013 very challenging.

Nonetheless some drivers managed to catch our eyes a little more than others this year. Alessandro Bizzotto has consistently been improving and no more than his top-five performance at the Rotax Pan American Challenge and victory in the Coupe du Quebec season finale. Also Christophe Paquet capped off his final season in a solid Rotax Junior division with a near regional double-victory in Mont-Tremblant, only claiming one victory after losing a chain in the second. Patrick Woods-Toth was also a nice surprise, with the young Canadian standing on the podium at the Rotax Grand Finals Micro-Max Invitational.

But our award for most improved driver in 2013 is DD2 Masters driver Elvis Stojko. The former figure skating world champion shifted his mindset to karting only two short years ago and this year he progressed himself up through the DD2 Masters ranks.

Making the shift to DD2 in 2013, Stojko kicked off his campaign in Florida as part of the Florida Winter Tour supporting the new Praga Racing Ontario (PRO) outfit. Once the snow melted in Toronto Stojko and PRO went to work hitting the track often and the hard work showed off as he progressed up the grid. The highlight of his season came on the biggest stage of year, the Canadian Championships at Goodwood Kartways. Qualifying third, Stojko was up front all week and he capped it off with an all out drive to finish second and earn the title as Vice Canadian Champion.

Stojko continues to improve every time he hits the track as well as competing in different classes, opting to race at the SKUSA SuperNationals in the Stock Moto S4 class. Making his debut in the popular shifter division, Stojko qualified in the top half of the 80-strong grid, raced through the heat races to directly qualify for the Final, but unfortunately was forced to the sidelines early on SuperSunday.

Elvis Stojko is a World Champion figure skater who now races full-time in go-karts across North America
(Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)