2013 CKN Year in Review Awards: Up and Coming Racer

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.

*Up and Coming Racer*

Winner: Matthew Latifi

Nominee’s:
– William Chayer
– Roman DeAngelis
– Matthew Latifi
– Thomas Nepveu
– Antonio Serravalle

While the premier classes across the country usually gain all the major headlines, today’s award goes out to the future of our sport. In 2013, both the Rotax Micro-Max and Mini-Max classes drew larger numbers than in years past and with the added incentive of the chance to compete on the global stage at the 2013 Rotax Grand Finals, the competition was fierce all season long. These youngsters continue to impress us here at CKN and we can’t wait to see them progress up in 2014.

Although we could pick a handful of drivers for our Up and Coming Racer award, one name in 2013 seemed to put himself just above the rest. Similar to the expedited development of his older brother, young Matthew Latifi has only been competing full time for two seasons, yet the Micro-max racer drives like a veteran. His calm and cool approach is very rare for his age category, and his ability to race in any environment displays the potential to go very far in motorsports. He is guided by two of the most respected in the industry, tuner Steven Chapman and driver coach David Tennysen, and together the trio are a nearly unstoppable team.

Latifi was very successful in 2013, starting off at the Florida Winter Tour where he scored his maiden International victory in March. Back home Latifi was nearly unbeatable at the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship and he just barely missed his second Canadian National title after enjoying an amazing battle with William Chayer for the win at Goodwood Kartways. In New Orleans, Louisiana, Latifi was a strong performer at both the Pan American Challenge and Rotax Grand Finals Invitational, putting himself in position to win both races, albeit not coming home with the hardware he had hoped for in two of the most talent filled Micro-Max races of the season.

The future looks very promising for Latifi and all of our Micro-Max and Mini-Max competitors across the country and 2014 can’t come quick enough.

Matthew Latifi
(Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)