2013 CKN Year in Review Awards: Western Driver of the Year

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.

*Western Driver of the Year*

Nominee’s:
– Scott Campbell
– Bryce Choquer
– Skylar Dunning
– Marco Kacic
– Coltin McCaughan
– Remo Ruscitti

Winner: Coltin McCaughan

This year Western Canada didn’t really have too much to display on their own grounds. The Western Canadian Championship switched from three events to one, while the new Rotax Can Am Challenge only had one event in British Columbia. Add in a one-round ROK Cup Championship and there really wasn’t much action on track.

While there wasn’t too much regional and national racing in the west this year, that didn’t stop Western Canadian drivers from showing their talents. Saskatoon’s Scott Campbell earned two very impressive international podiums, Marco Kacic was a constant front runner in Micro-Max in North America and Remo Ruscitti was victorious in SKUSA Pro Tour competition. Back home, Bryce Choquer scored the ROK Cup title

while Skylar Dunning scored one for the little guys winning the Rotax Senior Western Canadian Championship.

But no driver from the west caught our eyes more than Alberta’s Coltin

McCaughan. Running in his third and final year of Rotax Junior competition, caught our eyes with a double-podium at the Rotax Can American Challenge rounds in Chilliwack, BC. McCaughan then scored a very impressive victory at the Western Canadian Championships at Warburg, fending off a stout Junior division.

Further down the season McCaughan finished fifth at the Canadian Championships at Goodwood Kartways, throwing down an impressive week against Canada’s best.

But the icing on the cake was at this years Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in New Orleans, USA. Competing against the best Rotax racers from around the world, McCaughan pushed his Energy Kart to qualify fourth overall. While the rest of his week didn’t go according to plan, his actions at the event turned a lot of heads and was a great way to cap off his Junior campaign.

Coltin McCaughan, 2013 Western Canadian Rotax Junior Champion
(Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)