2015 ECKC Preview: Rotax Senior

Season six of the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship is upon us and we here at CKN are very excited! Over the next three days we will break down all nine official ECKC classes utilizing a fun new format. For each category we have selected three drivers we think are championship favourites, three drivers who could play spoiler and one rookie who we feel could make an impact in their first campaign in the category. 

Kicking things off, Wednesday features all three Briggs & Stratton classes followed by Junior Rotax classes on Thursday and the Senior Rotax classes on Friday leading up to all the action at Goodwood. We will be trackside all weekend bringing you all the action on the site and our social networks. 

Rotax Senior

Marco DiLeo is back in Rotax Senior and seeking his fourth ECKC title, but he will have his hands full with plenty of talented new drivers. (Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)

This years class of Seniors is full of potential and while the entry list is shorter than anticipated, the quality of drivers is very high. There will be a new champion this season as unfortunately the ECKC and Canadian champion from the last two seasons, Zachary Claman DeMelo, has moved on to car racing. A mix of youth and experienced drivers should make for great racing and hopefully we will see some one-off appearances to keep things exciting throughout the year.

The Favourites

Marco DiLeo:
The three-time ECKC class champion skipped out on the category last year after only one race in favour of competing in Briggs & Stratton Senior, but Marco Di Leo is back for 2015. Always a threat, especially at his home track, Di Leo will be tough to beat this year and looks to keep the ECKC championship with Goodwood Kartways for the sixth year in a row.

Kevin Monteith:
If there is one driver up for the challenge with Di Leo it is Kevin Monteith. ECKC Co-Champion to Di Leo all the way back in 2011, Monteith hasn’t been able to string together a complete season since, but a change in chassis and a refocused effort has us thinking Monteith could finally qualify for Team Canada this year.

Gianfranco Mazzaferro:
He may be a rookie this year but Gianfranco Mazzaferro is ready for the challenge that is Rotax Senior after two dominating years in Junior. He spent the winter competing in the Florida Winter Tour and has just returned from the US Open of Texas, gaining plenty of experience against some of the best drivers International drivers. Motivated to show it was no fluke, we expect to see him competing for wins in Canada immediately.

The Spoilers

Taylor Gates:
His 2014 season was spoiled by a nasty ankle injury in the very first race of the ECKC year at Mosport. Back for another season and now aboard a Kosmic Kart, Gates could take a run at the three favourites this weekend at Goodwood and throughout the rest of the year. He was very quick last weekend at the Champion Ron Fellows Karting Championship and he should carry that momentum over to the ECKC.

Tyler Kashak:
A driver who loves to have his hands full, Kashak could easily play spoiler in DD2 and Senior Max this year. He has the pure speed to be up front, but has been prone to costly mistakes that keep him from earning the results he deserves. Maybe 2015 will be the year he finally scores an ECKC victory and be in the championship hunt.

Marco Signoretti:
With a season under his belt in Rotax Senior and a brand spanking new kart to boot, Signoretti is ready for his sophomore season. He has always been fast at Goodwood but to be a championship contender he will need to improve outside of the province, but we expect him to step up bring it to the contenders.

The Class Rookie

Cedrik Lupien:
The only driver to really take it to Gianfranco Mazzaferro in 2014, the two will go head to head again this year but in the premier Rotax category. He was quick at the Florida Winter Tour and even scored a win at the Rotax Challenge of the Americas in Phoenix, Arizona and only time will tell how he does back home this year.

Don’t miss the rest of our ECKC Class Previews this week, only on CKN!