2015 Florida Winter Tour Ready to ROK and Roll – Part 2

This weekend marks the debut of the new Florida Winter Tour as the MaxSpeed Group will host their first event as the new owner of the very popular winter karting championship. Hitting the track in southern Florida on the grounds of the famed Homestead-Miami Speedway, the series will feature the ROK Cup for the first time as the series continues to thrive under new ownership.

A change from years past, the Formula Kart weekend of the FWT is now the ROK Cup featuring engines all made by Vortex, from Micro-ROK all the way to ROK shifter, confirming the preference by drivers and teams to utilize one engine manufacturer. Well over 100 drivers will be on track in what is priming up to be an exciting kick off to the 2015 season by the MaxSpeed Group. The winter tour has been known to draw exciting grids and drivers from all over the world and different racing disciplines. There will be no shortage of star power this weekend, with as couple of Formula 1 drivers showing interest in competing.

After previewing the Senior level classes yesterday, today we break down the Junior level classes that will compete this weekend. CKN will be trackside for the entire Florida Winter Tour providing our excellent event coverage, photo galleries and much more.

Drivers are on track Friday for official practice before complete race days on Saturday and Sunday.

VORTEX MICRO ROK

For the first time ever at Florida Winter Tour we will see a Micro ROK class compete. Over the years the Formula Kart weekend has only had one ‘Mini’ level class, but with the development of the Vortex ROK program, the younger drivers now have their time to shine.

At least 15 little racers are set to battle it out on the high speed Homestead circuit with drivers from USA, Mexico, Columbia and Italy all registered. With a new list of drivers we are excited to see who sets themselves on the top of the FWT podium when racing gets underway on Saturday.

VORTEX MINI ROK

There is an all-star roster of drivers entered in the Mini ROK category. The only class to carry over from the previous Formula Kart era and into the new FWT, Mini ROK has close to 40 drivers entered, from nine different countries, many of which capable of making a name for themselves.

Defrancesco, d’Orlando, Latifi, Carmenate, Crawford, Montoya, Deukmedjian, Ugochukwu, Fairbairn, Alvarez, Morgatto. All of these drivers have been successful across the USA over the past few seasons, setting this weekend up to be jam-packed full of intense Mini ROK racing action.

Matthew Latifi is coming off a full season of racing in the United Kingdom and is entered within a stellar group of Mini ROK drivers (Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)

VORTEX ROK JUNIOR

A little smaller than we anticipated but nowhere near short on talent, the ROK Junior class features a solid selection of drivers itching to kick off a breakout season.

Nick Brueckner is coming off of a win last weekend in Tucson to get a head start on his competition. He is joined by Anthony Gangi Jr., Michael McCarthy, Luis Forteza, Enzo Fittipaldi and Roman DeAngelis as the class veterans all hoping to hold off a group of hungry drivers making their Junior debut’s this weekend.

Those drivers include Dylan Tavella, Caio Collet, Michael d’Orlando, Kaylen Fredericks and Sebastien Alvarez, who is set to pull double duty.

Roman DeAngelis was impressive last year in the Junior TaG class, enjoying the sticky MG Tire rubber. Look for him up from this weekend in ROK Junior. (Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)

Some great prizes are available to be won through this years Florida Winter Tour ROK Cup, including invitations to the ROK International Final in Italy.

Racing begins Saturday and CKN will have full coverage of the weekends event.