The 2014 Florida Winter Tour is on track in Ocala, Florida, USA for the second round of the three-stop championship. After success a month ago in Homestead, the series shifted north to a much cooler Ocala Gran Prix. Beautiful sunny skies helped warm up a very chilly morning for Fridays qualifying sessions, setting the tone for the remainder of the weekend.
46 drivers on hand make Rotax Junior the largest class of the weekend as it has grown from Homestead. With only 34 drivers qualifying for the main events, Saturday and Sunday morning will feature Last Chance Qualifiers for drivers who were outside the top-28.
Sunday
Luis Forteza (J3 Competition/Kosmic) grabbed the pole in Rotax Junior for Sunday’s ahead of Mexican Patricio O’Ward (SH Racing/FA Kart), who is returning to Rotax competition. Points leader Pedro Cardoso (PSL/CRG) of Brazil, was third in the session as he is looking for his first win of the year. Completing the top-five were Aidan Keel (Anderson Racing/Birel) and Ryan Norberg (AM Kart), both from the USA.
Homestead Saturday winner Gianfranco Mazzaferro (Ferrolati Corse/TonyKart) was the top Canadian in sixth. The Lupien brothers Samuel and Cedrik (SH Racing/FA Kart) were 16th and 25th respectively, keeping them out of the LCQ. Roman DeAngelis (KoeneUSA/TonyKart), Nataël Cantin (KMS/Birel), Clay Van Eerd (TonyKart) and Austin Riley (Energy Kart Canada/Energy) will be looking to improve in the Last Chance in order to make the grid for both the Prefinal and Final.
Saturday
Forteza was once again the quickest kart on track in Rotax Junior claiming pole in the afternoon session ahead of Cardoso, with Jose Enrique Brito finishing with the third fastest lap time. Keel and Norberg were again fourth and fifth.
Canadian’s had a tough session as Mazzaferro was the quickest Canuck and only managed a 17th place result. Samuel Lupien was 23rd and will go through to the prefinal unlike his older brother Cedrik who came in 33rd and will need to race the LCQ. Joining Lupien in th LCQ will be Cantin, DeAngelis, Van Eerd and Riley.
