When the fifth Eastern Canadian Karting Championship begins this week at Mosport International Karting the team from Goodwood Kartways will be on hand over twenty strong and set to resume a record-setting era in team history. With Intrepid back in the team fold for 2014, Goodwood Kartways will definitely be in championship contention across the board.
“We had a great start to the year in Florida with multiple wins and championships, and now all in the team are really excited to get things going on home soil,” said Goodwood Kartways Team Manager Marco Di Leo. “The Goodwood roster that is coming together looks promising for sure, and we’re really anticipating good things from both the veterans on the team and younger drivers that now have a season or two under their racing belts. Intrepid has been away from the ECKC scene for two years, but we’re ready to make a grand return beginning this week.”
If it’s anything like the return of Goodwood/Intrepid to the Florida Winter Tour, it will be a grand return indeed. Goodwood/Intrepid made an immediate impact during the winter, as the team had an epic opening weekend in January. With a majority of chassis straight out the box and running standard, the team scored six wins and ten podiums, including Rotax Senior, DD2, Rotax Masters and DD2 Masters. Then, with a smaller lineup at round two due to a scheduling conflict, the team still recorded a further three wins and six podiums, and still more came at the final round. The effort led to three Rotax Max Challenge Championships in Florida and the beginning of the Goodwood Kartways roster for the 2014 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals.
“It’s definitely been great to resume our relationship with Intrepid this season,” Di Leo said in the lead-up to the ECKC opener this week. “We were very successful in Florida winning in six different classes, and that really allows the chassis to speak for itself. When we pair it with HRS Engines in Rotax and the support and experience we have under the Goodwood tent, good things are sure to follow. Intrepid has a strong history in the ECKC and now the team is looking to create a little more beginning at Mosport.”
Leading the Goodwood line-up is Rotax Senior where Di Leo will roll off with Zachary Claman DeMelo. No other driver has won an ECKC Rotax Senior title, as Di Leo took the first three in Series’ history before a season in DD2 and Claman DeMelo is the reigning class champion – his triumph coming after a class title in Mini-Max and a pair in Rotax Junior. Claman DeMelo is tied second on the ECKC all-time wins list and Di Leo is fourth, just one behind. They will be joined by Tyler Kashak, who was a rookie sensation last season finishing third in the nation, and Aleki Liverant, who is one of the drivers Di Leo has in mind when noting how gathered experience is leading to a promising season ahead for a number of drivers.
Joshua Cunha is another, the Micro-Max driver coming off his first full karting campaign and an excellent Florida Winter Tour, and many eyes will be following the progress of Elvis Stojko as the three-time World Figure Skating Champion continues to work toward a karting class championship in DD2 Masters. Kashak will see double duty racing DD2 where he will join Max Preston, the veteran back for a second season in a Rotax shifterkart. Xavier Harris, Matthew Barry and Christopher Chanko move up to Mini-Max at Mosport while Christopher Proietto and Nicholas Hornbostel will lead the team charge in Briggs & Stratton classes.
Goodwood Kartways is tied first in number of Eastern Canadian Karting Championships by team and despite racing just two of four ECKC seasons, Intrepid sits second in number of wins by a chassis. Importer of both Intrepid and Praga racing karts, Goodwood Kartways can assist you with all your racing needs this week at Mosport International Karting and beyond. To inquire about team or dealer network opportunities, please contact Team Manager marco@goodwoodkartways.com and visit goodwoodkartways.com.
Goodwood Kartways Driver Line-up – ECKC, Mosport
Rotax DD2 Masters
John Cariati
Joe Crupi
Francis Mondou
David Nevin
Elvis Stojko
Rotax DD2
Tyler Kashak
Max Preston
Rotax Senior
Zachary Claman DeMelo
Marco Di Leo
Tyler Kashak
Aleki Liverant
Rotax Mini-Max
Matthew Barry
Christopher Chanko
Xavier Harris
Rotax Micro-Max
Joshua Cunha
Dale Curran
Nick Pallandino
Gianluca Savaglio
Briggs & Stratton Senior
Christopher Proietto
Briggs & Stratton Junior
Nicholas Hornbostel
*Team Facts: Goodwood Kartways is in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada, where drivers can progress from turning rental kart laps to world championships. The Goodwood Kartways race team annually represents the facility at National and International Championships like the Florida Winter Tour, Eastern Canadian Karting Championship, Canadian National Championships and SKUSA SuperNationals.
It has also had drivers contest the Pan-American Rotax Max Challenge, the World Karting Association Manufacturer’s Cup, the Rotax European Championship, the Rotax International Open Championship and the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals. Goodwood Kartways operates in conjunction with Intrepid S.r.l. in Verona, Praga Kart, HRS Racing Engines, IMAF Racing Seats and Vega Tires.
