International News

Askew Leads DD2 Qualifying by 3-tenths; d’Orlando Brothers on Front Row in Junior MAX

Published on 19 Feb 2016

Florida driver Oliver Askew dominated Friday’s Rotax DD2 qualifying session in Ocala, besting his competition by over three-tenths of a second to kickoff round two of the Sofina Foods Florida Winter Tour presented by FIKSE Wheels. Askew’s best time put him on the pole-position ahead of Canadians Luke Chudleigh and Robert Wickens, a Mercedes DTM driver. Rubens Barrichello qualified fifth, just behind Dev Gore. Askew found no issues in the opening heat race either, cruising to an easy victory over Wickens.

A pair of brothers will lead the Rotax Junior category in all three rounds of heat races this weekend as Nicholas and Michael d’Orlando posted the quickest times in Qualifying. Eduardo Barrichello almost made it onto the front row, posting a time only two-thousandths of a second slower than Micheal d’Orlando while Mathias Ramirez and Lachlan Defrancesco completed the top-five. The top-ten drivers were separated by only two-tenths of a second. In the opening heat race, Michael d’Orlando was able to break free and take the win over Ramirez.

Austin Garrison and Gianfranco Mazzaferro are on the front row in Rotax Senior with championship leader Kyle Kirkwood holding the third position in Qualifying. Indy Lights driver Zachary Claman Demelo and Trenton Estep completed the top-five as the top-ten drivers were separated by less than three-tenths of a second. In the opening heat race, Kirkwood was able to sneak through and take the win over Garrison and Jordon Lennox.

Ocala Gran Prix teammates Tyler Gonzalez, Fernando Barrichello and Jeremy Fairbairn led the way in Mini-Max Qualifying. It was another group with a very close set of times within the top-ten as positions two through nine were separated by only seven-hundredths of a second. Sebastian Montoya and Jak Crawford completed the top-five. The opening heat featured a shuffle behind heat winner Gonzalez as Crawford jumped up to second, Arias Deukmedjian third, Fairbairn fourth and Barrichello fifth.

Enzo Scionti is showing great pace this weekend in Micro-Max, posting the fast time in Qualifying. Canadian Justin Arseneau just missed the top spot and will line up on the outside of the front row for all three heats. James Egozi, round one winner Josh Pierson and Ashton Torgerson round out the top-five in the largest category of the weekend, featuring 31 karts. In the opening heat race, Pierson took control over Arseneau and Rafael Camara.

Finally, France’s Christophe Adams was the quickest in Rotax Max Masters, nipping Michel Aboissa by 0.011 seconds. Scott Roberts, Pete Fritsche and Nick Turner rounded out the fast five. The running order remained the same in heat one as Adams held off Aboissa at the line.

Saturday will feature two more rounds of heat races for all categories to set the grids for the PreFinal races, which will also run on Saturday.

Don’t forget to tune into Motorsport.com to watch live coverage of the Sofina Foods Florida Winter Tour presented by FIKSE Wheels.