MacDermid and De Alba On Top in Rotax Junior at ICAR

As one of only two classes to run both of their scheduled Finals on Sunday, Rotax Junior kicked off the action at the second stop of the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship, held at the ICAR Circuit in Mirabel, Quebec.

After Matthew Latifi (Ferrolati Corse/TonyKart) set the fast time in Qualifying, Ryan MacDermid (BCR/TonyKart) set the tone in the heat races to earn the pole-position for the Final races.

Final 1

MacDermid launched to the lead as the green flag flew under dry conditions. Trouble for the outside row saw Patrick Woods-Toth (BCR/BirelART) and Latifi fall down to fourth and fifth with Andres De Abla (PSL/BirelART) sliding into second and Yuven Sundaramoorthy (PSL/BirelART) third.

Building up an early lead, MacDermid began to pull away as Latifi worked his way forward, sliding by Woods-Toth and Sundaramoorthy early. Tracking down De Alba for second, Latifi moved into second on lap five and had his sights set on the leader. Just after getting passed by Latifi, De Alba slowed and pulled off the track with an apparent mechanical issue, surrounding the third position.

ECKC ICAR Photo Gallery

Closing in on the leader with five to go Latifi pulled the trigger early and gained the lead. MacDermid fired back the next time by, with the two choosing the tight turn seven to make their moves. With the last lap board on display, MacDermid led but he left the door open in corner seven and Latifi jumped at the opportunity and took the lead. But a tight defensive move by Latifi in the final hairpin allowed MacDermid to crossover on the exit and win the drag race to the finish line, scoring MacDermid his third win of the ECKC season.

Woods-Toth won the race for third followed by Dylan Tavella (PSL/BirelART) and Sundaramoorthy.

Ryan MacDermid (Photo by: Cody Schindel / CKN)

Final 2

With officials rushing through the schedule the Juniors returned to the track for Final 2 under wet conditions as the weather began to worsen. For pole-sitter MacDermid it was an unfortunate start to the session as the first to run through a massive puddle in turn three on the out-lap, MacDermid slowed shortly after with his engine struggling to keep going.

When the green flag dropped, De Alba shot the lead followed by Latifi and Woods-Toth while MacDermid struggled to keep up at the tail of the field. He would eventually retire.

Final 1 Results | Final 2 Results

De Alba and Latifi quickly pulled away from the rest with Woods-Toth coming under pressure from Emma Delattre (BCR/BirelART).

Taking on the tough conditions, Latifi closed in on De Alba in the final laps but he was unable to make a move before the checkered flag flew, settling for runner-up for the second time on Sunday, while De Alba secured his first big Junior victory. In third, Delattre secured her first ECKC podium with a great drive.