PR: ECKC Mini-Max title for Mazzaferro

Gianfranco Mazzaferro, a member of the Ferrolati Corse Karting Team, captured the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship in the Rotax Mini Max class to secure his first major title of the 2012 season. The 12-year-old racer from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Quebec was on a hot streak all season long as he kept his Zanardi Kart at the front of the field through six rounds of racing action across two provinces. GF, as he is known to friends and family, was able to secure six poles and three feature wins on the way to a solid victory in the overall Rotax Mini Max class championship title chase.

“It is so great to win the ECKC Rotax Mini Max title,” comments the young Mazzaferro “The season was long and we had to work hard every weekend. My Zanardi Kart was fantastic all season long and everyone on the team did a great job.”

In the opening weekend at Goodwood Kartways, GF powered to two poles and finished sixth and first in the two feature races. Then it was back to Quebec for a single round of action at ICAR where Mazzaferro swept the weekend taking pole, winning the prefinal and the final. The series returned to Ontario and the Mosport International Karting Complex for two rounds of competition that had GF grab pole on Saturday and suffer a mechanical to earn a DNS in the final. A strong bounce back on Sunday had the second year Mini Max driver sweep the day earning top spot in the qualifying, prefinal and final.

The series headed back to Quebec for the annual Monaco of Trois Rivieres to take in one last round of racing and a final shootout for the title. Mazzaferro took pole position for the all-important prefinal, but suffered major contact with the barriers on lap four, damaging his kart and putting him out the race. The crew worked feverishly to repair the kart for the final and keep GF in the title hunt. With a bent frame, Mazzaferro would mount a valiant charge to take seventh spot at the line, enough to secure the championship title.

“The final weekend at Trois Rivieres did not go as planned,” smiles Mazzaferro. “The kart was pretty bent but the guys did a great job getting it close enough to drive. I want to thank everyone at Ferrolati Corsa Karting including Nick, Alex, Garett and Coy. I really want to thank my mom and dad for making this happen for me. I think we are in great shape for the Canadian Nationals.”

The Ferrolati Corse Karting Team will be back in action in two weeks time to contest the ASN Canada FIA Canadian National Karting Championships at the Circuit Karting Mont Tremblant on August 23 to 26.