Serravalle Demonstrates Great Speed in Open Shifter Final

Twenty-three karts lined up on the main straight all waiting for the lights to go out and the race for the National Championship to begin in Open Shifter.

When the lights went out, karts spread three and four wide in the race to turn one. Pole-sitter Antonio Serravalle bogged off the line allowing Gianfranco Mazzaferro to gain advantage along with Ethan Simioni, Evan White. It got even worse for Serravalle as Zachary Shearer also got by on the opening lap as he crossed the line in fifth. Simioni also gained the advantage of Mazzaferro in the hairpin, bringing White with him on the opening lap.

By lap five Simioni was opening up a gap to Mazzaferro while Serravalle was back up to third and coming in hot. The lap times were going green and purple every lap too by the front runners as they pushed the race pace.

Lap six saw the retirement of Mazzaferro as he went wide exiting the bowl corner and then was forced to retire a few corners later, surrendering the second position.

By lap eight Simioni’s gap was narrowing as Serravalle began lapping significantly quicker while Shearer was quietly up to third.

Taking the lead on lap nine, Serravalle began to pull away until he ran into lap traffic two laps later, slowing him down in turn one and actually allowing Simioni to sneak by. But with five to go, Serravalle regained the lead with Shearer was closing in on the lead two.

Lap karts struck again on the final lap, this time to Simioni who had to slow up as Shearer found a hole and went for it with the momentum.

At the line, it was Serravalle who was confirmed as Canadian Shifter Champion at only 14 years of age. Shearer held on for second while Simioni was third.

For Serravalle the win was bittersweet as he wasn’t even planning to race the Canadian Championships and instead was going to be in Germany preparing for the upcoming CIK World Karting Championships, but he missed his flight to Germany and in the last minute, entered to race at Mosport. We think it was worth it.

Taking the win in the Open Shifter Masters division was Tony DeMarco who crossed the line thirteenth overall.

Tony DeMarco