The annual Formula Kart Productions Florida Winter Tour (FWT) got underway this past weekend at the ultra fast Palm Beach International Raceway and DeFrancesco Racing (DFR) pilot Devlin DeFrancesco impressed in his Rotax Junior debut. After competing in the Formula Kart weekend January 11-13, DeFrancesco would be on a tear this past weekend during Rotax competition where he claimed a pair of top five results.
“Devlin showed how much he has matured over the last year,” expressed Team Manager and Driver Coach Nick Mitchell. “Even after being involved in an incident and finishing 25th in Sunday’s prefinal, Devlin was able to drive forward in the day’s main event without contact to claim a top five result.”
With official practice taking place on Friday morning ahead of the weekend’s qualifying sessions, Devlin would turn times quick enough to be in the top-ten stacked field of more than 55 drivers. Looking to continue his pace during the afternoon’s qualifying sessions, the rookie driver claimed the tenth place starting position for Sunday’s wheel-to-wheel competition and an inside row five starting spot for Saturday’s action with a ninth place effort.
As one of the quickest drivers in Saturday’s prefinal, Devlin would greatly improve throughout the prefinal. Showing impressive race craft, the young driver moved forward five positions to cross the line in the fourth position. Looking for a shot at the win in the main event, Devlin and the rest of the Rotax Junior field would be forced to run in wet weather as the heavens opened for the majority of the day. Staying on track and showing great race pace despite the tricky conditions, Devlin would claim the third place podium result in his Rotax Junior debut.
“I love the junior field,” exclaimed Devlin. “The competition is at a very high level and the racing is very competitive. You need to be on your game to run at the front of this field.”
Sunday’s festivities would not go as smooth for the rising talent as a prefinal crash sent him down the running order and eventually classified him in the 25th position. Disappointed with the result and lack of points gained in the prefinal, Devlin was bound and determined to improve in the day’s main event.
Taking the green flag for the start of the final, the young talent quickly began his march forward. With only 18 laps to get his work done, Devlin gained twenty positions and would be the fifth driver to reach the checkered flag. In his rookie weekend in the Rotax Junior field, Devlin claimed a pair of top five results and will be a driver to watch for in the remaining four event days.
On the Monday following the FWT, Devlin and his DFR crew jet set their way to Italy for some European testing. Running in the highly competitive KF3 division, Devlin is testing this week at La Conca in preparation for the upcoming WSK program.
For more information on Devlin and Lachlan DeFrancesco’s supporters, please visit them online at www.BRM-Manufacture.com, www.Yogurtys.com, www.YogenFruz.com, www.SunnyBrook.ca, www.XYZLive.net,www.Delavaco.com and www.Alpinestars.com or follow them on Twitter at @Alpinestars, @MyWatchIs_BRM, @Yogurtys, @YogenFruz @SunnybrookHSC, @Delavaco and @Alpinestars.
For more information on DeFrancesco Racing, please contact Andy DeFrancesco via e-mail to Info@DFRUSA.com or visit them online at www.DFRUSA.com. For more information on Devlin DeFrancesco, please visit him online atwww.DevlinDeFrancesco.com. For real time updates from DFR Racing and Devlin DeFrancesco live trackside, please follow them on Twitter at @DFR_USA, @DevlinD00 and @LachlanD03.
