CKN ECKC Preview: Rotax Junior

The 2013 Eastern Canadian Karting Championship hits the track this weekend for the first of four stops in 2013. Entering it’s fourth year of competition, the ECKC is Canada’s largest racing series and draws drivers from Ontario and Quebec, as well as the Eastern provinces of Canada and a few of our American friends. This year the series will kick off at Mosport Interntional Karting which is part of Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in Bowmanville, Ontario for the first time as the previous three years have started at Goodwood Kartways. Promising great racing, big grids and plenty of future motorsports talent, the ECKC is the place to be for premier kart racing in Canada.

CKN is if the official media partner of the 2013 Eastern Canadian Karting Championship and has put together it’s official previews to air all this week. Following each event, CKN will have their own version of a Power Rankings for the Rotax Junior, Senior and DD2 classes. Each event, CKN will also select one Junior category and one Senior category driver as their respective ‘CKN ECKC Driver of the Weekend’, earning an article on the website about their weekend.

Continuing on with the Rotax Junior category. Tracking down as many of the entries as possible, CKN presents it’s preview as well as threats and drivers to watch.

CKN will have a Live Chat operating during the ECKC rounds this weekend at Mosport. Tune in and join the conversation at https://www.canadiankartingnews.com/live

Rotax Junior

What can be said about this years crop of Rotax Junior competitors? There are plenty of new faces and with most of last years front runners all moving on to bigger and better things, it is anyones game in the premier junior category this year. CKN has confirmed 26 drivers entering the Mosport event, with a handful more expected as privateers and walkup entries.

If this past weekends MIKA vs TRAK interclub race gave us any insight, drivers such as Jeffrey Kingsley (Pserra Racing/TonyKart), Anthony Tolfa (Summit GP/TonyKart), Tyler Ripani (Karts & Parts/LH Kart) and Davide Greco (Pserra Racing/TonyKart) will be fast. Add in Quebec drivers Alexandre Couturier (SH Karting/Zanardi), Nataël Cantin (KMS/Birel), Nicholas Dore (Birel), and Gianfranco Mazzaferro (Ferrolati Corse/TonyKart) and American Gavin Reichelt (PSL Karting/CRG) and it is quickly becomes anyones race. The racing up front will be intense.

Rookie drivers Austin Riley (Praga Racing Ontario/Praga), Alexandre Lacroix (SH Karting/Zanardi), Cedrik Lupien (CSL Racing/Birel) and Alex Murphy (CRG) will also be looking to break into the field and get a solid start to their Junior campaigns. All we know at CKN is that it is a long season and there are many drivers that have a shot at the ECKC and Canadian titles in 2013. Notably, there is a great selection of chassis and teams in the Rotax Junior class as no less than nine different brands will hit the track at Mosport in Rotax Junior.

Drivers to watch:

Gianfranco Mazzaferro: Quite possibly the busiest Canadian during the winter off-season, Mazzaferro returns to Canada after a round of Rotax Euro Challenge in Italy where he mixed it up with some of the worlds best. Add in a Florida Winter Tour campaign where he stood on the podium and this talented rookie may just break out at Mosport.

Anthony Tolfa: After an up and down season in 2012, Tolfa is full of confidence and has worked very hard in the pre season to be ready for a full assault on his ECKC campaign. He was fast last year, but now he has the ability to get up front and stay there. One victory and he could quickly set himself on a roll all season long.

Jordan Slipacoff: A driver that has really flown under the rader, Slipacoff needs to put his speed to use and keep his kart out of trouble and on track. If he plays all his cards right, he could sneak in a podium or even possibly a victory at Mosport.

Nicholas Dore: Dore was another junior driver that had a very up and down season in 2012 and is looking to 2013 as his year. Working with Christophe Boisclair should help him out as the talented driver from Quebec seeks a position on Team Canada.

Gavin Reichelt: Although he cannot compete for the championship, the American was very fast at the Coupe du Quebec opener at SH Karting, and looks very confident with PSL/CRG machine. He may be the most experienced in the class too and that should help him this weekend.

The Coupe du Quebec put on a great show in its opening round and many will travel to Mosport for the opening ECKC races.
(Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)

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