Drivers and teams returned to Mosport International Karting for race two of the 2013 Eastern Canadian Karting Championship. The weather was very much the same as Saturday’s competition where a mixture of rain and sun and heavy winds played havoc on everyone in attendance.
Ben Cooper (KMS North America/Birel) posted the fastest time in Rotax DD2 Qualifying ahead of Tyler McEwan (McEwan Motorsports/CRG) as both drivers elected to go on track three minutes after the session started waiting for it to dry up. Brendan Bain (Maranello North America/Maranello) who was the first to hit the track was third quickest ahead of Marco Di Leo (IPK North America/Praga) and Alessandro Bizzotto (PSL Karting/CRG).
Cooper had the lead early in the Pre Final as Dileo would get a great start from fourth to rival the leader on the opening lap. As the race continued on Di Leo would not loose touch to Cooper in the lead but as both drivers were evenly paced it was hard for the the IPK North America driver to make up any ground. Di Leo tried to make a move on the last corner of the last lap but Cooper was able to get a better run off and take the win.
In the Final, the rains returned just before the DD2’s were about to hit the track. With mechanics frantically switching to rain tires it was going to be a show. Di Leo took the holeshot into one from the outside of Cooper at the start but lost the lead a few corners later as Cooper retook the position in turn five. Further behind the leaders McEwan was having a decent race by himself after the disappointment on Saturday with his poor choice of tires in that Final. Fred Woodley (Maranello North America/Maranello) drove from the back of the eleven kart field to fourth in the beginning laps of the race and Bain who had trouble in the start drove through adversity to take the fifth position at half way. At this point in the race the top three drivers on the track were separated evenly, while Bain would get by his teammate for fourth. Ben Cooper crossed the line in first to earn his second victory of the weekend and a great start to defending his championship, ahead of Di Leo and McEwan.
The series now shifts to Goodwood Kartways on June 28-30 for races three and four. As Goodwood is the host for the Canadian Championships, there should be another great turnout of karters as many will utilize the time to prepare.
