The 2013 Eastern Canadian Karting Championship hit the mid-point of the season today as drivers and teams convened at Goodwood Kartways, just north of Toronto, Ontario, for race #3 of the Championship. Many new faces were in the paddock compared to the opening rounds only a couple weeks ago, but there was also some regulars looking to score some valuable championship points. The weather warm with the sun making a few appearances throughout the day with a nice breeze kept things cool while the action on track was hot!
Zacharie Scalzo (Summit GP/Tonykart) took his second Pole Position in a row as he out qualified former DD2 World Champion Pier Luc-Ouellette (PSL Karting/CRG). Oliver Bedard (KMS North America/Birel) was third in the session ahead of Kieran Oxley (Racing Edge Motorsports/Birel) and Zachary Claman Demelo (IPK North America/Praga).
Scalzo took the holeshot into the first corner ahead of Ouellette. Contact between Ouellette and DeMelo sent both drivers the down the order with Bedard and Courturier would inheriting the positions. Andrew Palmer (J3 Competition/Kosmic) made his way up to fourth with Tyler Kashak (IPK North America and Oxley close behind. After the aggressive first few laps in the things started to pan out with drivers separating themselves from the rest of the field. Scalzo took the win ahead of Bedard, Couturier, Palmer and Oxley.
Scalzo once again would exit the first corner in the lead but this time he was trailed closely by Bedard, and Couturier. Bedard with move into the lead on lap two with Courturier coming with him, but the two would tangle on lap three handing the lead to DeMelo and Scalzo moving into second.
The front three would spread out from the halfway point on while the remainder of the field continued to duke it out for position with Palmer and Bedard enjoying a great battle for fourth. At the line the Praga North America driver took the victory holding Scalzo off at the finish while Couturier earned the final podium spot. A tough day for championship leader Kevin Monteith (Racing Edge Motorsports/Birel) as incidents in both the Prefinal and the Final put him down the order.
