CKN Predictions: Rotax Junior – 2013 ASN Canadian National Karting Championships

The most anticipated Canadian karting event of the year has finally arrived. This week the 2013 ASN Canada FIA Canadian National Karting Championships hit the track for the 15th version of the race, for five days of intense action, all to determine our nine 2013 Canadian Champions. Seeking the glory of a National title, the countries best kart racers have their way to Goodwood Kartways, just north of Toronto, with Rotax drivers also seeking invitations to join Team Canada at this years Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, while the Briggs & Stratton drivers have a full array of prizes on the table. A large amount of pre-entries predicts a very successful event as the Nationals returns to Ontario after three years in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec.

CKN will be trackside for the entire event, with our usual Live Blog for those at home, as well as results as they happen on social media and posted to our competitions page when available. Video interviews will also be on tap as we highlight each days successors. Be sure to check out https://www.canadiankartingnews.com/live to follow the action beginning with Canadian Tire SuperPole Friday.

With views on predicting who should fare well in working toward those goals, Canadian Karting News has prepared unique class previews for this year’s National Championships, with staffers Cody Schindel, Neelan Nadesan, Parker Thompson and Jason Holland submitting predictions for each class. Taking into account results from this year in the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship, Western Canadian Championship and Coupe du Quebec; last year’s performances in Tremblant, and their general track record, drivers were ranked by the CKN panel. Then, taking the average of the four ballots, an unofficial class ranking was created. Drivers that were not listed on all four ballots were issued a score of 6.

Rotax Junior

One of the most exciting classes to watch across the country this season has been Rotax Senior. There have been many different winners in Eastern Canadian Karting Championship, Western Canadian Championship, and Coupe du Quebec competitions and they are all at Goodwood seeking the same thing; Canadian National glory. There are many drivers entered this year with the potential of joining Team Canada for the Rotax Grand Finals, but with only one ticket up for grabs this weekend it is going to be a great show!

Leading our predictions is current Rotax Junior ECKC points leader Jeffrey Kingsley. Having two major victories to his name this season, Kingsley returns to Goodwood after coming up just short at the Western Canadian Championship. Picked no worse than second by all four panellists, Kingsley enters the event full of confidence as he looks to join Team Canada.

Second see’s Canada’s hottest Junior driver at the moment. Alexandre has won three of his last four starts including a weekend sweep at Le Monaco de Trois-Rivieres. Lacroix was also a winning at ECKC Goodwood and he too is full of confidence and ready to leave his mark this weekend at Goodwood.

As one of three drivers predicted to win this weekend, Devlin Defrancesco will be one to keep an eye on. He was lightning fast at ECKC Goodwood, but had no luck on his side. Honing his driving skills all over the world this year, Defrancesco seeks his second Canadian Championship at Goodwood, as the last time the Nationals were at Goodwood he won the Micro-Max class.

The final driver to receive a victory prediction, Gianfranco Mazzaferro’s average was just short of Defrancesco’s. GF has been very quick at Goodwood this year, but he too has struggled with bad luck when it mattered most. He did score a win last weekend in the tune-up club race and that should help him as he will have his hands full this weekend with the countries best Juniors.

Christophe Paquet completes our top-five predictions with love from three of the four panellists. Just edging out Anthony Tolfa, Paquet is looking for a big victory at Goodwood in his final season of Rotax Junior. He’s been quick all season and is coming off a second-place effort at Le Monaco.

Our predictions are very close for the remainder of our top-ten. As mentioned, Anthony Tolfa just missed the top-five while Natael Cantin and Tyler Ripani both scored averages in the 7 range. Western Canadian Champion Coltin McCaughan has travelled to Goodwood seeking a Canadian sweep as he sits ninth on our list with Alex Couturier capping the top-ten.

With many solid drivers just outside the top-ten, pilots such as Taegen Poles, Adam Martin, Marco Signoretti, Jordan Slipacoff and Austin Riley all received nominations for top-ten finishes. While Davide Greco, Tristan Merke, Russell Boyle, and Alexandre Murphy all receive honourable mentions.

Currently Rotax Junior has 25 on the entry-list with the hopes of a possible full-grid of 34 for the weekend. If you are trackside, grab a grandstand seat or a place on the fence when Rotax Junior hits the track because it will be eventful!

Please Note:

– These are strictly predictions offered up for CKN readers, and not any type of formal ranking.
– With no official pre-entry list, predictions were based strictly on those who are qualified through the ECKC, WCC and Quebec Cup.
– These are just for fun, read and enjoy!

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