CKN Euro Report: Canadians in Italy for ROK Cup International Final

Canadian karters are competing all over the world through the months of October and November. Last weekend a huge selection of Canadians competed in the Rotax Pan American Challenge in North Carolina and this weekend another selection of them have travelled to Italy to compete in the Vortex ROK Cup International Final.

Very similar to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals event, the ROK Cup International Final invites Rokkers from around the world to compete on the international stage in the heart and soul region of karting, South Garda Karting in Lonato, Italy. Classes range from Mini-ROK to Shifter ROK offering opportunities for racers of multiple ages and disciplines. This years event even had an open invitation to increase the overall entries after all the ROK programs around the world submitted their drivers.

Canada will have six drivers flying the maple leaf in Italy. Practice has been running all week with official Qualifying happening on Thursday. Heat races will run Thursday and Friday before Saturdays main events and the crowning of the 2014 ROK Champions.

Continuing his season overseas, Toronto’s Antonio Serravalle is one of two Canadians in the Mini-ROK division. Serravalle has been spectacular this season in Italy and is a protagonist very capable of winning this weekend. It could very well be his final race in the Mini division as well meaning he will want to end it on a high before officially moving up to Junior. The second Mini-Rokker is Lachlan Defrancesco. Flying directly to Italy after the Pan Am event, Defrancesco will debut the BENIK chassis in Italy and he too should be in the hunt for the podium. Still only 11 years old, Defrancesco has another year left in the Mini category but races like a veteran.

No Canadians are entered in the Junior ROK, Senior ROK or ROK Shifter classes, but four drivers are in the Super ROK category.

Courtesy of his title in ROK Cup Canada Championship, Chris Eagles enters his first international competition in the heavyweight division. His closest rival, Jordan Redlin has also entered the event as a wildcard entry. Redlin is working closely with the Italian Motors USA team but is racing out of the factory CRG Racing Team with a pair of Canadians for teammates. Also entered through IM USA is Continental Sportscar Series driver Remo Ruscitti and Don McGregor. Both drivers have very long histories in karting and are looking to add another accomplishment to their resumes this weekend in Italy. All four drivers hail from British Columbia and will be racing on Factory CRG’s this weekend.

One absence from the ROK International Final is a representative from the ROK Cup Quebec program. Unfortunately winner Patrick Woods-Toth was unable to travel to Italy for the event.

CKN will keep tabs on the Canadians on track this weekend. Following the event we will also have an exclusive driver diary from Jordan Redlin as he recaps his experience to Italy to compete with the CRG factory team.