CKN Predictions: Briggs and Stratton Senior – 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.

Briggs & Stratton Senior

Quite possibly the most anticipated class of the weekend, the Briggs & Stratton Senior division looks to be the most exciting class at the Canadian Championships for the second straight year. Already 30 drivers are pre-entered for the event, with many more expected. It is possible the class could reach 50 drivers, meaning intense heat racing and a Last Chance race!

For the CKN Panel, there have been so many strong competitors this year in the four-cycle class. The Briggs & Stratton platform has been flawless and levelled the competition, to a point where we have 21 different drivers picked to finish in the top-ten!

Leading the way as one of only a few drivers to be selected by all four panelists, Jonathon Treadwell scored an average of 2.75 with one pick to win. Treadwell has been very quick this season, scoring victories at both Mosport and Goodwood ECKC rounds, while electing to compete at the BSRKC Shannonville Bearhunt instead of ECKC round three in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec. Treadwell has a strong group of support from K&K Kart and that could really help him this week at Goodwood.

Second, Tommy Lemaire-Ouellet looks to add another victory at Goodwood to his 2013 campaign. Kicking the season off in the Rotax Senior division, Lemaire is now full-time in both Rotax and Briggs and scored an impressive victory at Goodwood in the ECKC rounds a month ago. Lemaire will need some support to stay up front with the Ontario boys, but he has the speed and composure to be up front and stay there, or race from the rear if need be (as proven in Saturday’s ECKC Final).

Next up is Treadwell’s K&K teammate Marc Stehle. A past Canadian Champion, Stehle doesn’t let his age affect his effort, and he has been extremely quick this season. Stehle was even picked to win by one of the panelists, but will need to stay out of trouble in order to succeed at Goodwood.

Cory Cacciavillani was one of the fastest karts all week during the ECKC rounds at Goodwood. He returns to the track racing in both Briggs and Rotax DD2 this week. Like Stehle, he needs to stay out of trouble in order to stay up front, and if that is the case keep an eye on him in the closing laps as he will be charging for victory.

Last years Canadian Champion completes our top-five as Gerald Caseley looks to defend his National title. The PEI racer ran an impressive final lap to move to the lead and win by inches. He did miss the ECKC rounds at Goodwood earlier this year, but has been to the track before and knows how to get around. He was also very quick at both ECKC Mosport and Le Monaco de Trois-Rivieres.

With so many potential candidates, this race is truly anyones guess. Completing our top-five has drivers from all different four-cycle disciplines, an awesome showing as drivers converge at Goodwood to compete for the National title. Sean McPhee was an ECKC winner earlier this year, while Scott Nagel and TJ Marshall trade in their usual Honda powerplants at BSRKC competition for a Briggs & Stratton machine. Mathieu Demers has been very quick in his full-time return to karting, while Jean-Francois Lafontaine just returned from Europe as he competed in the Formula SAE program as part of his University education. And this just completes our top-ten predictions!

If you are at Goodwood this weekend, the Briggs & Stratton Senior class will not be one to miss, that is for sure!

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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