CKN Predictions: Rotax Micro-Max – 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 Micro-Max

There is a consensus number one pick as all four of us predicted Matthew Latifi to take the checkered flag at Nationals. Latifi is the defending class champion and has been unstoppable all season long, thus far going undefeated in Eastern Canadian Karting Champion competition. Latifi has shown an incredible determination since he began racing karts full time last season and it has shown by his results.

Second on our charts sees William Chayer check in with an average of 3. While two of us have him finishing second to Latifi, two others ranked him a little further down the order. Last year he was on the second step of the podium at the Nationals in Mont-Tremblant and he will be looking to complete the final step to the top this week. Chayer has been very quick this season upon returning to his familiar Birel chassis with KMS North America after starting out on a CRG. The Quebec pilot will have his work cut out for him at Nationals but he has shown that he can mix it up with Latifi and the rest of the Micro-Max class.

Just behind Chayer coming in at a 3.5 is Western Canadian Champion Tommy Nepveu. The Zanardi pilot has raced all over Canada this year, and is seeking his second Championship of the season after taking the WCC only a few weeks ago. With his ticket to the Grand Finals already secured, Nepveu will be going all out this week.

Rounding out the top-five are Alexandre Legare and Matthew Barry. Both drivers have shown speed throughout the season with Barry pulling double-duty racing in Mini-Max as well. Barry was also on the Championship podium last year in Mont-Tremblant. A good week for either driver could put them on the podium.

Notably, Xavier Harris and Jeremy Tallon also received votes by our panel to finish in the top-five. Although this years group of Micro-Max drivers is small, they are a tight group and provide excellent hair-pulling racing. With three tickets to New Orleans on the line and plenty of talent in the youngest division at Nationals we will have to wait until Championship Sunday to see where things finish up.

Unofficially there are eight drivers entered in the class, but come race time there should be at least a dozen Micros buzzing around the track.

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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