Three races down, three race to go. The 2015 Rotax Challenge of the Americas hit the championship halfway point with the completion of Saturdays main events, helping set the tone for the points battles as drivers chase championship glory and for some, tickets to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals.
In Rotax Junior it was all Nicholas Brueckner (Orsolon/TonyKart) as the Texas pilot swept the days events with relative ease.
Qualifying saw Brueckner only need one lap to take the pole-position while his championship rival Sting Ray Robb (BBR Karting/TonyKart) grabbed the headline when he didn’t even complete a lap. Forced to make a last minute chassis change with the penalty of starting the PreFinal from the rear, Robb opted only to leave the grid and then pull into the pits, saving his tires for the PreFinal. Toni Breidinger (VRP/Kosmic) and Canadian Matthew Taskinen (Overdrive/TonyKart) rounded out the top-three as Taskinen was making his first start of the season.
Brueckner was unchallenged in the PreFinal as Robb drove from 19th on the grid all the way to third, putting himself in a great starting position for the Final. Trey Brown (RPG/TonyKart) advanced to the second position while Taskinen fell one spot to fourth.
But the Final was much less exciting than anticipated. Brueckner and Robb broke free early, but they managed to keep a one-length gap all race long with Brueckner out front. Robb made one attempt on the final lap, but he overshot his entry and allowed Brueckner to easily counter and take the win with ease.
Taskinen and Brown enjoyed a great battle for the final podium position with Brown taking it at the line and Breidinger wrapping up the top-five.
After a great start Kellen Ritter (BBR Karting/Kosmic) had worked up to sixth, but a mistake sent him into a spin and ended his hopes of a solid result.
