Closing out their second round in the state of Arizona, the 2015 Rotax Challenge of the Americas wrapped up the fourth race of the six round championship at the PKRA karting facility just north of Phoenix on Sunday. It was another perfect day of weather, mainly sunny with only a few clouds and cool breeze to keep the temps in the low 80s.
The fourth race of the championship helped determine the title races as some confirmed their status up front while some others tightened up the gaps before heading to the championship finale in Sonoma, California next month.
The action has been intense in Micro-Max but entering the Phoenix rounds no driver was able to top Diego LaRoque who switched over to a BENIK Kart for race two with Nash Motorsports.
Saturday’s Final saw LaRoque get out front early and let his competitors battle away behind him while he drove off into the distance to secure his third win of the Challenge with Leland Honeyman (Exprit) finishing second and Cole Keith Cotham (TonyKart) completing the podium after the two waged an epic battle for the second position.
On Sunday the Micro-Max racers smartened up and knew not to let LaRoque break away and earn another easy win. Josh Pierson (TonyKart) and Honeyman were able to hang on to the leader in the opening laps but Honeyman stuck to the rear bumper of LaRoque to break free and create a two-horse race.
The two traded the lead through the middle stages of the race but LaRoque maintained most of the control and as the white flag flew Honeyman wasn’t able to make the move he wanted as LaRoque solidified his championship lead with his fourth win in as many races.
Honeyman settled for second while Carson Morgan (RPM/TonyKart) completed the podium at the finish line. However Morgan was removed from the results tech moving Pierson onto the podium with Cotham and Tyler Ruth (KGB Kart) completing the top-five.
