The 2013 Eastern Canadian Karting Championship hit the mid-point of the season today as drivers and teams convened at Goodwood Kartways, just north of Toronto, Ontario, for race #3 of the Championship. Many new faces were in the paddock compared to the opening rounds only a couple weeks ago, but there was also some regulars looking to score some valuable championship points. The weather warm with the sun making a few appearances throughout the day with a nice breeze kept things cool while the action on track was hot!
Nicholas Dore (Birel) was the quickest in Rotax Junior qualifying ahead of Tyler Ripani (Karts & Parts/ LH Kart), who once again had a great qualifying performance. Jeffrey Kingsley (Pserra Racing/ TonyKart) was third ahead of Cedric Lupien (CSL/Birel) and Gianfranco Mazzaferro (Ferrolati Corse/TonyKart).
Ripani took the lead entering corner one after Dore bogged on the start, with Lupien, Kingsley and Mazzaferro close behind. Kingsley would then take second from Dore on lap two before mounting pressure on Ripani for the lead. Kingsley and Dore would both jump Ripani on track as he started to slow down. Mazzaferro would be the next one to take Ripani in turn one on lap five. Dore began to track down Kingsley for the lead, and even attempted a pass in corner four but wasn’t able to complete it. With the laps winding down, Mazzaferro would overtake Dore for second while Antoni Ptak (KMS North America/Birel) and Natael Cantin (KMS North America/Birel) moved their way up to fourth and sixth respectively. After working his way into the top-five, Devlin Defrancesco (DFR/TonyKart) would seize a motor coming down the front straight, with another kart hammering him hard from behind exiting corner one and leaving him in the barriers. Kingsley would win it ahead of Mazzaferro and Dore.
A great start by Kingsley allowed him to get away while the traffic backed up behind him in corner four with many karts going off track to start the Final. Ptak and Dore were able to get through and held second and third while Mazzaferro fell down to sixth. Kingsley quickly broke away while Ptak and Dore duked it out for second. By lap seven, Mazzaferro had made joined the party and by lap ten he left in second place and seeking the leader Kingsley. Things ran pretty static from there with Kingsley scoring a massive win and Mazzaferro second. Ptak was third, a great performance for the Polish driver in his first race at Goodwood while Ripani and Dore completed the top-five. Defrancesco would charge from the rear to cross in eighth, setting the fastest lap in the process. The points leader entering the day, Anthony Tolfa (Summit GP/TonyKart) had a disastrous day, crashing the final and scoring a final result of 14th.
Sunday will see race #4 at Goodwood. Another great day by Kingsley could put him right back into the Championship hunt while Tolfa will be searching for a little luck and speed.
