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!
Thomas Nepveu (SH Karting/Zanardi) scored another Pole-Position in Rotax Micro max ahead of William Chayer (KMS North America/Birel), Matthew Barry (IPK North America/OK1), Matthew Latifi (Ferrolati Corse/ TonyKart), and Xavier Harris (IPK North America/Praga).
Nepveu was the early leader in the Micro Max Pre final ahead of Latifi and Barry. Chayer spun out in the first corner after making contact with another driver. Latifi would take the lead on lap two ahead of Nepveu would would lose out to Barry right after. Nepveu wouldn’t fade back as he would push Barry in to the lead ahead of Latifi and then passed Barry with two laps remaining. Nepveu went on for the win ahead of Latifi who made the move to second on the last lap.
Nepveu once again had a good start in the final but lost the lead in turn five to Latifi. During the race the top three of Latifi, Nepveu and Barry pulled away and put on a show for those in attendance. The trio traded the lead many times with Barry in control entering the second last corner. With Barry on the inside, Latifi took the long outside route and pulled a brilliant move to score the win in a drag race to the finish line. Chayer came back in the Final to take third just behind the leaders as he also passed Nepveu for third in the closing stages of the race. Harris who had an incident in Qualifying came home in the fifth position.
Unfortunately for Barry, he would be excluded from the race following post-tech, moving Chayer to second Nepveu onto the podium in third with Harris and Alexandre Légaré (SH Karting/Zanardi) completing the top-five.
