Round five of the 2013 Florida Winter Tour hit the track at Ocala Gran Prix on Saturday under very sunny skies. Quite possibly the best weather the Tour has seen this year, and the drivers paid Mother Nature back by providing some very exciting racing.
After taking Pole Position on her FWT Senior debut Ashley Rogero (TonyKart) took the holeshot going into the first corner of the first TaG Senior heat race with Canadian Bryce Choquer (Birel) following in second. On the second lap Innisfil Indy’s Chad Campbell (GP Kart) took fourth away from Daniel Formal (Tony Kart) as the Canadian driver eyed up the third position held by Kevin Barbesino (TonyKart). Meanwhile at the front of the field Rogero would lay down times four-tenths of a second quicker than her closest rival on the track giving here a large lead at the half way point of the race and beyond. At the line it was Rogero taking the win with Choquer, Barbesino, Campbell, and Roger Ralston Jr. (TonyKart) completing the top-five.
With the inverted grid in the second heat Nicolas Martin (Parolin) lead the way at the start, and held on to hold the early lead. However, as Thomas Radivoy (TonyKart) made his move to the lead, Martin would fall down to the sixth position. From there, as the leaders from the first heat worked their way forward, it was Rogero, who started last, driving into the first position at the half way point. Roger Ralston Jr. and Bryce Choquer would also work there way up to the fourth and fifth positions. At the checkered flag it was Rogero taking the win ahead of Ralston Jr., Choquer, Formal and Ariel Castro (AM Kart).
In the final, it was Rogero’s race to lose. Putting down lap times unmatched by her competitors, she quickly jumped out to an early lead, while Choquer would suffer a problem immediately as the race started, and forced into retirement. This meant Roger Ralston Jr. and Daniel Formal would battle for the third position. With four laps to go Daniel Formal took the second position from Ralston Jr. as Ralston would also be overtaken Barbesino. But up front, well up front, Rogero would cruise to victory, while Formal held on for second. Barbesino would complete the podium, follow up Ralston Jr and Chad Campbell.
The win by Rogero was also the first FWT TaG Senior race that Formal did not win in 2013, but with his second place finish, Formal was all but able to secure the class Championship.
