The 2013 Florida Winter Tour Rotax Max Challenge saw it’s first race day finally hit the track today at Palm Beach International Raceway. With a mixture of weather in the forecast, drivers and mechanics were kept on their toes, doing their best to ensure they had the correct setup for the tricky conditions. The morning warm ups, Last Chance races and first few pre finals were all on a dry track, but just as the Rotax Junior division hit the track, the skies opened up and the rain came pouring down.
Pole Sitter Christophe Adams (Birel) from Belgium was helped from behind on the start of the DD2 Masters Pre Final, allowing Christiano Morgado (CRG) to grab the lead of the race ahead of Stuart Clark (Maranello) and Scott Campbell (CRG). Morgado and Clark were able to make a gap on Campbell within the opening laps of the race. Halfway, Morgado continued to produce fast consistent laps leaving Clark behind followed by a gap to Campbell, staying in the same positions the rest of the way. The real battle on track would be between Andres Fonseca Grajales (CRG) and Juan Font (Kosmic) as both drivers battled each other for the final laps of the race for fourth position until Grajales would be able to claim the position, on the last lap.
In the final, Morgado displayed why he is a three-time Rotax Grand Finals Champion. Grabbing the lead early, Morgado faught through the rain and the different types of asphalt that PBIR has to offer. Driving away from Campbell, the Final was very uneventful as the Masters spread out evenly. Although he ran as high as third, Clark struggled for grip in the infield losing many positions in the first chicane section, with Adams moving into third and taking the final podium position.
Following the race, Adams would unfortunately be disqualified, moving Patricio Larrea onto the podium.
