The final stop of the 2014 Florida Winter Tour has arrived as round three is on track this weekend in Orlando, Florida. The Orlando Kart Center has returned to the FWT schedule after a three-year absence and brings a refreshing outlook to the series finale after many years of wrapping up in Ocala.
Friday’s action saw drivers qualify for both Saturday and Sunday’s pre finals, in separate sessions, under very hot and sunny conditions at the central Florida circuit.
In Rotax DD2, American Nick Neri (OGP/TonyKart) kicked off his weekend on the right foot as he looks for another FWT crown to add to his resume. Neri, who is second in points entering the weekend, posted the fastest time in both timed sessions to earn the outright pole-position and the ideal starting position for the pre finals.
On Saturday Neri will have OGP teammate Jonathon Kotyk start beside him. Making a return to the DD2 class this weekend after a pair of starts in Rotax Senior, Ben Cooper (KMS/Birel) will start third on Saturday with Championship leader Daniel Formal (PSL/CRG) fourth and Kevin Ludi (Orsolon/TonyKart) fifth. Notably, Ludi has made the switch to the TonyKart product this weekend after racing on a Birel in Homestead and Ocala.
Canadians Jeff Kingsley (PSL/CRG) and Fred Woodley (Prime/Maranello) will start eighth and ninth, while Max Preston was twelfth quickest and Alessandro Bizzotto (PSL/CRG) sixteenth.
On Sunday, Cooper joins Neri on the front row, with Formal third and reigning Rotax Grand Finals DD2 Champion Simas Juodvirsis (Energy Kart Canada/Energy Kart) fourth, Kotyk fifth and Woodley sixth. Kingsley again was eighth while Preston and Bizzotto were thirteenth and fourteenth.
Saturday and Sunday will each feature a Prefinal and a Final.
