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.
Entering the weekend American Reece Gold (TonyKart) has a strangle hold on the Micro-Max class championship, but there are still 22 very hungry drivers on track seeking victory.
In the afternoon Qualifying session to set the grid for Saturday, Jeremy Fairbairn (AM Kart) edged out Gold by 0.02 seconds to take the pole followed by Matheus Morgatto (Kosmic), Jak Crawford (MRP/Birel) and Canadian Joshua Cunha (Goodwood/Intrepid). Thomas Nepveu (SH Racing/FA Kart) posted the eighth quickest time while Patrick Woods-Toth (PSL/CRG) and Jeremy Tallon (KMS/Birel) were thirteenth and fourteenth.
For Sunday, it was Crawford posting the quickest time followed closely by Sebastien Montoya (KMS/Birel), son of Indycar driver Juan-Pablo. Gold will start third with Morgatto fourth and Fairbairn fifth.
Nepveu was seventh, wrapping up a solid day for the youngster. Rounding out the Canadian contingent, Cunha will start tenth, Tallon twelfth, and Woods-Toth fourteenth.
Saturday and Sunday will each feature a Prefinal and a Final.