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.
While it appears that American Oliver Askew (OGP/TonyKart) will secure the championship this weekend in Rotax Senior, he does have his teammate Kyle Kirkwood within reach. But this did not top Askew from continuing his strong form, earning himself the pole-position for Sunday’s action.
However on Saturday it will be the Birel colours leading the way as the UK’s Luke Varley (Anderson/Birel) posted the quickest time in the session. Jamaican Thomas Issa (J3/Kosmic) will line up alongside on the front row with Canadian Zachary Claman DeMelo (Goodwood/Intrepid) third, Louie Pagano (DKC/Sodi) fourth and Kirkwood completing the top-five. Notably, positions 2-6 were all within the same tenth! Askew will start seventh.
Christophe Paquet (PSL/CRG) and Johnny Flute (Mosport/Kosmic) enjoyed their best qualifying efforts of the year as the Canadian duo will start eighth and ninth with Zacharie Scalzo (KGK/TonyKart) eleventh. Making his first start of the year, Garret Britton (KMS/Birel) will start 21st.
Varley will start from the front row on both days as he joins pole sitter Askew on Sunday. Once again the front handful were very close as Kirkwood will start third, Dan Roeper (BN Racing/Birel) fourth and Pagano fifth. DeMelo will start seventh, Scalzo tenth, while Paquet, Flute and Britton have some work to do starting 17th, 18th and 22nd.
The field of 28 will have a Prefinal and Final on both Saturday and Sunday.
