MacDermid Battles to Rotax Senior Canadian Title; Di Leo to RMCGF

Ryan MacDermid kept his head down on Sunday and pushed his limits to track down and overtake the race leader late in the race to secure the Canadian NationalRotax Senior Max Championship. It was a dicey Senior Max Final that seemed anything but predictable.

A well-timed start launched MacDermid to the lead with his REM teammate Logan Cusson following him up the hill past Marco Di Leo who started on outside of the front row and was looking for his third straight Canadian title.

After leading the opening two laps, MacDermid surrendered the lead to Cusson on lap three in the hairpin and Di Leo following him through. A lead pack of seven had formed with Kellen Ritter, Christopher Chanko, Marco Signoretti and Davide Greco also in pursuit of the lead.

With MacDermid hounding DiLeo for second, Cusson was able to build up a lead while Signoretti was coming through with fast laps and looking for to get by Ritter for fourth.

Noting the Cusson was getting away, MacDermid stopped attacking Di Leo and began to push him to close back in on the leader. Meanwhile, behind them, Signoretti made an attempt at Ritter in the hairpin but overshot it and Ritter countered on the exit of the corner.

A failed attempt by MacDermid to get by Di Leo once again allowed Cusson rebuild his lead gap with seven to go. Finally with six to go MacDermid was able to make a move stick and Ritter also took advantage of Di Leo to take third.

Putting his head down, MacDermid put his teammate in his sights but he was well over a second behind the race leader.

Cutting the lead down by almost half a second a lap, MacDermid took only three laps to catch the leader as Cusson was cracking under pressure. Closing in on the bumper of Cusson in turn one and with three laps to go, MacDermid waited for only four more corners before he went to the lead and then drove off into the distance.

Crossing the finish line it was a REM 1-2 as MacDermid led Cusson while Greco took advantage and gained the third and final podium position over Ritter and Di Leo.

“Becoming the Canadian National Champion this year feels amazing. Several years of having good pace at the Nationals, I have never been able to get on the top step of the podium. After working as hard as I can with my team, it is such an amazing feeling knowing that the hard work paid off!”
-Ryan MacDermid

While Di Leo was unable to earn his third straight Canadian title, there was a consolation prize and he earned the ticket to the Rotax Grand Finals to represent Team Canada in Portugal later this year. This award went to the driver gaining the most points between the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship and the Canadian National Championships.

Marco Di Leo accepts his Rotax Grand Finals ticket from Stefan Gruber of Rotax and DTM driver Robert Wickens