Making his debut in the SKUSA Pro Tour and the IAME Mini-Swift category over the weekend, Thomas Nepveu was in for a big challenge at the New Castle Motorsports Park complex in New Castle, Indiana, USA. Not only had he never seen or raced the engine before or been to New Castle, he was up against a field of competitors he’d barely even heard of.
But that didn’t stop the current Eastern Canadian Karting Championship Mini-Max points leader from delivering a standout performance.
On Saturday he qualified inside the top-five, third, amongst 34 drivers. However he encountered challenges in the heat races that forced him to start the Final in 27th. Passing nineteen karts, he advanced up to eighth at the finish line, posting the fastest lap of the race in the process.
It was a similar day on Sunday for the driver from Quebec. Seventh in qualifying, fourth in heat one before a DNS in heat two meant Nepveu was starting at the rear for the Final. In an amazing charge forward, Nepveu passed all but one kart to finish second and stand on the SKUSA podium.
Speaking to his mechanic Daniel St-Germain after the race he simply said, “you never see a race like that. He was so fast!”
Nepveu will be back in his Rotax Mini-Kart this weekend as he looks to secure the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship as the only driver capable of sweeping every race victory this year.
