This time is finally here, the 2013 ASN Canada FIA Canadian National Karting Championships are officially under way at Goodwood Kartways, just north of Toronto. After months of preparation and weeks of practice, Friday represented Canadian Tire SuperPole Qualifying day at the Nationals, where all nine classes hit the track for qualifying and their first of three heat races.
It was a new face that topped the time sheets in Rotax Senior qualifying as Tyler Kashak (IPK North America/OK1) posted his fast lap early in the session and then held on to take the pole-position. Kashak is in his first year of Rotax Senior competition making his pole-position even more impressive. Just missing the pole-position was Pier-Luc Ouellette (PSL Karting/CRG) as he was only 0.004 seconds away from taking his second pole-position of the day. Zachary Claman DeMelo (IPK North America/Praga) was third another 0.003 seconds behind Ouellette with Olivier Bedard (KMS North America/Birel) and Steven Szigeti (SH Karting/Zanardi) completing the top-five. With 30 drivers in the field, the times are incredibly close and any mistake could be very costly.
After a pair of waved starts, the officials moved Kashak and Ouellette back a row and DeMelo and Bedard led the way to green. DeMelo got out front early but was pressured early by Ouellette with Bedard and Kashak weren’t far behind. While the lead changed up front Kashak moved passed Bedard for second and Kevin Monteith (REM/Birel) caught up to the lead pack. But things settled from there as DeMelo took the heat ahead of Ouellette, Kashak, Bedard and Monteith.
A tough go Michael Kundakcioglu and Zachary Scalzo saw the two sit on the sidelines for most of the heat. They will have their work cut out for them on Saturday.
The action resumes tomorrow as the Seniors have two more heat races left. With lots of action in heat one, things should get interesting tomorrow as drivers look for as few points as possible before Sunday.
