The Canadian National Karting Championships were held at Mosport Kartways over the weekend and Goodwood/Intrepid was magnificent in securing three National titles, four National podiums and two additional tickets to the 2015 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals! Tyler McCullough, Marco Di Leo and Tyler Kashak were honoured as Champions, while Austin Riley was also on the podium after a thrilling Final drive in DD2.
“It was a great closing day to an awesome week at Mosport,” said Team Manager Di Leo, who was obviously thrilled to come through himself in Rotax Senior. “Tyler McCullough started us off by becoming a two-time National Champion in Briggs Junior and Tyler Kashak earned his first National title in DD2 towards the end of the day. Intrepid was performing well in Junior and Senior, Briggs and Rotax, and there was just a great team vibe around Intrepid tents throughout the event. We were really happy with how the week unfolded. We won three, and were fighting at the front in others as well. There were some strong drives by people who just missed the podium, and we had ten drivers in the top six on Sunday, spread across six different classes; a great all-around showing for Intrepid.”
Notable among those strong drives that just missed podium recognition were Matthew Marrocco, who held third for the back half of the Micro-Max Final right up to a wild final lap, and Gianluca Savaglio, who was sitting P3 in Mini-Max with two laps to go when contact ended his race. Tanner Hamilton also had an outstanding shot in Briggs Junior, but after winning both heats he was knocked around on the last lap of the Final while running third, and salvaged fourth place. Goodwood/Intrepid actually crossed 1-2-3 in the first Briggs Junior Heat before Hamilton won a red flag shortened second, and owned five of the top-ten positions after both the Heat races and Prefinal. Full team results from Canadian Nationals can be seen below.
McCullough was also obviously prominent in Briggs Junior as he qualified seventh in a field of thirty-three, crossed 2-6 in a pair of Heats to advance to P3, stayed there through the PreFinal and immediately went to work in the Final. Pushing the race leader for eleven laps in moving both well clear of the rest of the field, McCullough then took over himself on lap twelve of fourteen and was masterful the rest of the way in winning by a tenth. The win adds to an impressive three-year run for the Junior, as after taking his first National title at Goodwood Kartways in 2013, he was second last year in Mont-Tremblant and now has another title and his third-consecutive podium performance.
For Di Leo’s part in Rotax Senior, he had the fastest time in qualifying proper, raced through a pair of heats 2-2 to stay on the front row, and then won the PreFinal well clear of the field. Confident headed to the Final, the veteran recovered from an oddly timed green to retake the lead on lap two, and stretched it out the rest of the way in winning by over two seconds with the fastest lap in the field. A dominating drive to be sure, and with it the Intrepid Team Manager earned his second National crown in Rotax Senior, and his seventh trip to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals.
Cue Kashak, and perhaps the most exciting drive of the day in Rotax DD2. Also fastest in the field through qualifying proper and 2-2 through the heats with the fastest lap in both, Kashak then held the position through the PreFinal that followed, and was feeling good headed to the main event.
“I knew I definitely had the pace to take the win, I just needed to stay in the top four and bide my time working toward the Final,” Kashak said after executing his plan to perfection. “The Intrepid DD2 was fantastic all weekend, and through the Heats and PreFinal it stayed consistent. I could not have been more happy with the kart’s performance. Once leading in the Final I just needed to be confident in my braking to prevent chances down the inside, and pick my defensive lines wisely. I was expecting constant pressure, and that is exactly what I got!”
The opening laps of the Final were frantic with contact and retirements, but Kashak was clear of it all and emerged leading what became a two-kart battle for the win. The fences were lined as the laps ticked off, and after brilliantly defending a pair of attacks for the lead in the closing stages, Intrepid had both the largest winning margin of the weekend from Di Leo, and the tightest margin as Kashak was a mere 0.045 seconds ahead at the stripe!
“The win is just fantastic!” he concluded. “First and foremost I have to thank my dad. He has been there through it all and I take pride in the father-son team we have. Also my mom, who supports us every step of the way, keeping me focused and determined. Marco, Frank, Brian and everyone under the Goodwood/Intrepid tent; Nigel Horner of HRS Race Engines and the members of Mosport who lined the fences and cheered me on all the way, Thank You! It has been a longtime dream of mine to attend the Grand Finals as a part of Team Canada and I cannot wait to get to Portugal!”
The race season for Goodwood/Intrepid continues with the upcoming finales of both the Champion Ron Fellows Karting Championship September 12 and the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship September 19/20. For more information on the team and to learn how it can assist you in karting, please email marco@goodwoodkartways.com, visit the new goodwoodkartways.com and like it on Facebook.
Goodwood/Intrepid Driver Results – Canadian National Karting Championships
Briggs & Stratton Junior
Tyler McCullough – 1st
Tanner Hamilton – 4th
Khloe Drummond – 6th
Gianluca Savaglio – 11th
Gavin Sanders – 12th
Matthew Barry – 32nd
Briggs & Stratton Senior
Christopher Proietto – 6th
Darryl Timmers – 21st
Kyle Rennie – 22nd
Briggs & Stratton Masters
Dave Anderson – 19th
George Stiliadis – 21st
Rotax Micro-Max
Matthew Marrocco – 6th
Austin Boyle – 7th
Anthony Sardellitti – 8th
Lorenzo Morsillo – 12th
Rotax Mini-Max
Gianluca Savaglio – 10th
Rotax Junior
Russell Boyle – 9th
Cole Hooton – 11th
Jordan Slipacoff – 14th
Rotax Senior
Marco Di Leo – 1st
William Campbell – 8th
Rotax DD2
Tyler Kashak – 1st
Austin Riley – 3rd
Max Preston – 5th
Rotax DD2 Masters
John Cariati – 6th
Joe Crupi – 7th
Andrew Calabrese – 8th
David Nevin – 9th
Shifter
Paulo Gomes – 13th
*Team Facts: Goodwood Kartways is in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada, where drivers can progress from turning rental kart laps to world championships. The Goodwood Kartways race team annually represents the facility at National and International Championships like the Florida Winter Tour, Eastern Canadian Karting Championship, Canadian National Championships and SKUSA SuperNationals.
It has also had drivers contest the Pan-American Rotax Max Challenge, the World Karting Association Manufacturer’s Cup, the Rotax European Championship, the Rotax International Open Championship and the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals. Goodwood Kartways operates in conjunction with Intrepid S.r.l. in Verona, Praga Kart, HRS Racing Engines, IMAF Racing Seats and Vega Tires.
