PR: PSL Karting takes on Circuit ICAR this weekend

After earning two wins at the ECKC season opener, Pier-Luc Ouellette will look to repeat his effort this weekend in Quebec
(Photo by: Cody Schindel – CKN)

As PSL Montreal plays host to the third round of the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship (ECKC) and third round of the Coupe du Quebec at the Circuit ICAR facility, 20 Team PSL Karting pilots will take on both ultra-competitive series this weekend. Coming off a fantastic weekend at the opening rounds of the 2012 ECKC series just a few weeks ago, Team PSL Karting pilots were again on the top of their game. Reigning ECKC, Canadian National and World Champion Pier-Luc Ouellette started his 2012 DD2 campaign off with two main event victories, while newcomer Matthew Latifi completed the weekend sweep in the Micro Max class. PSL/CRGs have also been seen at the front of the pack in Coupe du Quebec action, with this weekend sure to be no different. The incredible competition has also attracted several international team drivers to join in the action with PSL Karting at their Montreal branch and they will look to add to the team’s already impressive resume with even more race wins and podium results.

Fresh off two wins in the Rotax DD2 class, two-time World Champion Pier-Luc Ouellette will look to repeat his opening round efforts. Currently leading the DD2 class point standings by 40 markers, Ouellette is one of the favourites heading into the event. Alessandro Bizzotto also enters this weekend a recent race winner, after taking the checkers at the second round of the Coupe du Quebec. Tasting his first ever victory, Bizzotto will need to challenge Ouellette for DD2 supremacy. Pier-Luc’s younger brother Hugo will also be back in action this weekend.

2012 Florida Winter Tour DD2 Masters Champion and karting legend Alan Rudolph is set to take on some Canadian competition this weekend with the PSL squad. With his Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals (RMCGF) ticket already in hand, Rudolph will hone his skills against the large and deep fields both series offer in the over-32 category. Rudolph will need to hunt down two fellow Team PSL Karting team members, Luc Sauriol and Marc-Andre Bourgeois, who were the ECKC feature race winners the opening weekend. Sauriol’s Round #1 victory and third place finish in Round #2 have him second in the overall class standings, while Bourgeois is back in third. Both have their sights set on the RMCGF ticket, and the competition is certain to heat up at ICAR. Enrico Bolduc, Bruneau Legrand, and PSL Montreal’s own Louis-Philippe Gelinas are also set to contest the DD2 Masters class.

Zachary Claman-DeMelo made quite the debut with the PSL Karting team, and the hot shoe will certainly be one to watch in the ultra-competitive Rotax Junior category. Posting third in Round #1 and then topping the blocks in Round #2, Claman-DeMelo will take in action this weekend before a return to Europe with the CRG Factory team. Samuel Fontaine and Charles Reginbal will complete the PSL Rotax Junior contingent.

“DeMelo is looking for some redemption after his mechanical failure at SH last weekend,” noted Andrew Campbell, Director of Race Development. “His team is pushing forward for a podium.”

Gianfranco Mazzaferro enters this weekend a winner in both the ECKC and Coupe du Quebec series
(Photo by: Cody Schindel – CKN)

Another US-based champion will head to Quebec, as 2012 Gatorz Challenge of the Americas DD2 Champion and SKUSA Pro Tour ace Fritz Leesmann will return to join Team PSL Karting north of the border to take in some Rotax Senior action. No stranger to the Canadian competition, Leesmann could very well give the Senior field a run for their money in Quebec.

Alex Murphy heads to the third round of the ECKC the overall Mini Max points leader, after a win and second place finish at Goodwood. Gianfranco Mazzaferro also enters a recent winner in the second rounds of both the ECKC and the Coupe du Quebec. Thierry Cote joins Murphy and Mazzaferro in the PSL Mini Max line-up, and will look for his first podium after strong runs in the two Coupe du Quebec rounds to date.

“Mazzaferro has been very consistent with results this year,” continued Campbell. “I believe this young driver will be a contender for a victory without a doubt.”

Five Micro Max pilots will complete the Team PSL Karting driver line-up for the doubleheader weekend, led by Coupe du Quebec Round #1 winner Alexandre Somma. Julien Jones, Tom Nepveau, Marc-Antoine Joseph and William Michaud will also be vying race wins at Circuit ICAR.

“Most of the Micro field are graduates from our PSL Driving school,” added PSL Karting Team Principal Dominic Labrecque. “It’s fantastic seeing them put their skills to work this weekend.”

Pre-event testing is set for Friday, leading up to Saturday’s Coupe du Quebec Round #3 action. The Eastern Canadian Karting Championship Round #3 takes to the track Sunday to finish off the exciting double-header weekend format.

Team PSL Karting will be trackside in 2012 at the Pan American Rotax Max Challenge, Eastern Canadian Karting Championship, Quebec Cup, Le Monaco de Trois-Rivieres, United States Grand Nationals, ASN Canada FIA Canadian National Karting Championships and SKUSA SuperNationals. Team PSL Karting is associated with CRG, Maxter Kart Engines, Rotax, Tillett Racing Seats, Sniper, Unipro, Douglas Wheels, Vega, MG Tires, Arai, Bell, ULV, Mir, Freem, Elf Fuels, Alfano, MaxJet Software, D.I.D. Racing Chains, KC and Power Mist.

To learn more about the World’s #1 CRG distributor, sales & service, arrive & drive opportunities, PSL racing engines or dealer opportunities, please visitwww.pslkarting.com or www.pslkartingusa.com.