PR: Team PSL Karting Victorious at SKUSA SuperNationals

Closing out the 2013 karting season at the biggest event in North America, Team PSL Karting would leave the Superkarts! USA (SKUSA) SuperNationals with some stout results. Continually working to improve their race program and working with engine builder JVD Power’s Jacco Van Dijk, Team PSL Karting proved their prowess after scoring a huge victory in the Rotax Junior division. Battling cold, windy, rainy conditions throughout the week at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, a roster of 28 drivers flying PSL/CRG colours would take to the track on SuperSunday under sunny skies, putting Team PSL Karting at the forefront of some stiff competition and exciting action.

“To say the least, we are extremely happy with the results at this year’s SKUSA SuperNationals,” exclaimed PSL Karting’s President, Dominic Labrecque. “With just over 600 drivers, I believe we demonstrated how the CRG has developed leaps and bounds for 2013.”

As presenting sponsor of the Rotax Junior category, Team PSL Karting would field six pilots during the inaugural running of the Rotax divisions at the SuperNats. Flexing their muscles from the get-go, PSL’s Rinus Van Kaimthout would score Friday’s pole position in a tight qualifying session. Teammates Thomas Preining, Richard Verschoor and Leonard Hoogenboom would also land in the top-ten, placing third, sixth and eighth respectively. The trio of Preining, Van Kaimthout and Hoogenboom would then progress nicely through the heat races, never placing outside the top-five, which led to a PSL/CRG sweep of the top-three starting spots for Sunday’s main event.

Thomas Preining reigned supreme in the inaugural running of the Rotax Junior division at the SuperNationals, giving PSL/CRG the win in the hotly contested class
(Photo Credit: Cody Schindel/CanadianKartingNews.com)

Leading the field to the green, Preining would maintain his spot at the front of the field while Van Kaimthout’s chance at the victory would come crashing down as he failed to make it through the opening complex of corners. Preining held onto the lead until five laps to go, when the reigning Rotax Junior world champ passed Preining’s PSL/CRG. With the laps winding down, Preining made his move through turn one on the last circuit. Battling nose-to-tail and running two wide at times, the last lap was one for the history books with Preining emerging victorious for the inaugural Rotax Junior SuperNationals victory. Verschoor would add another top-ten result with his seventh place finish, while Van Kaimthout recovered to place 12th overall. Fellow PSL pilot Juan Crespi would also showcase a remarkable drive, coming from 38th on the grid to finish 13th.

“In preparation for this race, we did quite a bit of testing during the Pan-Am, and the few weeks in between at our facility in Trois-Rivieres,” added Andrew Campbell, PSL Karting’s Team Manager. “We understood the importance of having all our CRGs in the front for the Rotax category. Obviously, in the gearbox class, the CRG performs quite well and is the chassis of choice for most independent teams.”

In the largest class in the 2013 SuperNationals, PSL Karting’s Abdul Gafar Muizz would earn anther podium result in the TaG Cadet division. Battling 85 drivers, Muizz started his SuperNats effort with the 19th fastest lap in Friday’s qualifying session. Powering to two top-fives finishes in the first two heat races, a DNF in the third heat would put the talent 25th on the grid for the final. Powering through the field, Muizz would drive to the second place, just narrowly missing the win, to put PSL on the podium for the second time in Las Vegas. Sebastian Alvarez improved from a poor qualifying result to place 15th overall on SuperSunday.

Abdul Gafar Muizz powered to a second place podium result in TaG Cadet, the largest class in Las Vegas
(Photo credit: Cody Schindel/CanadianKartingNews.com)

Belgian driver Xen De Ruwe would pull double-duty in Sin City and add to PSL’s bevy of results with a pair of top-tens. Finishing sixth overall in the DD2 final, the talent would also place just inside the top-ten with his ninth place finish in the headline KZ2 category. Two fellow KZ2 pilots would put PSL in the top-ten, as France’s Morgan Weber scored a sixth place result. Fritz Leesmann was the second highest placing North American with his 14th place finish. American pilot Gavin Reichelt also placed a respectable 14th in the DD2 division, with Rodrigo Fonceca scoring 12th overall in the racy S1 class.

“After working on our race program through 2013, it is fair to say we have it sorted out in terms of organization,” added Campbell. “A big player has been Jacco Van Dijk of JVD Power, who has really brought a new level of professionalism to our team for this year. During the season, we have put a massive amount of effort into dissecting and improving our race program. We have put a large emphasis on driver development in use with data-acquisition, which has really demonstrated its effectiveness. We can comfortably say the hard work by the entire team has paid off.”

“As this was our last race for 2013, I would like to extend a big thank you to all our loyal customers, drivers and families, who have stayed dedicated to the brand over the years,” concluded Stephane St-Charles, V.P. of PSL Karting. “As well, to CRG for giving us the support and quality products in the recent decade. We will push for better results, and an even higher level of service can be expected for 2014.”

With the 2014 karting season just around the corner, preparations have already begun for the first series, the Florida Winter Tour. PSL Karting will offer full Arrive and Drive packages, which can include motor rental, data rental, pit space and transport. Any interested parties are asked to contact raceteam@pslkarting.com to confirm.

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.