PR: Three Benik Drivers Take to the Track at the Florida Winter Tour

Taking to the track late in 2013, Benik Kart made their Formula Kart Productions Florida Winter Tour (FWT) debut this January with three drivers taking to the track over the Formula Kart and Rotax Max Challenge weekends. Taking their first career FWT podium in the TaG Junior division two weekends ago, Benik Kart was also seen on the podium this past weekend in the Rotax Junior ranks.

Taking to the Homestead Karting facility during the January 10-12 weekend, a pair of drivers would join Team Benik. Mexican standout Javier Gonzalez would see action in the TaG Junior division while Lachlan DeFrancesco would do battle in the competitive TaG Cadet ranks. When the weekend finally came to a close, Gonzalez would stand on the podium Saturday with a solid second place effort. The talented 13-year-old driver showed his experience and composure after having to come from deep in the field to stand on the blocks in Saturday’s wheel-to-wheel action. Gonzalez would also see action during the Rotax weekend of competition and managed to secure another podium result for Benik Kart, this time with a third place finish in Rotax Junior.

Lachlan DeFrancesco would see action on both the Formula Kart and Rotax weekends and was near the front of the field throughout both. Taking home a solid fourth place result during Sunday’s TaG Cadet final, DeFrancesco scored Benik Kart’s first Rotax podium this past weekend with an impressive drive in Mini Max to claim the third position.

Derek Carmenate would join Benik Kart for the Rotax weekend of competition, as the nine-year-old would try his hand in the Rotax Mini Max ranks for the very first time. Battling drivers nearly twice his size and with much more experience, Carmenate would run in the front half of the field. With racing luck not on his side in the main events, Carmenate would run inside the top-ten in Sunday’s prefinal and constantly improved his speed throughout the week.

“It was a great two weeks for Benik Kart,” explained Ben Cruttenden. “All three drivers showed speed over the course of the event weekends and we are making great headway with the Benik chassis. We will continue to evolve the kart and work hard to claim our first Florida Winter Tour victory.”

With the first events of the Florida Winter Tour behind the them, Team Benik Kart will now shift their focus to the Ocala Gran Prix facility for rounds three and four of the program.

For more information on Benik Kart, please contact Nick Mitchell or Ben Cruttenden via e-mail to Info@Benik-Kart.com or by phone at 754.206.4870. Benik Kart can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BenikKart and Twitter at @kartBENIK.