Only a couple weeks removed from the Canadian Karting Championships, the Prime Powerteam was back in action, taking part in the final round of the Champion Ron Fellows Karting Challenge at Goodwood Kartways. It was a special event that also featured the debut of the Vortex Rok engine in Ontario with tickets up for grabs for the Rok Cup International Final in Italy on the line. With plenty at stake, the CRFKC race was a big event for Prime and it ended with major success: three class championships and the race victory in Rok Junior.
The highlight came in the hands of Mackenzie Clark. After heartbreak at the Nationals, Clark arrived at Goodwood as the points leader in the Rotax/Rok Junior class championship and he delivered. Racing on the Rok engine, he took pole-position in Qualifying, a heat race win and a dominating win when it all mattered, the Final. Managing the mixture of conditions presented to him, Clark drove flawless on his BirelART chassis and confirmed himself as CRFKC champion and will represent Prime and Team Canada in Italy this October along with teammate Ethan Simioni, who qualified to race in Rok Shifter.
Next up, a pair of Prime teammates were in the running for the Briggs Junior championship. Jordan Prior and Liam Ortlieb have enjoyed a great season and had the chance to finish 1-2 in the tightly contested category. Prior did all he could in the Final and led most of the way only to settle for second place at the finish line. Although he came up short in the race, he secured enough points to confirm himself as the champion. A sixth place finish for Ortlieb was unfortunately not what he had hoped for, pushing him down to fourth place in the final standings.
Taking the third CRFKC title for Prime Powerteam was Connor Pritiko in Briggs Junior Lite. Pritiko wrapped up an incredible season for the team with a third-place finish in a dogfight of a Final under the lights, good enough to secure the top trophy.
“What a great way to end the Canadian karting season with three championships in Jr Rotax/Tag, Jr Briggs and Jr Lite, and if not for a lane violation, a Mini-Max Championship as well,” exclaimed Trevor Wickens, team manager of Prime Powerteam.
Along with Clark and Simioni, who will race the Rok Final in Italy, Marcello Paniccia will represent the Prime Powerteam at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in Portugal. A solid season for Paniccia ranked him the highest of Micro-Max eligible drivers in Eastern Canada.
“It’s very rewarding watching thousands of hours of shop work, testing and support from our Technical partners culminating in these results. The team could not be more proud to send three drivers to the ROK and Rotax Grand Finals this fall.”
With the Canadian karting season winding down, Prime is now looking towards to some big international events to come. Arrive and Drive packages are available for the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas and for those looking to get back to Florida this winter, Prime plans to attend the Florida Winter Tour Rok Cup and the SKUSA Florida Winter Series. Those interested should contact trevor@primepowerteam.com immediately.
