Pritiko, Collison, Bisschop and More Take Home Wins at 36th Annual WRKC Oktoberfest GP

A morning rain shower wouldn’t stop the Waterloo Regional Kart Club from running their Oktoberfest Grand Prix, a season-ending tradition for the Ontario kart club that has been running now for 36 years strong. The rain delayed the start of the race day by about a half hour, but once on track, conditions cleared up and by the time the Finals rolled around, the sun was shining and eight drivers added their names to the prestigious list of Oktoberfest GP race winners.

Tackling the tricky circuit inside the Flamboro Speedway oval, over 100 drivers entered the four-cycle only event on Thanksgiving Saturday.

Adding another Oktoberfest victory to his resume, Jake Collison jumped back into a kart and showed no signs of his retirement, out-dueling Adrian Donkers in a hard-fought Masters Final. Donkers held the lead early but Collison tracked him down and advanced to the lead just before halfway. Donkers didn’t give up easily and kept the pressure on Collison and the race right went down to the finish line with Collison narrowly ahead. Four seconds adrift, Paul Harrison took third while John Dryden and Glen Lawrence rounded out the top-five.

The pair of Bisschop brothers scored a pair of wins as Josh Bisschop brought home the Jr. Heavy Final by 1.5 seconds over Max Wright and Tyler DiVenanzo. It capped off a superb season by Josh that also featured him winning the WRKC Jr. Heavy club championship. Madison Colling and Gregory Chisholm were fourth and fifth in Jr. Heavy.

Josh’s older brother Austin delivered the second win for the family by dominating the Briggs Senior Final. While the WRKC focuses on the Honda powerplant, the club adds the Briggs & Stratton LO206 classes for Oktoberfest. Austin’s win came over Ryan Brutzki, David Miller, Zachary Vanier and Tyler Paquette.

David Miller got his revenge on Bisschop in the Sr. Heavy Final as he was unstoppable en route to the race win in a well-aged FirstKart. Just behind him were Ciarra Collison and TJ Marshall following by Scott Robertson and Dominique Smith.

Connor Pritiko, who won the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship earlier this year, dominated in Jr. Lite class on Saturday, storming the fast time in Qualifying before winning the PreFinal and Final as ease. His winning margin was four seconds over Jordan Ramsbottom, Ethan Donkers, Cole Quinton and Ethan Slote.

In the Cadet Final, Cole Slote took home the race victory, but there was a small victory for Cole Newson, who finished second. Newson set the new Cadet track record that he will hold until at least the Spring. Wyatt Jelley, Caleb Campbell, and Carson McFarlane completed the top-five.

Taking home the remaining wins were Ethan DeMenna in Novice over Scotty Watkins and Isabella Rego. Adam Racine in Sr. Light over Darren Dryden and Austin Bisschop and finally Tyson Wassink over Jac Young and Max Wright in Briggs Junior.

The Oktoberfest GP closed out the karting season for the Waterloo Regional Kart Club. The club will now turn their attention to their banquet to celebrate their annual champions before they begin preparations for 2018.

Interested in a race day print from the Oktoberfest Grand Prix? Contact info@canadiankartingnews.com with your kart number and class and we can deliver it to the WRKC banquet.