RMCGF Team Canada Driver Preview: Bryce Choquer

For the third time in his career, Vancouver, British Columbia’s Bryce Choquer secured himself a ticket to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals as a champion in the Western Canadian Championship. However in 2014, it may have been the most challenging to date for 20 year old driver.

In the first round in Regina, Saskatchewan Choquer kicked things off with a victory in race one, but while leading in race two a dropped wheel forced Choquer into a deep pain and he limped around to finish second and on his way to the local hospital.

A rib injury kept him out of the third and final race of the Regina round, forcing him into a quick recovery before the second round at his home track in Chilliwack, BC.

In a heavyweight battle in Chilliwack, Choquer went head to head with Coltin McCaughan for the title. Trading the lead back and forth through each days of competition, Choquer used strategy while battling his rib pain to secure the title by a mere 25 points.

The injury kept him out of many other competitions through the year, including giving up a shot at the Rotax CAN-AM ProKart Challenge and sitting out the Rotax Pan American Challenge. But his focus has shifted to the Rotax Grand Finals and getting recovered to be able to improve on his best finish of sixth in Italy 2010.

Bryce Choquer (c) is now a 3-time Western Canadian Champion (Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)

Driver Bio:

Name: Bryce Choquer
Division: Rotax Senior
Age: 20
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Years Racing: 16
Race Team: BBR Karting
Past Trips to RMCGF, years and locations: Portugal 2006 (spectator), United Arab Emirates 2007 (spectator), Egypt 2009 (Driver), Italy 2010 (Driver), Portugal 2012 (driver)
Career Highlights (To date): 6th place Rotax Grand Finals (Italy, 2010), 3-time Western Canadian Champion

While this will be Choquer’s fourth time competing at the Rotax Grand Finals, it will be his sixth time at the annual ‘Olympics of Karting’ as he attended Portugal 2006 and UAE 2007 as a spectator while his older brother Blake competed. The Choquer family is known for always making the Grand Finals trip an experience, taking the opportunity to expand on their travels.

“Every year we make it to the World Finals my family and I make a vacation out of it after. This year we will be starting in England where I will be getting a custom made rib protector by Steve Tillet at Tillet Racing Seats, due to my injury. We will also be attending a Barcelona game, which I am very excited for. On our way home we are stopping in Nice, France and Monaco.”

Also travelling with Choquer will be his long time mechanic John Kine. Kine has worked with both the Choquer brothers at each of the Rotax Grand Finals they have qualified along with many of their North American successes.

With some experience racing on a Birel chassis in 2013, Choquer is familiar with the spec chassis he will race in Portugal and he is a fan of the format utilized year at the Rotax Grand Finals.

A trip to England for a custom rib protector from legend Steve Tillett should help Choquer while racing in Spain (Photo by: Cody Schindel/CKN)

“The one reason I really enjoy the Rotax Grand Finals is because of the equal playing ground, everyone on the same karts and motors straight from the factory really levels out the playing fields. In 2013 I made the switch from Tonykart to Birel, so I am fortunate enough to have driven the Birel kart and my team has been able to work and learn how they operate.”

Through the month of November CKN has full coverage of the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals and Team Canada. CKN will be trackside in Valencia, Spain from November 23-30 to bring you all the action on https://www.canadiankartingnews.com and on our social networks: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.