Super Sunday has arrived at the Rotax Pan American Challenge in New Orleans, Louisiana! The final day of competition at NOLA Motorsports Park was once again held under very hot and humid conditions as drivers hit the track seeking victories and final tickets to next months Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, held back here in New Orleans.
In Rotax Micro-Max, it was a two-kart breakaway right from the drop of the green flag for the Final. Polesitter and prefinal winner Harry Coulton (Birel) of the UK was able to push away with Dylan Tavella (TonyKart) of the USA on his bumper. Notably, Tavella started all three heat races from 31st on the grid and constantly worked his way forward until today.
While the front two pushed away, Canadian Matthew Latifi (TonyKart) slotted into third and broke away from the pack battling for fourth, but just wasn’t able to catch the leaders. Another Canadian, Xavier Harris did work his way up to fourth by the midway point, but he would find himself getting freight-trained down the long back straight, losing five positions in the process.
Back up front, Tavella waited until the final lap to make his move down the back straight. Making it stick, he would get through the final three corners to take the win, a very impressive comeback after a tough start to the week. Coulton would settle for second while Latifi held off a late race charge to take third.
Harris would end up finishing ninth, while the remaining Canadians had Patrick Woods-Toth (CRG) was 14th. Marco Kacic (CRG) was 16th, Jeremy Tallon (Birel) 19th, Jordan Novota (Birel) 20th and Joshua Cunha (OK1) 21st.
All three podium drivers earned tickets to the Grand Final, allowing another driver from their respective National Championships to compete in the Micro-Max Invitational. With Latifi finishing third, that means that Patrick Woods-Toth, who finished fourth at the Canadian Championships, will join Team Canada.
