Back in action for the second day of competition, the 2013 Rotax Pan American Challenge returned to NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA to more humidity, sunshine, and great racing action. Saturday played host to the second and third round of heat races for all classes and was capped off by a Last Chance Race for Rotax Junior.
There has been plenty of exciting racing in Mini-Max this weekend, giving us some insight to how close it will be at the Grand Finals. American Mathias Ramirez (TonyKart) scored his second win in the morning heat, fending off fellow Americans Sting Ray Robb (Kosmic) and Nick Brueckner (Birel). Two of our three Canadians fell victim in the first corner as Griffin Dowler (TonyKart) and Roman DeAngelis (TonyKart) were forced to the sidelines, as Michael d’Orlando would drive to eighth.
The third and final heat saw some shuffling with American David Malukas (Top Kart) taking the win ahead of Aidan Keel (Birel) and polesitter KRex Frederick (Kosmic). Another great drive for d’Orlando would see him advance to sixth with DeAngelis moving up nine spots to 15th and three spots back was Dowler.
His two heat wins has Ramirez starting on the pole-position for the Prefinal with Brueckner alongside. Keel and Robb fill out row two, with d’Orlando and Malukas in row three. DeAngelis will start 20th while Dowler has his work cut out on Sunday starting 30th overall.
Sunday will feature a Prefinal and Final for all classes to determine the Pan American Champions as well as the final tickets to next months Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals.
