Series News: 2013 ECKC Schedule and Awards

The Eastern Canadian Karting Championship is set to maintain its status as the premier summer Rotax Max Challenge in North America with the release today of its 2013 schedule and the beginning of its awards package. Teams and drivers will once again compete in both Ontario and Quebec in season four of the championship, and in this case those teams and drivers can be from both Canada and the United States! There are also nine spots on Team Canada available to be won, and a tenth ticket that is wide open to those looking to compete in the 2013 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in New Orleans, USA!

“Year four is shaping up to be a year to remember, an exciting time for all involved,” said Daniel Di Leo, a co-founder of the series. “Being a big supporter of Team Canada and the Rotax program, I can’t wait to see our champions suit up once again to represent our country. And to have ten spots in advance is unprecedented! Juniors and Seniors already know their A-game is required racing ECKC, but it’s especially exciting now to know that six youngsters from Micro and Mini-Max, the future of our series, will be suiting up come November in New Orleans as well. Things just keep getting better and better.”

The youngsters, the top three Canadian finishers in Micro-Max and Mini-Max respectively, will have the opportunity to compete at the Grand Finals by virtue of the MAXSpeed Group NOLA Invitational, two support classes that will have 34 karts each and bring the number of drivers competing to a record setting 356!

“The Micro and Mini-Max spots are a blessing to the sport,” said Series’ Manager LP Gelinas, back for his third-consecutive season. “We need to attract and develop talented new drivers from Micro and up, and having the world finals in North America will certainly boost the visibility of karting and help in getting new drivers. ECKC is also developing long-term plans to help move club racers to Regional and National racing, and we hope to make more and more Canadian Champions! It’s yet another exciting new aspect of the championship as it continues to evolve!”

Joining the six young charges at Grand Finals from the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship will be the top Canadian in Rotax Junior, the top Canadian in Rotax Senior, and the top Canadian in DD2 Masters. All of which brings the count to nine, leaving just the fastest karts in the Rotax family – DD2.

Over the last two seasons the ECKC DD2 Champion has become the Rotax World Champion, first Pier-Luc Ouellette in Al Ain, and last season Ben Cooper in Portugal. And if there is anyone in karting who thinks they can bring a challenge to the top DD2 drivers in the world, the door has been opened with a rule change for 2013: the DD2 class this year has become an Open Class!North American drivers licensed by ASN Canada or the World Karting Association are eligible to compete, and even International drivers can take steps to get into the field. The class champion will then be headed to New Orleans in November, bringing the ECKC contingent to ten!

Competition for the ten Grand Final spots and what already stands at an additional $30,000 in prizes will begin in late May. Mosport International Karting assumes the lead-off position in the fourth edition of the schedule and will host a doubleheader event beginning with practice May 31st. Goodwood Kartways will then move the championship past its halfway point with a doubleheader of its own beginning June 28th, an event that will also serve as a primer for the 2013 ASN Canadian National Championships. Teams and drivers will then head East to Quebec for the final two rounds. Le Monaco de Trois-Rivieres hosts race five beginning August 2nd and the last stop will come in September as the Jim Russell Academie de Karting hosts the season finale once again, this time beginning September 13th.

Many more details will come as the season draws near, and for all the latest information please visit www.eckc.ca regularly.

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2013 EASTERN CANADIAN KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 1 – Mosport International Karting, Bowmanville, Ontario
Friday, May 31, Practice
Saturday, June 1, Race One
Sunday, June 2, Race Two
www.mosportinternationalkarting.com

Round 2 – Goodwood Kartways, Stouffville, Ontario
Friday, June 28, Practice
Saturday, June 29, Race Three
Sunday, June 30, Race Four
www.goodwoodkartways.com

Round 3 – Le Monaco de Trois-Rivieres, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec
Friday, August 2, Practice
Saturday, August 3, Coupe du Quebec*
Sunday, August 4, Race Five
www.monacokarting.ca

Round 4 – Jim Russell Academie de Karting, Mont-Tremblant, Quebec
Friday, September 13, Practice
Saturday, September 14, Coupe du Quebec*
Sunday, September 15, Race Six
www.kartingjimrussell.com

2013 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, New Orleans, USA
November 13-16, NOLA Motorsports Park
www.nolamotor.com/rotax-grand-finals-2013