The 2013 SKUSA SuperNationals XVII are underway in Las Vegas. While the event usually features sunshine, warm weather and amazing atmosphere, this years event has been plagued by rain and cold weather. There is also a shortage of rain tires available, forcing many drivers to skip qualifying on Thursday.
While things in the morning group held up the activity for the afternoon classes, including a weather delay, things finally got rolling just before 4:00PM local time. With the temperature dropping, the rain finally let up and on track activity was finally able to resume.
As one of the first groups to hit the track for qualifying, every driver still opted for rain tires, even after the rain had halted. The very cool temperatures kept the track moist and greasy with nobody willing to take the risk for slicks.
On track it was the dutchman Rinus Van Kaimthout (PSL/CRG) that topped the session, just narrowly edging out newly crowned Rotax Grand Finals Junior Champion Juan Correa (TonyKart) by 0.01 seconds. Austrian Thomas Preining helped put two PSL/CRG’s in the top-three a mere 0.033 seconds back of Kaimthout while Canadian Clay Van Eerd (TonyKart) hit his marks on his final lap to take fourth, ahead of Matt Solarczyk (Birel).
Nataël Cantin (KMS/Birel) wound up tenth with Gianfranco Mazzaferro seventeenth. Rounding out the Canadian contingent, Russell Boyle (IPK/OK1) was 25th and Jeff Fulham (KGK/LH Kart) was 27th.
