The 2013 Western Canadian Karting Championships are underway at the beautiful Warburg Kart Track, south west of Edmonton, Alberta. The best of the west have gathered for the one round Western Canadian Championship, new this year after past years have seen a three-round series. Tickets are up for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals in four classes, with great action throughout the entire lineup of classes.
Friday saw drivers hit the track for qualifying and their first heat, while Saturday hosted heat two and three to set the grid for Sunday’s Prefinals. Beautiful sunny skies were in sight on friday, but things changed on Saturday with overcast in the morning, with rain falling for the afternoon heat races.
The Mini-Max category has been dominated thus far by Quebec’s Thierry Cote (CRG West/CRG). After qualifying on the pole-position, Cote went unchallenged in all three heat races, including a dominating run in the wet heat #3.
In the battle for second, Stephan Bachalo (LH Kart) twice finished runner-up to Cote, but a sixth place in heat two hurt his point total. Edmonton’s Griffin Dowler took advantage in heat two to finish second, backing it up with two third-place runs in his other heats.
With the points tallied, Cote will lead the way with Dowler once again holding second. Bachalo will start third as the top-three from qualifying hold their positions. Sebastian Mercado (CRG) will line up fourth after quietly managing his heat races, with Naila Deen (CRG West/CRG) and Christina Dezall (PCR) filling row three.
