St-Roch-de-L'Achigan, July 30th 2007. The third and last round of the Western Rotax Max Challenge Series took place last weekend in Calgary, Alberta. The great prize for the champion in each Rotax Max classes (Junior, senior and DD2) was the opportunity to qualify directly for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Final in Al Ain, U.A.E. presented next November.
As reminder, one Canadian Driver, Pier-Luc Ouellette, already qualified last winter when he won the Rotax DD2 Shootout in the Florida Winter Tour. Yesterday, three drivers officially joined Ouellette in the Canadian Team and 7 more will complete the team during the ASN Canada National Championships in 2 weeks in Hamilton, Ontario.
Before the beginning of the weekend, the leaders were Tyler Wheeler (Junior), Blake Choquer (Senior) and Chris Beith (DD2). These drivers had a lot of pressure on their shoulders because many drivers still had the possibility to finish at the top of the final standings.
Rotax Max Junior
Tyler Wheeler was leading by 16 points after 2 rounds ,but because his race # 2 wasn't very good, his lead was not comfortable. For the last round, Wheeler drove safely and crossed the finish line in 2nd place twice to confirm his title. Logan Downing, winner of each finals this weekend, finish 2nd in this championship, followed by Thomas McGregor. Wheeler and Downing got 3 victories each, but Wheeler got his title because his 2 second places this weekend were better than the 2 third place of Downing during the races # 1 and # 4. It will be the second participation of Tyler Wheeler at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, after participating at the last edition of the RMCGF in Portugal last November.
Rotax Max
After the first 4 races, Blake Choquer had a 19 point lead over Vince Arsenault with 3 victories and 1 third place, he also had a 22 point lead over the 2006 Rotax Max Junior Champion Braydon Ouellet. For Choquer, the pressure was on Saturday 5th race, because he was in position to set is title on this race. He started well with the pole position and secured his title with a third place in prefinal and a fifth place in the final races. Choquer will race for the second year in a row at the RMCGF. Vince Arsenault worked hard to catch the title with 2 victories in the prefinals and finishing 3rd Saturday and 2nd Sunday, but it was not enough. Dustin Sketchley won the final on Saturday while Sean MacDonnell won on Sunday. In the final standings, Choquer first, was followed by Vince Arsenault and Sean MacDonnell.
Rotax DD2
Chris Beith had a cumfortable lead of 30.5 points before the beginning of the week-end. Scott Campbell, which could not race in DD2 in the first event, had a perfect weekend with 2 poles, and the win in all races. Unfortunately for Campbell, the third place of Chris Beith on Saturday was enough for him to secure his title and join Team Canada in Al Ain. In the general standings points, Scott Campbell and Kyle Stevens finished 2nd and 3rd but they still have the chance to qualify for the RMCGF if they race at the National karting Championships in Hamilton.
Who will complete Team Canada?
On August 10-12, the ASN Canada FIA National Championships will take place in Hamilton, Ontario. The top two finishers in the final race in each Rotax classes, and the driver aged over 32 y.o. with the best results in the Rotax Max senior class will get the last invitations to race at the world final in Al Ain, U.A.E. Is the local drivers will earn these invitations? Is the Quebecers, always strong in the Rotax classes, will get them? Will we see a Westerner causing a surprise and win on a track he never saw? We will have the answer in 13 days! |
Photos by Daniel Lamothe/SRA