PSLKarting.com

dimanche, avril 5 2009

PSL KARTING ENDS FLORIDA WINTER TOUR ON TOP

Leesmann scores ProShifter victory for Canadian CRG at series finale in Ocala

 

OCALA, FL (March 22, 2009) – A three month escape from the cold temperatures of Quebec, Canada ended for the PSL Karting squad as the third and final round of the 2009 Florida Winter Tour went into the books March 21-22. The sixth weekend of the series was the ‘Formula Kart’ weekend finale at the Ocala Gran Prix after the Rotax divisions closed out their season last weekend at the Central Florida facility. Though championships eluded the team in the ’09 edition, the PSL name was atop the podium numerous times throughout the three months. Defending ProShifter champion Fritz Leesmann scored the last victory of the Tour.

The event began strong for the Californian as he put his CRG/Maxter entry at the top of the time sheets in Qualifying on Saturday to edge out his championship rival. Leesmann then went on to lead all 16 laps of the Prefinal to start the main event from the pole position. The 24-lap race would be a dual between Fritz and his championship rival. Leesmann led the majority of the laps however lost the position in the second half of the race, settling for the runner-up finish. Sunday saw Leesmann in the same spot in Qualifying, posting the second quickest lap of the session to start the Prefinal from outside row one. Getting away cleanly, Leesmann slotted in behind the championship leader to run second. Saving the best for last, Leesmann got the hole shot to begin the feature race. As they came around for the first lap, Leesmann showed the way and he would continue on until the checkered flag waved to take the victory by nearly a second. The victory, his first of the season, was not enough to slide into the lead in the point standings however as Leesmann would earn the vice-championship honor.

 

Making only his second start in KF3, Florida’s Jesus Rios Jr. used his home-state knowledge to secure the top position in Saturday’s qualifying session. His fast lap led to Rios showing the way in all 16 laps of the Prefinal to start the feature from the P1 position. The main event would not go as smooth as the previous race as after leading the opening lap, Rios was shuffled back to third. After regaining his composure, he muscled his way back to second and cut into the leaders advantage however it would not be enough as Rios settled for the runner-up spot, his second podium visit in three races. Sunday’s qualifying was not as successful as the previous day’s session, placing sixth. Rios put his skills to work in the Prefinal to advance up to the third position in the latter half of the race. Things got racey in the feature as Rios fought strong to hold onto his third spot throughout the 24-lap event however he would lose the podium position and end up fourth, still a solid outing for only his second weekend in a KF3 package.

 

Heading into the weekend, Cadet driver Jimmy Cabrera had a chance to steal the championship away from the defending class champion. The event began in the right direction with Cabrera putting his CRG on top in the Saturday qualifying session. After a tough battle in the Prefinal, Cabrera crossed the line second but was penalized five positions per the race director. After his appeal was denied, Cabrera chose to sit out the feature race. Putting the day’s action behind him, Cabrera set out to perform well on the final day. A fourth in Sunday’s qualifying put him in outside row two for the start of the Prefinal. In the opening corner however contact sent the entire outside line off track. Cabrera rejoined the track in seventh and managed to climb back up to fourth. Once again, Cabrera was shuffled back at the start, falling to sixth however was able to advance back up to third to stand on the podium in the final race and second in the championship standings in his first year at the Tour.

ProShifter driver Ben Schermerhorn scored his best results of the Tour. The Colorado driver, competing in his first season at the Tour, continued to improve each weekend in Florida, recording finishes of fourth and fifth at the Ocala finale to close out the year fourth in the standings.

In TaG Junior, fellow Coloradoan Sabre Cook had a difficult closing weekend. On Saturday after qualifying seventh, was involved in a wreck that sent her to the hospital for precaution. After a clean bill of health, she returned to compete in the final where she finished a disappointing 17th after advancing up to 11th at one time. On Sunday, she shocked the paddock with the fourth fastest time of the qualifying session. In the Prefinal however she was shuffled back early and ended up ninth, leading to a tenth in the feature and her best finish of the Tour.

Dominicans Carlos Abreu and Diego Joubert ran to 12th and 13th respectively on Saturday in TaG Junior while on Sunday Abreu finished 12th once again with Joubert 18th. Manuel Troncoso made his first FWT start at Ocala in the Cadet division, placing sixth and eighth in the features.