WIN STREAK CONTINUES FOR PSL KARTING AT FLORIDA WINTER TOUR ROTAX FINALE

Two more victories added to season total for Canadian CRG

Impressive win for Jimmy Cabrera in Micromax

An other big win for Jesus Rios on his CRG/PSL rotax

OCALA, FL (March 15, 2009) – Heading into the final weekend of the Florida Winter Tour Rotax program, PSL Karting was poised to contend for three series championships. While the pieces did not fall in place at the Ocala Gran Prix facility over the March 14-15 weekend, the Canadian CRG squad scored two victories to add to their growing total for the season. Ten drivers represented PSL on the weekend, including a few new members to the team. Adding to the team's victory total for the year were Jesus Rios Jr. and Jimmy Cabrera.

Rios on top in Jr Rotax

Tommy Beshro had a good run in JR Rotax

Entering the weekend, Rios was among the contenders in the Rotax Junior championship following his victory at the final Homestead event. The Ocala finale did not start off the way Rios had hoped, qualifying on day one in 11th. The Florida pilot and the PSL technical support team worked together throughout the day to help get his CRG up to speed. Rios made up four spots in the Prefinal to start seventh for the feature. In the main event, Rios was the man on the move as he eventually worked himself up to second by lap 12 of the 24-lap event. Holding the spot until the white flag, an ill-advised pass attempt from the third place kart resulted in hard contact during the final circuit and put Rios back to eighth place as the checkered flag waved. Non-related penalties to drivers ahead of him moved him up to sixth in the final classification however the result was still disappointing considering the circumstances.

Putting the first day's action behind him, Rios was focused on taking care of what he needed for a chance in the championship. A better qualifying effort for day two put him outside row two for the Prefinal. Just five laps into the Prefinal, the CRG driver had found his way to the front, where he would stay until the checkered flag. Lined up directly behind him for the start of the main event would be the championship leader. At the drop of the green flag, the two began a clean and professional race-long battle. In the end, Rios took his second victory in Rotax competition but would come up short in the championship chase, ending the year as the runner-up.

 Cabrera pass for the lead and won with a 5 sec. lead

For Cabrera, the second half of the Florida Winter Tour has been a successful one. Though not in the hunt for the Micro Max championship, Cabrera came to Ocala in search of victories. A third place in Qualifying got the weekend started off in the right path as he would hold the spot through the Prefinal race. Soon after receiving the green flag to start the feature, Cabrera made his move to the front of the field and by the second lap was showing the way. Running consistent laps, Cabrera went on to take the win by over four-seconds for his first taste of victory in Rotax competition.

Day two started in the same fashion the previous day ended with Cabrera on top of the time charts in Qualifying and earning the Prefinal win. The Dominican driver would be challenged throughout the 16-lap feature as the lead would change hands each lap by the start-finish line. With two laps to go, Cabrera would get shuffled back to fourth but with determination he advanced back up to second by the checkered flag. His results placed him sixth in the overall championship.

In Rotax Mini max Diego Barkhausen had a really good run

In Rotax Masters, Rene Martinelli was the lone PSL representative and sat second in the championship entering the Ocala weekend. Needing to record two solid podium results and in need of some extra help, it would be a tough chore for the Mexican to claim the title. A slow time in practice would place Martinelli in the slower group for Qualifying. Though Rene was quickest in his group, his time would place him ninth overall. Once the wheel to wheel action got underway, Martinelli went to work advancing up to fifth in the Prefinal. Gaining a spot at the start of the feature, he bought his time and moved up to third in the final stages to earn his second podium finish of the year. Qualifying on day two was a better effort for Martinelli as he place fourth overall. Up to third in the Prefinal set up for another solid effort in the final race where Martinelli gained another spot to end up on the second step of the podium, the same position he would finish in the championship.

The Ocala facility had been a favorite destination for Rotax Senior competitor Pier-Luc Ouellette however this visit was a more difficult trip. Qualifying 12th both days in the high-contended division, the Quebec driver slowly progressed each session to end the features in ninth and seventh. While the results were not what were forecasted, Ouellette ended the championship third in the standings in his first year aboard with the PSL squad.

Gerald Casley

   Chris earns

Gerald Caseley and Christopher Ernst returned with PSL for the Rotax finale to compete in the Senior division. Caseley showed promise on Saturday at a top-10 finish until retiring early while recording a 16th place on day two. Ernst worked hard on the weekend at finding the needed speed but was not able to break into the top-20. Tommy Beshro also returned under the PSL tent in Rotax Junior. Poor qualifying efforts both days force the Canadian to play catch-up all weekend, recording finishes of 15th and ninth to cap of a solid come back.

   P-A Labonte

New to PSL for the weekend were Mini Max drivers Diego Barkhausen and Pier-Alexandre Labonte along with Micro Max driver Donavan Fenton. Barkhausen adapted to the PSL CRG Mini Max package quickly and ran to 11th on Saturday and ninth on Sunday. Labonte was making his first Florida Winter Tour event and gained valuable experience against a solid field. The Dominican Fenton joined his countryman Cabrera inside the top-10 of the Micro field, placing ninth in both main events.

The final weekend of the Florida Winter Tour will take place March 21-22 at the Ocala circuit with PSL Karting preparing for nine drivers to represent the squad during the ‘Formula Kart' finale. Doug Cox will contend for the Masters Shifter title while Cabrera will return in search of the Cadet championship. Defending FWT Pro Shifter champion Fritz Leesmann and Ben Schermerhorn will contend the headline division with Rios returning in KF3, looking for another victory. Sabre Cook, Carlos Abreu, and Diego Joubert will fill up the TaG Junior roster with Dominican Manuel Troncoso joining the squad in Cadet.

  For more information on PSL Karting, please contact Team Director Stephan St. Charles at 819.377.5566. You can also e-mail Stephan via Stephan@pslkarting.com   PSL Karting can be found on the Internet @ www.pslkarting.com ###  About PSL Karting:

PSL Karting is one of the most respected shops and teams in the sport.  Located in Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, they are a Canadian importer of CRG karts and Maxter engines, as well as a dealer and distributor for a long list of the best products in the sport such as Rotax, Arai, MG Tires, Vega, MIR Racewear and Tillett Seats.  PSL Karting is a full service operation, offering karts and parts, arrive-and-drive programs on the Stars of Karting, Florida Winter Tour and Coupe de Quebec series, engine building and tuning, and an intensive driving school that features dynamic and experienced instructors.