Rochford To Race European Rotax Championship!

Daniel Rochford is set to compete in the Senior Rotax MAX class in the 2008 Mojo MAX Euro Challenge series. He heads to Europe at the end of this week to meet up with the Team-V Intrepid Force Rotax race team before competing in the opening round at Salbris, France.

The 16-year-old Melbournian will drive Intrepid chassis for the crack Austrian outfit Team-V. He will use CC Racing engines and have CC Racing’s Peter Cathcart as mechanic.

Rochford’s exciting opportunity was only confirmed recently. “I was actually in the city on a school excursion when Dad rang and told me” Daniel explained to KartSportNews. “I was so happy, I just wanted to go around and tell everyone!”

Above: Daniel Rochford and his father, Mark, at the Vic Open.
pic - Cooper's Photography

Unbeknown to Rochford at the time, Team-V boss Ernst Penninger kept a close eye on the Aussie when he competed in the Rotax World Final in Al Ain last year.  Impressed with what he saw, Penninger approached the Rochfords with a proposal for 2008.

“They have been very professional to deal with” said Rochford’s father Mark, “but they are also very personal. They really go with their team motto of ‘Race to Get There’ – it’s not about a result on the day, but what can happen in the future.”

Sniper Alignment Technologies and Ciccone Constructions are providing support that has allowed Rochford to take up the Euro offer. The Rochfords are currently procuring more funding to ensure Daniel can compete in the remaining rounds of the series. “We can’t afford to go down the Formula Ford route, so this provides an opportunity for an alternative” explained Mark.

Rochford will use his engines from Australia, which are already at Team-V headquarters to enable the karts to be prepared. CC Racing’s Peter Cathcart (right - Cooper pic) will mechanic for Rochford at all four rounds. “Having Pete there gives me the best chance” Daniel said. “I’m comfortable with him as mechanic and he was the reason why I went so well at the world final.”

After the hot weather experienced locally, Rochford will be in for thermal shock when he arrives in Europe “He’s driven in snow in Canberra, so that experience might come in handy in France!” Mark joked. “It’s actually quite cold there at the moment.” (Rochford was born in Canberra and started racing in the ACT in the Midget class. The family then moved to Perth, then to Melbourne about four years ago).

“Ben (George, the Tasmanian who works for Team-V) will be there to support me and he’s driven on the Salbris track so he can help me with that too. I’m really looking forward to it.”

After the French round, the series moves to Wackersdorf, Germany in May followed by Czech Republic (Sosnova, July) and Belgium (Genk, September).

from Intrepid Force Rotax press...

Ernst Penninger, IFR race team manager:

“In line with the team’s philosophy, it’s about ‘racing to get there’. Our expectation of Daniel for now is mainly to see him gain the necessary experience in this, his first year in seniors. Of course, we believe he’s quite capable of winning. We’re looking forward to working with Daniel and Peter [Cathcart], who have recently moved to racing Intrepid and also continuing our successful relationship with Australian drivers, as we have the past three years.”

How did the opportunity come your way to drive in the Euro Challenge with ‘Intrepid Force Rotax’?
Daniel Rochford – “After racing at the Rotax Grand Finals last year in the United Arab Emirates and having very solid results all week, Intrepid Force Rotax believed that I had the potential and could further develop my racing skills in the Euro championships.”

What was your first reaction when you got the news?
DR – “I was very excited and over the moon to be racing the Euro Challenge with such a competitive team.”

What do you see as the main benefits of being with IFR for your first race in Europe?
DR – “I believe that being part of Intrepid Force Rotax will be a great learning experience and give me the best possible chance to achieve my goals.”

So, what are you expectations of racing in the Euro championship, especially after having competed against many of the drivers at the Rotax Grand Finals late last year?
DR – “I will do my best and do everything possible to perform in striving for top ten and hopefully even podium finishes.”

It’s a long way to France, it’s winter and you’ll be racing on a track you’ve never driven on. How will you prepare for this event to perform to your best ability?
DR – “Before leaving, I’ll be practicing in my Intrepid Kart in Australia by doing some long stints to keep in shape. Also competing in the Victorian open recently gave me some good race time. In France, I will also be watching the on-track action, as I believe it is the most affective way of learning about a new track.”

With Peter Cathcart assisting you as he did at the Grand Finals, what approach will you take to the opening round of the series?
DR – “We will approach the First round with a positive, open-minded, “can-do” attitude as we did at the World Finals.”

How do you think you will go?
DR – “I am pretty confident in myself. I’ll listen to the advice of Peter and the team then I think that I can achieve consistent and good results. I just can’t wait to get there!”

Are you hoping to do all four rounds of the championship?
DR – “Absolutely yes!”

IFR Team updates and results can be found at www.racetogetthere.com

Above: Daniel's driving at the last Rotax World Final impressed the people at Team-V
pic - Cooper's Photography

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