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McLaughlin Wins Place In Rotax World Final

press release

Britek Motorsport Scholarship karter Scott McLaughlin is off to the World Rotax Challenge at the La Conca circuit in Italy in November after a stunning victory at the final round of the New Zealand Junior Rotax Challenge in Auckland.

Forced to race from the rear of the grid in the final, McLaughlin charged through the field to beat home rival Nick Cassidy.


pic - Greg Henderson Motorsport Photography

The win for McLaughlin was the second (of four rounds) for the 15-year-old racer, who also took first place at Hamilton. Overall McLaughlin finished second in the series to Nick Cassidy, with both racers earning their way to the World Rotax Challenge.

McLaughlin had his Australian mechanic and race engineer Robbie Morton at the event. Using his Bulls Eye rotax engine prepared by Gavin Bright, the Gold Coast racer took to the NZ Final aboard the all-new Arrow Red XE 28, prepared by Tony Chambers from Right Karts.

McLaughlin qualified fourth and finished third in race #1 and fourth in race #2. Ahead of the pre-final McLaughlin, Chambers and Morton sat down and made some changes to the kart.

Ready to attack in the pre-final McLaughlin was crashed off the circuit by another competitor on the opening lap. He then had to start the final from 11th place on the grid.

Morton and McLaughlin put together an aggressive race strategy for the final and it was a determined McLaughlin who charged off the line in the 30-lap final.

By the end of the opening lap he climbed to fourth, before taking the lead on the lap # 12. Cassidy kept the pressure on McLaughlin and he grabbed back the lead with two laps remaining, before the Gold Coast racer got ahead again on the final lap.


pic - Greg Henderson Motorsport Photography

“An awesome win,” said McLaughlin. “For sure this is a career highlight – but we have an even bigger prize to now chase in Italy at the end of November.

“We had to work extremely hard this weekend and throughout the entire series. Nick was very tough to beat this weekend and he did a great job to win the series overall.

“The NZ series has a lighter minimum weight than the World Challenge. We have been around 11 to 13-kilograms over the minimum weight, but we will be on a far more even playing field in Italy.

“I have had outstanding support with the likes of Tony Chambers Ryan Urban and Robbie Morton at events. Also Jason Bright has provided excellent input on my driving and preparation.

“The World event in Italy will bring together an enormous field and the preparation starts now. I’m off to Bathurst this weekend to enjoy that event with Britek Motorsport, I’m sure that will further inspire me to score a top result in Italy.”

The 2008 World Rotax Challenge will see 216 drivers that qualified via national as well as international race series – means it will be a "battle" amongst the best of the world – coming from more than 55 nations of all 5 continents.

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