OGP Team To Send Four Drivers To Rotax World Final

press release

The Ocala Gran Prix (OGP) race team had a career event this past weekend as four drivers claimed podium results at the Rotax Max Challenge US Grand Nationals held in Norman, Oklahoma.  With podium winners from the Rotax Junior, Senior and DD2 classes receiving invitations to the Rotax Max Challenge World Finals in Egypt mid December, Ocala Gran Prix had at least one driver on the podium in each of these classes.

First on the docket for the day was the DD2 class where Californian Cody Hodgson was running at the front of the pack. A definite threat for victory wherever he goes, Hodgson progressed through the heat races and prefinal to claim the pole position for the main event. Getting the jump early on the field, Hodgson led wire to wire to take the win and secure OGP’s first invited driver to Egypt.

Above: Cody Hodgson

One of the fiercest junior competitors in North America showed why he is one of the guys to beat as Nick Neri took the win in the Rotax Junior class. Whether it was in wet or dry conditions, Neri was one of the fastest junior competitors on the track in each and every session. With fast and consistent race laps, Neri opened a large gap in the 27 lap final and was unchallenged in his drive to the checkered flag.

Above: Nick Neri

Joining Neri on the podium was fellow Floridian and OGP pilot Ethan Ringle. The talented junior showed patience in the prefinal to advance forward from a poor starting position, giving him a shot at the podium. Ringle showed his true determination in the main event as he made pass after pass at the end of the Oklahoma Motorsports Complex front straightaway to move forward and claim a second place result. Neri and Ringle would join Hodgson at the podium ceremonies later that evening to receive their invitations to Egypt.

Above: Ethan Ringle

The final class on the day was the Rotax Senior class where Victor Pedrosa would look to join his teammates on the podium. Starting the prefinal in 11th, Pedrosa moved forward to claim the fourth position in wet weather action and an outside second row starting spot for the main event. In the final, Pedrosa battled for the second spot all race long as the two competitors made pass after pass throughout the 27 lap final. When the dust had finally settled, Pedrosa would claim the second position securing OGP’s fourth driver of the day on the podium and fourth invitation to the Rotax World Finals.

Above: Victor Pedrosa

“This was a career weekend for the Ocala Gran Prix team,” stated OGP President Jorge Arellano. “Our goal was to come here and do our best. These events are so hard and the caliber of drivers is second to none. To have four of our drivers traveling overseas in December is amazing. It has been a great year.”

Other OGP drivers in attendance this past weekend included junior pilot Andrew Evans and Rotax Masters driver Jason Bell. Evans would compete in his first Grand Nationals and first major race and would run in the top half of the field all weekend long. Evans would start the prefinal in the 19th position but would progress forward in the main event to finish just outside the top ten.

Bell would battle with a host of Masters drivers that are among the best in the country as they all showed up at this year’s Grand National event. With strong results in a couple of the heat races and some bad luck in the others, Bell would look to advance forward in the final. Working with the OGP crew, Bell gained several positions and would finish just outside the top ten.

“What a great weekend for the team,” stated OGP Team Manager Kyle Kraus. “To have four drivers as part of Team America is unheard of. We are all looking forward to traveling to Egypt and show the rest of the world what we have.”

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