Year-End Report - Anthony Gangi Jnr
press release
The G7 Motorsports Team, along with team driver Anthony Gangi Jr., have put the wraps on an amazing sophomore season that included five major titles. In a long season that began back in January and criss crossed the US, Gangi Jr. logged plenty of miles and collected lots of hardware. The nine-year-old driver from New York State has put together an impressive string of race wins, series championships and national titles.
Florida Winter Tour
The season began in full stride in January as the team headed to the warm confines of Florida for the 2010 Florida Winter Tour. The winter series wrapped up at Ocala Gran Prix, the site for rounds five and six of the RMC-supported international karting series. Not to be denied the top spot on the box, the second year driver engaged in an epic battle for the win in the Sunday final race event. While not needing the win to clinch, Anthony Jr. was determined to put an exclamation mark on his new title and prove he was the man to beat in 2010. The team headed into the final weekend of competition sitting in second spot in the overall points fight, just 19 back of first place before drops. The G7 Motorsports Team left Ocala Gran Prix up 98 points on second place and the first major cadet championship of 2010 racing season.
Eastern Canadian Karting Championship
The G7 Motorsports Team headed north of the border to compete in the opening weekend of the newly minted Eastern Canadian Karting Championship. Team driver Anthony Gangi Jr. ran in the Rotax Micro Max class, running near the front of the field all weekend long. The young driver had to race under the extreme weather conditions that gripped Goodwood Kartways located in Stouffville, ON, just north of Toronto. Drivers were treated to rain, hail, snow and near freezing temperatures as they battled solid grids in all the classes. Running under the PSL Karting/CRG banner, the New York state-based team headed north for some Rotax action and to develop experience at some of Canada’s best tracks. In the Saturday final race it was Anthony Jr. taking the lead early and holding on to cross the line in first place. The victory would be short lived, as the Micro Max carburetor cap was not fully tightened, resulting in a technical disqualification for the race. For Rotax Micro Max Sunday final, the action was close and passing on the technical Goodwood Kartways track was fast and furious as the young Rotax racers all looked to score a win. At the line it was Anthony Jr. holding off a hard charging field to take the win and this time the victory would stick.
The G7 Motorsports Team made a second run for the border, this time for the annual Monaco of Trois Rivieres held each year in the riverside city of Trois Rivieres (Three Rivers) located just north east of Montreal. The trip to Quebec was supported by the PSL Karting team, which had a major presence at the event including KZ2 shifter kart standouts Gary Carlton and Fritz Leesman. None other then Giancarlo Tinini, principal of CRG Italy, was on hand to see a huge CRG program take to the track. Anthony Jr. has made the most of his CRG Big Al cadet package and this weekend he mastered the treacherous confines the Monaco-like street circuit that includes a tunnel section and tight barrier enclosed corners. First to roll off for the afternoon finals, the Micro Max class looked to set the tone for an afternoon of great racing. From the drop of the flag Gangi stormed to P1 and never looked back leading all 12 circuits of the tricky street track. In taking the win, Gangi Jr. would set another fast lap for the weekend.
Pan American Challenge
The G7 Motorsports Team continued to criss cross the US through the summer months as they campaigned the biggest and best Rotax Max races in North America. The team made their first trip to New Castle Motorsports Park, the famous mid west track located just east of Indianapolis, Indiana to compete in the Rotax Max Pan American Challenge. Gangi Jr. ran near the front of the field all weekend long as drivers were faced with changing and variable weather conditions forcing teams to be on their toes all weekend long. In the Saturday final a tough battle up front would see Anthony Jr. share the lead with several karts before it was settled on the last lap. At the line it was Anthony Jr. crossing in the fourth spot, just missing the podium in his first race at NCMP. In the Sunday final, heading into the final circuit, Anthony Jr. went to P1 and looked to control the outcome of the race. Off the backstretch a good draft from the second place kart moved Anthony Jr. back to second position at the line. The finish gave Anthony Jr. his first podium and second straight top five in just two starts at NCMP.
US Rotax Max Grand Nationals
Anthony Jr. and G7 Motorsports added a second major title to their record setting year by winning the 2010 Rotax Max Grand National Micro Max Championship. Anthony Jr. was at the top of the charts all week long and completed a fantastic run of races as he paced the grueling four-day event that included the best 24 cadet drivers in the country. Despite charges from several competitors, Anthony Jr. held strong to take the final win and the National title. Super Saturday was a bright and beautiful day in the US mid west as the over 200 competitors streamed into NCMP to see who would be crowned National Champions in seven different classes. In the prefinal, from his third row inside starting spot, Anthony Jr. would head to the front and look to lead early. A close battle at the front saw the lead change several times but at the line it was Anthony Jr. with the win by 0.173 seconds and setting fast lap of the race. With the win, Anthony Jr. earned the front row pole position for the National final.
From the drop of the green flag the lead group jostled for position and looked to be at the sharp end as the laps wound down. Gangi Jr. was not one to wait going to P1 from the start and looking to pace the race for the first three circuits. Gangi Jr. would slide to P2 on lap four and head back to first place the next lap. The lead would change hands once more and it was Anthony Jr. again storming back to the lead and never giving it back. At the line it was Anthony Jr. in first place, 1.5 seconds clear of second position, and the new National Rotax Micro Max Champion.
US Northeast RMax Challenge Title
Anthony Jr. dominated the 2010 edition of the US Northeast RMax Challenge as he took first and second on the opening weekend of the series at is home track of Oakland Valley Race Park. The series then moved to F1 Boston where again Gangi took two podiums winning on Saturday and taking second on Sunday. It was a return trip to OVRP for the regional series and a great showing by Anthony Jr. saw him take back-to-back wins. Returning to F1 Boston for the fourth weekend of racing action, Anthony Jr. again took the main event win on both days. The final event of the five-weekend, 10-race series was held at F1 New Jersey in Millville, New Jersey. Gangi Jr. would put his stamp on the series by winning both days to take the title. Anthony Jr. took the win in eight of 10 races and second in the other two for podium finishes in all 10 rounds.
New York State RMax Title
The one-day, one-race championship was held in late October at Oakland Valley Raceway Park under cold and blustery conditions. A solid field was looking for one the final Rotax titles up for grabs in 2010. Anthony Jr. would take pole in timed qualifying, followed by the win in the prefinal to grab pole for the final. In the final it was a great battle at the front as Gangi swapped the lead throughout the race. At the line it was Gangi Jr. with the win and the New York Rotax Micro Max title.
SKUSA SuperNationals XIV
The G7 Motorsports Team completed their first SKUSA Super Nationals in Las Vegas with great speed, spending most the race at the sharp end of the field. While the final result my not showcase the speed and race craft of young Gangi Jr., as the youngest driver in the field, he ran wheel-to-wheel with the top Cadet and Mini Rok drivers in North America. The highlight for the reigning US National Rotax Micro Max Champion was taking pole position for the Super Sunday Main event. Tenting with Mike Doty Racing, the G7 Motorsports Team worked through several challenges in the opening two days, showing heart and grit as they took on the tough track in Sin City.
#1 National Ranking
With less then three years to his credit, Gangi Jr. has amassed a stellar racing resume. As one of North America’s top young karting talents, the 9-year-old racer is at the top of his game and threat to win every time out. Developing the skills to win has been the focus and commitment for the driver from Brookville, NY as he looks to set new records in the toughest karting series in North America. With four major championships in 2010, including wins in several series, it was a solid bet that Gangi Jr. would take the National #1 Ranking when all the races were tallied. The #1 Ranking for Micro max is a the perfect title to match the four Championships accumulated in the 2010 season.
Up next will be the World Karting Association Daytona Kart Week, where Anthony Jr. will be running in the Yamaha and Comer classes with the help of Mike Doty Racing. Also see Anthony Jr. in action at the 2011 FWT.
