Eventful Rotax Pan-American Challenge For Guenette
press release
Canadian karting pilot Alex Guénette recently traveled to Michiana Raceway Park, just west of South Bend, Indiana, USA for the second round of the Rotax Pan American Challenge Eastern Qualifier. Competing in the super competitive Rotax Junior class with J3 Competition/Kosmic Karts, Guénette completed the weekend with a mixture of results after showing speed all weekend long.
Above: Alex Guénette earned the second place podium position in Sunday's final
pic - Cody Schindel, Autosports Media Group
Also, by completing the weekend's events, Guénette has now fully qualified for the season finale Rotax Pan American shootout, being held in September in New Castle, Indiana, with a trip to the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals, this year in Abu Dhabi, on the line.
"Overall it was a good weekend," smiled Guénette from his home in Terrebonne, Quebec. "I really felt like I had a shot to win on Saturday until I was taken out in the first corner, but other than that, I cannot complain. My J3 Competition Kosmic was very fast all weekend and I cannot thank the guys enough for their support."
The weekend's activities featured two separate days of racing. On Saturday, Guénette posted the second fastest time in official qualifying before cruising to a runner-up finish in the prefinal. With wet weather fast approaching, the Rotax Junior drivers lined up on the grid and took the track. A mad rush into turn one on the start vaulted two other go-karts up and over Alex, pushing him off the end of the track and into the dirt. Resuming from the last position, Guénette was on a mission to catch the field.
By the halfway mark, Guénette had not only caught the pack, he was just outside the top-ten before a red flag was issued as rain began to fall on the track. However, the rain wasn't enough to warrant rain tires and the Juniors were quickly back on track. Once again the start wasn't pleasant for Alex, as he would be caught up in an accident on the front straight taking evasive action to avoid a spinning kart in front of him.
"I really wished the red flag wasn't thrown," continued the French Canadian. "I was steadily working my way back through the field and was much faster than many of those ahead of me. Then the restart was just mayhem."
The beginning of Sunday's action was very similar for Guénette. Second position in qualifying, and second in the prefinal. However this time, there was no action on the start and Guénette quickly slotted into third place as the lead group exited turn one. Wasting no time returning to second, Alex went on in pursuit of the leader, but after 20 hard charging laps, he would settle for the second step on the podium.
"It was really good to end the weekend on the podium. I have to thank my dad and J3 Competition for all their support and cannot wait for the finals in New Castle now."
Next up for Alex Guénette will be an Eastern Canadian Karting Championship double-header being held at Mosport International Raceway on June 24-26.