Win Entitles Rudolph To Team USA Berth At Rotax World Final
Tweetpress release
With a Florida Winter Tour championship and a ticket to the 2012 Rotax Grand Finals on the line, PSL Atlantic pilot Alan Rudolph would look to secure both in the final rounds of the Formula Kart Productions Florida Winter Tour. Having great success in the opening four event days, the Bondurant SuperKarts General Manager and Chief Instructor would need one solid outing to achieve his goal and represent his country in Portugal later this year.
Above: Alan Rudolph never missed the podium at the 2012 FWT and will now take on the world in Portugal
pic - Cody Schindel, Autosports Media
Taking to the track for unofficial practice early in the week, the Arizona-based driver would struggle a bit to find the speed needed to top the charts. Working on his Rotax DD2 powered PSL Atlantic CRG, Rudolph would head into Friday's official qualifying sessions determined and hopeful of some good results.
With the first qualifying run lining up the grid for Sunday's competition, Alan would struggle slightly as his championship contenders rose to the challenge. Turning only the fifth quickest lap of the session, Rudolph would start Sunday's wheel-to-wheel action from inside row three in his quest for the title.
Looking to improve for Saturday's qualifying session Rudolph and his mechanic Matt Dominey went to work to perfect his machine as the Shifter Kart star would hit the track late Friday afternoon for the second of two Rotax DD2 Masters qualifying sessions. Turning a blistering lap of 36.845, Rudolph secured the pole position by a scant .066 over a field of hungry competitors.
"I was trying to run a different setup for the first qualifying session and it didn't work out so well," explained Alan Rudolph. "We struggled a little bit but everyone from the PSL Atlantic and CRG team helped me get it sorted out for Saturday's qualifying run and we where able put it on the pole. It should be a very good race."
Back at the track on Saturday morning for the first official wheel-to-wheel action of the weekend, Rudolph would line his CRG up on the inside of the front row for the start of the prefinal. Taking the point from the drop of the green flag, Rudolph led wire to wire to attain 50 championship points as well as the preferred inside front row starting position for the main event.
The Bondurant SuperKart Schools Chief Instructor would show the rest of the DD2 Masters drivers how important patience is, and knowing when to pick your battles, as two other fellow competitors would collide taking them selves out of competition. Running fast and consistent race laps, Rudolph pulled away from his rivals as he took the checkers by nearly two seconds, scoring maximum championship points on the day.
"Alan is a fierce competitor and wants to win each and every time out," explained PSL Atlantic Team Owner Mike Dobbelsteyn. "After his results on Friday, Alan was determined to get a race win and the championship. He is a great driver and perfect role model for up and coming drivers and should be a great asset to Team USA."
Sunday would prove to be a little different for the multi-time champion as Rudolph would have to start the main event from the tail of the field. After only completing two laps in the prefinal, and finishing well down the running order, the PSL Atlantic driver had a solid drive forward in the main event to claim the third and final podium position.
With his victory on Saturday and podium result on Sunday, Rudolph was awarded the Florida Winter Tour Rotax DD2 Master Championship as well as the ticket to the 2012 Rotax Grand Finals as a member of Team USA. Taking place in early December in Portimao, Portugal, Rudolph will look to bring Team USA its first Rotax World Championship.
Rudolph continued, "I am very excited and honored to represent Team USA in Portugal. This was a goal of mine when I started the Florida Winter Tour and I have to thank everyone from PSL Atlantic, CRG and Rotax who all helped me along the way."
