IFR's Niki Laa Wins Rotax Grand Final Ticket

press release

One of the Intrepid Force Rotax team’s rookie senior drivers for the season Niki Laa has finished with the highest overall qualifying points in the Austrian Rotax Max Challenge and as a result, will represent his country at the 9th Rotax Grand Finals in Italy this November, together with his Salzburg team mate Dominik Kraihamer and IFR’s Josh Hart of New Zealand.

Having recently turned 15 years of age, Laa finished 2nd on the podium at the last round of the series over the weekend at the Speedworld circuit near Vienna and has been very consistent during his first year with IFR, since making the step up to the Rotax max class as a senior. The main focus has been to assist him in developing and progressing as a driver.

“I’m very happy with the whole season and with my result in the championship, especially in winning the ticket to race at La Conca at the Grand Finals. It’s a dream come true for me! I’ll work hard as always to give his best and aim to reach the final race. I have really enjoyed being part of IFR this year and hope there is the opportunity to continue in 2009. It’s important that I thank all the team, especially my mechanic Ray, team manager Ernst and my parents as well, plus all our supporters.”

The young driver has just missed out on also securing the Austrian title to finish a close 3rd in the national series once his worst two race results were dropped from the points as required, but in the international qualification tally he was clearly the leader for the invitation to compete against the best drivers in the class from more than 50 nations around the World. The Rotax event will take place at the famous La Conca circuit, Italy from November 25-30.

Both Kraihamer and Hart have been to the Grand Finals on several occasions before and qualified for the 2008 event by finishing in the top 3 of the European Rotax Championship in their respective classes (Rotax 2-speed DD2 and Senior Max) just a week earlier in Belgium. It’s the 5th year the Austrian Intrepid team has made it to the prestigious Rotax event, with three podium finishes already to their credit. It is yet another outstanding effort to have three drivers qualifying from a small private team of just eight in total.

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