Strong ROK Cup Result For Rossi

press release

Genesis Racing CRG pilot Scott Rossi scored a solid fifth place finish this past weekend at the International Rok Cup Finals held at the South Garda track in Lonato, Italy. With teams and drivers from all around the world, Rossi was able to run at the front of the 102 kart field to show the world that North American karting is among the best on the world.

Working with tuner Lorenzo Mandarino, Rossi, who was the youngest competitor in the field, was quick right out of the box on Thursday morning’s timed practice sessions. Due to the number of entries, competitors were broken into three groups where Rossi quickly went to the top of the time sheets. With a stout field and some tough competition, the Canadian duo went to work to better improve Rossi’s CRG machine and throughout the day on Friday Team Canada placed near the top of the time sheets.

After scoring the quickest time in morning warm up, a brief shower and temperature change came to the South Garda circuit right before Rossi’s qualifying group hit the track. Turning a quick time early, the talented senior rookie had the second fastest time until the last minute of the session before being relegated to fifth, with the top five drivers were separated by less then a tenth of a second.

With the key to success in international competition to complete every heat race, Rossi would make this his primary goal as any slip, falter or contact would ruin his chances of making the final. With that in mind, Rossi progressed through the heat race flight system scoring second, sixth and fourth place results along the way all while turning competitive times with the winners.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” stated Rossi at the end of the day on Saturday. “We had three good finishes today and will have a solid shot at the win tomorrow. I’m excited and anxious to get started and see what I can do against this field of incredibly talented drivers. Our CRG chassis is working incredibly well and it is just proof on why it is the best in the industry.”

The young Scott Rossi would line up outside the fourth row in P8 and after watching the mayhem through the last chance qualifying races, he knew he would be in tough early. With a timing and scoring delay earlier in the day, the sun began to set bringing in cooler temperatures to Lonato which proved to be the start of an exciting main event. With the green flag in the air, competitors stayed in line pushing one another down the front straight looking to get the best advantage possible. With the tenth place starter right on Rossi’s rear bumper, the rear wheels of Rossi’s kart were off the ground causing him to take evasive action to avoid contact. After a full opposite lock to both the left and right side of the steering wheel to maintain control, the Canadian pilot squirted through the first complex of corners and ended the first lap in sixth place. Running with the lead group, Rossi maintained his position until the final circuit when the fourth and fifth place drivers got together in the final corner allowing him to sneak by for fourth. With the checkered in the air, Rossi crossed the strip in the fourth position but was given a fifth place result due to a timing and scoring error with one of the karts in the incident in the final corner.

Displeased with the result, team officials from several different organizations pleaded Rossi’s case to no avail. Rossi accepted his fifth place awards and was promised by Rok Cup officials that the timing and scoring error would be fixed and he would be awarded his proper position at a later date.

Rossi would like to thank Vince and Lorenzo Mandarino for their continued hard work. Also, the CRG pilot would like to thank all of his sponsors for their support through 2008: United Rentals of Canada IRRENTS.COM, Remple Bros. Concrete, Eagle West Cranes, Canadian Western Bank, AVIVA of Canada, Mcquarrie Hunter Law Firm, Fasken Martineau Dumoulin, Scmidt Berg Accountants, Canstar Mechanical, Glenco Electric, Wiffen Financial, DGS Construction, Rossi Motorsports Formula Mazda, 450 Taurus Ventures, Excessive Properties and Excessive Racing Services. These gracious people and companies are what make racing possible for the Canadian driver. Also, an extra special thank you goes out to CRG and CRG Spa. 

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