Latifi To Rotax World Final With Team Canada
press release
Nicholas Latifi, pilot of the #8 Sofina Foods/Team PSL Karting CRG, stormed the 2010 Canadian Tire ASN Canada FIA Canadian National Karting Championship to grab second place in the event final and a much valued invitation to Team Canada.
Bbove: Nicholas Latifi will represent Canada at this years Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals
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Cody Schindel, Autosports Media Group
Fast all season long, Latifi has been on a steady pace forward in the field as he logged impressive runs through the Eastern Canadian karting scene. Competing in the Eastern Canadian Karting Championship, Latifi, along with driver coach David Tennyson, have continued an impressive string of results at each event as they moved closer to their ultimate goal. Last minute changes allowed by event organizers threw a monkey wrench in the Rotax Junior field, but Latifi was unfazed as he was laser focused on the task at hand. While Latifi may have had some tough races this year it has built character and helped to develop Nicholas as a complete driver. The result at the Canadian Nationals is the ultimate reward for Nicholas' efforts.
“I am extremely proud of Nicholas, as he did an incredible job in very tough driving conditions,” commented Tennyson on his return from the Nationals. “I have never seen or worked with a driver that has developed to this level in such a short time. In only 18 months since we began this journey together from his first introduction to karting, he is the runner up Canadian Nationals and representing Canada at the Grand Finals.”
Diving into the deep end of the karting world, Latifi runs in the highly contested Junior Rotax class in Ontario and Quebec, known for large fields and stiff competition. Working closely with tuner Jean-Francois Valour, the duo have been strong under all conditions right from round one in Goodwood Kartways, all with an eye to the Nationals. The tall teenager is developing a solid reputation on and off the track as he builds a racing resume and new friendships.
At the Canadian Nationals, held at the newly built Le Circuit Karting de Mont Tremblant, Latifi would run at the front of the field all weekend long improving with each session. In pre race timed practice Latifi would go third and seventh setting up for a strong qualifying session. A tough run in dry conditions saw the talented teenager qualify in the fifteenth spot to sit inside row eight for all three heats. In heat one, held on Friday afternoon following qualifying under dry conditions, Latifi pushed his CRG Kart forward to take seventh spot at the line as he moved forward in the early stages.
Saturday would see two more heat races and the beginning of two straight days of wet and cold weather. In heat two another solid run saw the second year racer from Toronto get up to P6 at the flag. In heat three, late race contact saw Latifi lose several spots on the track and several more in post race penalties taking him back to thirty-third in the final posting. The heat race finish combinations would have Latifi starting from the eleventh spot on the grid for the prefinal.
Sunday was more rain and cold for competitors to deal with, something that Latifi was happy to see. In the wet prefinal Latifi charged forward to grab third at the line and an inside second row start position for the final. A great start in the final allowed Latifi to move forward quickly as the lead group spread out early in the race. Latifi would hold the second position after lap one and began to pace the leader, looking for an opportunity to take the lead. As the rest of field scrapped for positions Latifi ran flawless at the front, never dropping a wheel and pushing a solid pace. At the line, second place was good for an invite to Team Canada and a trip to the La Conca track in Italy for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand finals.
“I am really happy to get an invite to Team Canada and head to the Grand Finals,” comments Latifi. “It’s only my second year karting and to be on the podium at the Nationals is amazing.”
Up next for Latifi and the Sofina Team will be a trip to Mauro Lacesse, Italy for the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals. Nicholas would like to thank PSL Karting CRG, Sofina Foods, Supertune Engines, Formula Kartways, JF Valour, David Tennyson and his parents for all of their support through out the year.
