Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship Round 5 and 6 - report

Clean sweep!
  Hinchcliffe, Champagne, Morad and Herder all clean up at Goodwood

GOODWOOD, ON - The Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Championship made its first 
of two scheduled appearances for the 2002 season at Goodwood Kartways on 
the July 20-21 weekend. It also marked the halfway point of the season - 
rounds 5 and 6 of the 10-race championship.

Two of the Pfaff Motors Fast qualifier awards were settled on Saturday when 
MBA's Matt Champagne took the Formula Senior pole, and First Kart's James 
Hinchcliffe took the Formula Junior pole. On Sunday morning they were 
joined by Gold Kart's Kyle Herder in Canada Senior and Birel's Daniel Morad 
in Canada Junior. Ironically, all Pfaff Motors fast qualifiers went on to 
win both of their respective races.

In Formula Junior, Hincliffe was determined to make the most of being on 
the pole and by the end of lap 1 in round 5 he had a 10 kart lead over 
Birel's Mike Meier. Meier had his hands full because First Kart's Robert 
Wickens was letting him know he wasn't happy being third.  Wickens' race 
went astray when he received a black flag (disqualification) for bumping 
Meier. That left the door open for Birel's Cale Meeks who was driving his 
way to the front after starting from the back. He came up behind Meier and 
the two had contact, costing Meeks the nose cone of his kart. Hinchcliffe 
cruised home for the win over Meier and First Kart's Simon Martin.
In round 6, it was once again Hinchcliffe building a big lead and taking a 
dominating win. Second went to Meeks and Meier was third.
"It wasn't as easy as it looked," said First Kart's Hinchcliffe. "My First 
Kart was great and the Maurini motorsports really help us. It is my home 
track, so it's great to win here."

In Formula Senior it was all Champagne in round 5. He led from flag to flag 
while being pressured by Birel's Mark Sampogna. Birel drivers also rounded 
out the top five with Mike Roth third, Alex Penfold fourth and Juliana 
Chiovitti fifth.
Round 6 was much the same, as Champagne won again, followed home by 
Sampogna and Eli Yanko. Nathan Brown and Alex Penfold got together on the 
final turn knocking them out of third and fourth respectively.
"My Hurricane MBA was perfect all weekend," said Champagne. "We needed to 
do a double here as I will have to miss the next two rounds at Shannonville 
due to the SKUSA ProMoto tour race. But we will be back here at Goodwood 
for the final two rounds and I can only hope things go as well as they did 
for us in these two rounds."

In Canada Junior race 5, it was a battle between Birel's Daniel Morad, 
Gold's Pearce Herder and Birel's Travis Walker. The three switched 
positions all race long and on the final lap Herder and Walker had contact 
- with Herder being given a subsequent black flag and disqualification for 
the incident. Morad took the win over Birel's Calvin Reid and Wickens. In 
round 6, It was once again Morad doing battle this time with MBA's Justin 
Mascoll, Wickens and Reid. All four were in the hunt and the final lap 
featured three wide action. Morad came out on top with Mascoll, Wickens and 
Reid right behind him.
"It was hard, but good," said a subdued Morad after the race. "It was a new 
Birel for us, and I guess this is the best way to start."

In Canada Senior, it was once again a Herder show. Kyle Herder dominated at 
his home track by winning both races. Juliana Chiovitti - making her first 
appearance in Canada Senior - was a strong second followed by Aaron de Heus 
and Rob Oakman.
"We were off in practice, but our changes really worked for qualifying and 
the races," said Herder. "We have a good point lead, so hopefully we can 
bring Gold a championship." The top three were the same in round 6, but 
Chiovitti had to drive back to the front after losing some positions on the 
start. Enzo Chiovitti had this to say about Juliana's debut in the SRFKC.
"I heard we were a second off," said Chiovitti. "But now I think it is only 
a couple of tenths." No one has been able to mount a solid challenge to 
Herder this year, but Chiovitti looks like she might head up the challenge 
at the next rounds in Shannonville at the beginning of August.

The objective of the SRFKC is to help foster a professional environment for 
kart drivers; help create a positive attitude towards appearance, conduct 
and discipline; help foster the employment of the best practices for the 
safe and fair running of competitions; and help kart drivers to move up the 
racing ladder to automobile racing.
Many of the top karters from Ontario and other provinces are scheduled to 
compete in four classes (Canada Junior, Canada Senior, Formula Junior and 
Formula Senior). The Formula Senior class will feature F125cc shifter 
karts, which are capable of exceeding 100 mph. Both Formula classes will 
make Formula 1 style standing starts.

At the end of the season, two drivers will be selected from each of the 
four classes plus the two drivers from the ASN Canadian National 
Championships will be invited to a one-day evaluation test at the 
Bridgestone/Firestone Racing Academy at Mosport, provided they are 16 years 
of age prior to the date of the test.
Out of those 10 drivers, two will earn a full scholarship to the 2003 
Bridgestone/Firestone Toronto Star Wheels F2000 racing series.

For more information, please contact: Brad Brown, Sunoco Motorsports, 
www.sunoco.ca (416)-233-8727. ASN Canada FIA, Paul Cooke, 
www.asncanada.com, (905)-403-9000. Russ Bond, www.insidetracknews.com, 
(416)-962-7223



www.asncanada.com

****Photo credit. Left to right, Kyle Herder, Daniel Morad, James 
Hinchcliffe, Matt Champagne. Standing at back Sunoco's Brad Brown
Photo by Ed Gatner