It all comes down to this weekend at the Orlando Kart Center for the third and final round of the 2018 ROK Cup Promotions Florida Winter Tour.
Championships will be decided and with an approximate 33% increase in points, stakes are high. With perfect weather conditions expected at the Orlando hotspot, teams will be tested to perfect kart setups and give their drivers the best chance possible. Saturday continued with more on track action, Heats 2 and 3 to get the grids for Championship Sunday.
Micro ROK
Caleb Gafrarar continued where he left off on Friday in Micro ROK, taking the Heat 2 win by more than two seconds over Matias Orjuela and Danny Dyszelski. The championship leader heading into round three, Gafrarar then put a stamp on his weekend thus far by claiming a third heat win and will start tomorrow’s prefinal from the pole position. Kaos Kart Shop’s Dyszelski moved up to second in Heat 3 followed by the Benik of Manuel Gonzalez. Orjuela came home fourth but will line up off-pole.
Mini ROK
Koene USA’s James Egozi has the Mini ROK championship in sight, taking the win in Heat 2 over Jeremy Fletcher and Orsolon Racing’s Jack Jeffers. Heat 3 then saw Benik Kart’s Kai Sorensen edge out Fletcher and Egozi. In the heat point tally, Fletcher will line up first for the prefinal with championship leader Egozi next and Sorensen completing the top-three.
ROK Junior
The ROK Junior Heat 2 saw the Tony Kart of Arias Deukmedjian edge out fellow OTK drivers Tyler Gonzalez and Ugo Ugochukwu, who are both in the championship hunt. Gonzalez and Ugochukwu again finished second and third in Heat 3, however this time the top spot was taken by Friday polesitter Thomas Nepveu. The heat points see the top-three championship contenders at the top of the sheets, with Gonzalez on pole, AM Parolin’s Matheus Morgatto second and Ugochukwu of Koene USA third.
ROK Senior
Polesitter Eduardo Barrichello claimed the ROK Senior Heat 2 victory over Arthur Leist and Prime Power Team’s Ryan MacDermid. Heat 3 saw Leist climb to the top spot by a two second margin with championship leader Ryan Norberg crossing the stripe in second and MacDermid again third. The heat tally sees Leist on top, Barrichello second and Norberg third, setting up the ultimate showdown for the prefinal with championship points on the line.
ROK Masters
Magno Gaia continued his streak, taking the Heat 2 ROK Masters win, although with some pressure from Circuit Group/FA driver Wesley Phillips. Adrian Donkers completed the top-three. Gaia and Phillips were back in Heat 3, this time the Orsolon pilot posted a healthy two-second victory, with Francisco Marques moving up to third. The heat points will of course see Gaia in the top position, followed by Zanella Racing’s Gabriel Iemma and Adrian Donkers up front for the start of the prefinal.
ROK Shifter Senior
Championship point leader Mathias Ramirez took top honors in ROK Shifter Senior Heat 2, with AJ Myers and AKT/KDM’s Jimmy Cabrera not far off. Heat 3 saw Myers move to the point, with Cabrera second and Ocala Gran Prix’s Austin Garrison completing the top-three. The same three will start 1-2-3 for tomorrow’s prefinal, setting up what is sure to be a can’t miss race to determine the main event starting grid and championship showdown.
ROK Shifter Masters
ROK Shifter Masters saw Farshad Bagheri use his pole time to take the Heat 2 victory over nearest championship rival Andres Hoffman with Peter Licciardi finishing third. Hernando Sanchez added another heat win on the weekend, with Orlando Kart Center’s own Andre Martins moving up nine positions to claim second and Hoffman third. Sanchez will roll off first for tomorrow’s prefinal, followed by Hoffmann and Bagheri.
*Results unofficial
Micro ROK
Caleb Gafrarar continued where he left off on Friday in Micro ROK, taking the Heat 2 win by more than two seconds over Matias Orjuela and Danny Dyszelski. The championship leader heading into round three, Gafrarar then put a stamp on his weekend thus far by claiming a third heat win and will start tomorrow’s prefinal from the pole position. Kaos Kart Shop’s Dyszelski moved up to second in Heat 3 followed by the Benik of Manuel Gonzalez. Orjuela came home fourth but will line up off-pole.
Mini ROK
Koene USA’s James Egozi has the Mini ROK championship in sight, taking the win in Heat 2 over Jeremy Fletcher and Orsolon Racing’s Jack Jeffers. Heat 3 then saw Benik Kart’s Kai Sorensen edge out Fletcher and Egozi. In the heat point tally, Fletcher will line up first for the prefinal with championship leader Egozi next and Sorensen completing the top-three.
ROK Junior
The ROK Junior Heat 2 saw the Tony Kart of Arias Deukmedjian edge out fellow OTK drivers Tyler Gonzalez and Ugo Ugochukwu, who are both in the championship hunt. Gonzalez and Ugochukwu again finished second and third in Heat 3, however this time the top spot was taken by Friday polesitter Thomas Nepveu. The heat points see the top-three championship contenders at the top of the sheets, with Gonzalez on pole, AM Parolin’s Matheus Morgatto second and Ugochukwu of Koene USA third.
ROK Senior
Polesitter Eduardo Barrichello claimed the ROK Senior Heat 2 victory over Arthur Leist and Prime Power Team’s Ryan MacDermid. Heat 3 saw Leist climb to the top spot by a two second margin with championship leader Ryan Norberg crossing the stripe in second and MacDermid again third. The heat tally sees Leist on top, Barrichello second and Norberg third, setting up the ultimate showdown for the prefinal with championship points on the line.
ROK Masters
Magno Gaia continued his streak, taking the Heat 2 ROK Masters win, although with some pressure from Circuit Group/FA driver Wesley Phillips. Adrian Donkers completed the top-three. Gaia and Phillips were back in Heat 3, this time the Orsolon pilot posted a healthy two-second victory, with Francisco Marques moving up to third. The heat points will of course see Gaia in the top position, followed by Zanella Racing’s Gabriel Iemma and Adrian Donkers up front for the start of the prefinal.
ROK Shifter Senior
Championship point leader Mathias Ramirez took top honors in ROK Shifter Senior Heat 2, with AJ Myers and AKT/KDM’s Jimmy Cabrera not far off. Heat 3 saw Myers move to the point, with Cabrera second and Ocala Gran Prix’s Austin Garrison completing the top-three. The same three will start 1-2-3 for tomorrow’s prefinal, setting up what is sure to be a can’t miss race to determine the main event starting grid and championship showdown.
ROK Shifter Masters
ROK Shifter Masters saw Farshad Bagheri use his pole time to take the Heat 2 victory over nearest championship rival Andres Hoffman with Peter Licciardi finishing third. Hernando Sanchez added another heat win on the weekend, with Orlando Kart Center’s own Andre Martins moving up nine positions to claim second and Hoffman third. Sanchez will roll off first for tomorrow’s prefinal, followed by Hoffmann and Bagheri.
*Results unofficial
Credits: Cody Schindel