LANZAROTE, CANARY ISLANDS – Canada has sent five drivers to the 2004 World Finals held in Lanzarote, Canary Islands this weekend.
The Senior drivers are Saskatoon´s Scott Campbell, who is attending his second straight World Finals. Joining Campbell is Sunoco Ron Fellows Karting Champion, and reigning Canadian Rotax Max champ, Markham, Ontario´s Marco Di Leo. The over 35 driver for Canada is Trois Rivieres, Quebec pilot Slyvain Clair.
Canada also has two juniors. One is former Canadian champion Christophe Boisclair, and the other is Hugo Ouellette – both from Quebec.
Friday in Lanzarote is the first of the big days as qualifying and a heat race are on the schedule. Keep it tuned to Inside Track Breaking News page for the latest updates.
THURSDAY UPDATE
LANZAROTE, CANARY ISLANDS – On Thursday, Scott Campbell and Christophe Boisclair led the Canadian drivers with each securing a top 10 spot in their respective groups. Campbell was in the first of four Senior groups and for 13 of the 15 minute session, he had the pole.
By the time all four groups had run, Campbell held onto fourth overall. Cristiano Morgado from South Africa had the pole but he was sent back to 16th after running an illegal jet.
Canadian over 35 entrant Slyvain Clair was scored 29th, while Marco Di Leo suffered a pluggled low end jet, which left him 33rd.
In the Juniors, Boisclair used speed and skill to nab fifth on the grid. Boisclair was actually tied to the thousandth with another driver, but he did his lap later, so he will line up fifth. Hugo Ouellette will line up 22nd.
Heat races start this afternoon and will then lead off the action on Friday.
PLEASE CHECK THE 'COMMENTS' SECTION UNDER THIS ITEM FOR SUBSEQUENT UPDATES FILED BY RUSS BOND DIRECTLY FROM THE TRACK!
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UPDATE: Heat 1: A versus B report
From Russ Bond
Di Leo and Clair survive first heat
Starting from 15th and 17th on the grid, both Sylvain Clair and Marco Di Leo survived the first corner melee, as both snuck by on the inside.
Clair came around 10th the first lap, while Di Leo was 13th. They stayed that way until lap 4, when Di Leo moved to 12th.
On lap sixth, Clair was demoted to 11th, with Di Leo, who showed good pace. He made his way up to the back bumper of Clair, who came up on lapped traffic on the last lap, that didn't move over.
Di Leo snuck by Clair on the last lap to take 11th, with Clair right behind in 12th, subject to official results.
Canadians complete second heat
Campbell leads Canadian Seniors
Scott Campbell took advantage of a front row start to finish fourth in his second of three heats. Campbell, was as low as sixth at one point, but he battled his way back to the top 5 in the 15 lap heat race. Slyvain Clair also had a strong run, keeping his nose clean and finishing 17th. Marco Di Leo had another interesting heat race. Di Leo went from 19th to 14th on the first lap, then got passed, but a crash ahead of him and a fantastic double pass left him 11th with four laps to go. Di Leo suffered braking problems in the late going and he was freighttrained which dropped him to 15th. Tires are becoming a huge issue, as most are shot. Campbell has been working all week long to conserve his and that strategy seems to be paying off. Each of the Canadian drivers have one more heat race this afternoon.
Boisclair fourth in Second Heat
Christophe Boisclair drove and excellent second heat race to finish fourth. Starting from fifth on the grid, Boisclair moved up to third.
Two laps later, Boisclair was demoted to fourth, but he battled back to take third agian. He held that spot until the final corner when Nicholas Dezutter of Belgium passed him for thid.
Not to be outdone, Hugo Ouellette had his best race yet. The young Canadian seems to be finding his confidence and he put in a strong drive to go from 22nd to 13th on the first lap.
Despite loosing a few positions during the heat, Ouellette battled back and came home 14th.
- Received via e-mail from Russ Bond
UPDATE: FRIDAY: Boisclair in pile-up
The final Junior heat was mired by a huge crash involving both Christophe Boisclair and Hugo Ouellette.
As the Juniors took the green, Boisclair, who was on the third row on the inside, stayed there going into the first turn.
Beside him, a driver turned in and sent Biosclair spinning left on a right hand turn.
Several driver piled into, and over, Boisclair as they tried to avert disaster. At least 10 karts were involved and the race was red flagged.
All the drivers and karts were sent to park ferme, where they were worked on for 30 minutes.
Boisclair's mechanic, Christian Bergeron did a masterful job of changing the axle, straightening the steering shaft and re alignining the kart.
Boisclair, who was uninjured in the incident, made the restart.
Meanwhile, Ouellette had problems of his own. Hard contact to the right front of his kart, bent his chassis, so his mechanic and Goldie Trelenberg went to work.
They straightened it as much as possible and realigned it on the ground with a tape measure.
On the restart, Boisclair slotted into fifth, and then dropped back to sixth with a severely wounded kart. Ouellette made his way from 22nd to 15th.
BREAKING NEWS: Campbell and Di Leo make final. Campbell will start 8th, Di Leo 20th, Clair failed to finish the last chance race.
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