Hunter Leads The Way For Aussies In USA
| AKA media | 14 November 2013 |
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Qualifying is complete for the 2013 Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals at the NOLA Motorsports Park in New Orleans, USA.
Sydney driver Adam Hunter finished as the highest placed Australian by setting the sixth fastest time in the DD2 Masters category. In his second appearance at the Rotax event, Brendan Nelson was the next best of the Australian team with the seventh fastest time in the DD2 category, where he is joined by Jason Pringle (14th) and Lucas Ward (23rd).
Above: Adam Hunter on his way to setting the sixth fastest time in the DD2 Masters class at the Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals
pic - AF Images/Budd
“I’m very happy with the result in qualifying but there’s still a lot of hard work to go,” said Hunter.
“While we’re competing against drivers from all across the world I’m trying to just treat it like any other race. The atmosphere around the pit area is really good and the venue here in New Orleans is awesome.
“It has been a strong start by the Australian team with three of us inside the top ten, hopefully these results can keep coming over the next few days. The competition is very tough and there are so many good drivers at the front that are very close in times, so the racing will be very hard.
“I’d really like to thank everyone back home for their support and well wishes. It’s great to have everyone’s support.”
Hunter’s Australian counterparts in the DD2 Masters category, Daniel Richert and Hamish Leighton, set the 18th and 40th fastest times respectively.
Daniel Rochford topped the timesheets in his qualifying group in the Senior Max category to place him eighth overall in the standings which, like all four categories, incorporates 72 drivers from all parts of the globe.
Above: Daniel Rochford being interviewed after setting the fastest time in his group of Senior Max
pic - AF Images/Budd
Rochford’s qualifying session was cut short with the red flag being displayed one-minute short of the allocated 15-minutes and it wasn’t until several minutes after he came to a halt that he’d realised he had posted a significant time. Tyler Greenbury and Pierce Lehane set the 23rd and 29th fastest time respectively.
In the Junior Max ranks it was Joseph Burton-Harris, who is competing at the event for the second consecutive year, who finished as the best of the Australian contingent with the 23rd fastest time. Liam McLellan was six places further back with James Abela, who was second fastest in the final practice session, could only manage the 43rd fastest time in qualifying.
Drivers from the host country of America claimed three of the four pole positions with Kyle Kirkwood (Junior Max), Alan Rudolph (DD2 Masters) and Daniel Formal (DD2) securing pole position. Spanish driver Carlos Gil set the pace in the Senior Max category.
The opening round of qualifying heats will begin at 10:20am local time tomorrow (3:20am Friday morning AEDT)
Live timing from the event is available throughout the week here.
Live streaming and other associated videos will also be available throughout the week here.
2013 ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE GRAND FINALS
NOLA Motorsports Park
New Orleans, USA
RESULTS: Qualifying
Junior Max
1st Kyle Kirkwood (USA) 56.589
23rd Joseph Burton-Harris 56.928
29th Liam McLellan 56.946
43rd James Abela 57.101
Senior Max
1st Carlos Gil (Spain) 55.199
8th Daniel Rochford 55.430
23rd Tyler Greenbury 55.601
29th Pierce Lehane 55.652
DD2 Masters
1st Alan Rudolph (USA) 54.693
6th Adam Hunter 54.923
18th Daniel Richert 55.185
40th Hamish Leighton 55.736
1st Daniel Formal (USA) 54.010
7th Brendan Nelson 54.147
14th Jason Pringle 54.328
23rd Lucas Ward 54.435
