Ocala Gran Prix Set For First Weekend Of Florida Winter Tour
“Six drivers set to contest Formula Kart Florida Winter Tour weekend”
January 6, 2010 – After a very successful 2009 Florida Winter Tour, the Ocala Gran Prix (OGP) is set to contend for race wins and championships at the 2010 edition of the series. With the opening round taking place at the Orlando Kart Center in Orlando, Florida, drivers will be introduced to a new layout and new circuit as they look to start the season off right. Ocala Gran Prix will be six drivers strong at the Formula Kart opening weekend of the Florida Winter Tour as the six competitors will contest in three different classes.
“The Florida Winter Tour is the start of our season and the most important series that we battle in,” expressed Ocala Gran Prix President Jorge Arellano. “We work all year long to prepare for this series with the goal of winning. OGP managed to have at least one podium result every single day of every weekend at last year’s Florida Winter Tour and we are looking to repeat that. If we are able to, the race wins and championships will come to us.”
Leading the Rotax Pro OGP contingent will be Floridian and Rotax Max Challenge Grand Finals driver Nick Neri. The talented junior will try his hand at the senior ranks in the Pro class before transitioning back to the junior ranks the following weekend. With the rules allowing any driver at the age of 15 by December 31, 2010 to contest, Neri will jump at the opportunity to bang wheels with the senior level drivers. Another junior competitor who will join Neri in the Rotax Pro class will be Netherlands driver Davey Koch. The former WSK competitor and three time Holland national champion will make the trek to North America for all six rounds as he will also do battle in Rotax Junior next weekend.
Brazilian national champion Nicolas Costa will join the OGP crew for the Florida Winter Tour as he will be a serious threat for race wins and championships. Costa will travel from South America with a focus on the Rotax Senior class but will use Rotax Pro as a tune-up for each and every race.
Ocala Gran Prix will enter two competitors in the Vortex Mini Rok program as national level driver Ashley Rogero will be joined by Mathias Ramirez. Both drivers will do battle in the new division that is sure to be one of the biggest classes of the weekend.
Joining the OGP crew will be TaG Masters driver Rob Mair. The Orlando area resident will be introduced to the national scene by the OGP crew as he looks to gain from the team’s knowledge and experience. Racing in the TaG Masters class, Mair will join the rest of the over 35 years of age drivers as he fights towards FWT glory.
Arellano added, “I am excited to get this season started and help support one of the most well run, longest lasting and most competitive series that North America has to offer.”
For more information on Ocala Grand Prix, OGP race team opportunities and info on how to get into karting, please visit Ocala Gran Prix online at www.OcalaGranPrix.com
Press release prepared by: Race Tech Development
- Mike Maurini
