BOWMANVILLE, Ontario — Karol Pasiewicz wasn’t quite in a class of his own this weekend at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, but this morning he completed an impressive weekend sweep of all three USF Juniors Presented by Continental Tire races for Olivia Racing.
Pasiewicz led from start to finish in a thrilling, all-green 20-lap race on the technical and fast 2.439-mile natural terrain road course. But he was made to work hard in the closing stages by top Canadian Olivier Mrak, from Ottawa, Que., who wrapped up his own sweep of second-place finishes and grabbed an extra bonus point for fastest lap into the bargain.
After placing third in each of the first two races, a last-lap slip by Mrak’s Zanella Racing teammate Victor Couto, from Boca Raton, Fla., allowed Ivan Machado Perez (VRD Racing), from Madrid, Spain, to sneak into the final podium position and end a difficult weekend for the former championship leader.
The grid for this morning’s concluding race was determined by each driver’s second-fastest lap in qualifying on Friday, and once again saw Pasiewicz claiming the Continental Tire Pole Award.
He had to work hard during the opening stages to stave off a determined challenge from Couto, who had started second. Third-place starter Mrak also remained tightly in the mix as the top three soon began to edge clear of Machado Perez, who had made up a couple of positions on the opening lap to run fourth.
A series of quick laps saw Pasiewicz maintain his advantage, although the only time he had much respite was after Mrak managed to muscle past Couto at Turn Five, which cost the two chasers some momentum and allowed Pasiewicz to make a break.
His lead grew to as much as 2.6 seconds after 12 laps, but as the leader settled into a rhythm, so, too, did Mrak. The chasing Canadian turned up the wick in the closing stages, posting a new fastest race lap with two laps remaining and eventually finished right on the tail of Pasiewicz, who was obliged to drive somewhat defensively through the final few corners.
Couto slipped back into the clutches of Machado Perez and Exclusive Autosport’s Bex Cranston, from Greenwich, Conn., as the race reached toward its climax.
The pair exchanged places a couple of times on Lap 16, but still they edged closer to Couto, who then almost lost control at Turn Five on the final lap and was pipped to the line by both Machado Perez and Cranston. The result was particularly satisfying for Machado Perez, who endured a difficult start to the weekend with a crash on Thursday and another accident on Saturday.
Recently turned 14-year-old Edward Kennedy, from Mont-Tremblant, Que., Canada drove another strong race for VRD Racing, rising from 12th on the grid to sixth after a lengthy tussle with Zanella Racing’s Leonardo Serravalle, from nearby Thorold, Ont., who was later assessed a post-race penalty for avoidable contact.
For the second race in a row, Fairfax, Va.-based Max Mokarem secured the Tilton Hard Charger Award for Zanella Racing after rising from 18th to 10th on the grid following a crash during qualifying.
Pasiewicz’s perfect weekend ensured that all three PFC Awards for the winning car owner went to Dana Delgado, team principal of Olivia Racing.
