Lachlan DeFrancesco continues to make a name for himself at the 2014 Formula Kart Productions Florida Winter Tour (FWT). This time at the Orlando Kart Center in Orlando, Florida for the final rounds of the series, the youngest of the DeFrancseco brothers showed his true speed taking Saturday’s pole position and leading the first heat race before a scary incident took him out of contention for the result he deserved.
“Lachlan was really on his game this weekend and was driving really well,” explained Nick Mitchell, Co-Founder of BENIK Kart. “Saturday’s incident was a scary one and the result saw Lachlan suffer a broken hand. Though he tried to tough out the rest of the race weekend, the pain would hinder his driving abilities and now he will be out of the seat for four to six weeks.”
Taking the field by storm in the morning qualifying session, DeFrancesco took the pole position by nearly two-tenths of a second over his nearest competition. Working hard when the wheel-to-wheel racing action started, Lachlan would lead the majority of the first heat until an accident four corners from the end would send officials into a panic. With DeFrancesco’s kart getting air born and going through the barriers, his Vortex Mini Rok powered BENIK Kart came to rest against the steel post erecting a spectators viewing area. As Lachlan plowed through the barriers, one also became air born and striking and injuring his hand. With a never give up attitude, Lachlan would try and compete in the rest of Saturday’s action but the pain became unbearable.
Back to the track on Sunday, DeFrancesco would look to salvage a result and some points in the final race of the Formula Kart championship. Narrowly missing the pole by a few hundredths of a second, Lachlan would go on to finish second and fourth in the heats to start the day’s main event from the outside of the front row.
Looking to challenge for the race win, DeFrancesco’s day would end prematurely as an engine failure would take him out of the running.
With a broken hand and advice from the doctors, Lachlan will sit out this weekend’s Florida Winter Tour finale weekend and possibly another four to six weekends to ensure a proper recovery.
Mitchell continued, “It is a very tough way to end what looked to be a very promising weekend. I am sure Lachlan will be back better, stronger and faster than ever.”
BENIK Kart will be back on track this weekend at the Orlando Kart Center for rounds five and six of the Florida Winter Tour Rotax Max Challenge weekend.
For more information on Benik Kart, please contact Nick Mitchell or Ben Cruttenden via e-mail to Info@Benik-Kart.com or by phone at 754.206.4870. Benik Kart can also be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BenikKart and Twitter at @kartBENIK.
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