Page 14 - SonomaMag2021

ItalKart 100cc Junior Sunday Report
No one could have scripted how the Italkart Junior 100cc category played out both on the track and off the track. Alex Rantala (RWR / CRG) used his home track knowledge to claim the fast time in qualify- ing. Rantala would get moved down to fourth in the Prefinal as Cooper O’Clair (J3 / CompKart), Saturday winner Stephen Eisert (SSM / Ex- prit) and Round One winner Christian Cameron (AKR / Tony Kart) led the way. For much of the Final, it was O’Clair and Eisert at the point. O’Clair secured the top spot on lap 12, and held on while Cameron positioned himself into the second spot. On the final circuit, Eisert first moved past Cameron for the second spot. It looked as if O’Clair had enough to reach the checkered flag first. Eisert got off the final corner perfect, and charged alongside O’Clair for a photo finish at the line. With O’Clair celebrating early, Eisert got enough of a run to line first by seven thousandths of a second. The provisional victory helped to move Eisert into the top spot for the championship. Following tech, Eisert was removed for an issue with the engine. That took the victory away along with the championship, dropping him to fourth in the standings. O’Clair was named the winner, becoming the sixth different driver to win in the six different rounds. Cameron was second, but a two position penalty for contact took him off the race podium, moving Rantala to second and Preston Lambert (GFC) to third. Alex McPherson-Wiman (FDM / Comp- Kart) completed the top-five. The penalty to Cameron was very crucial, as that penalty took away valuable points in the championship. Cam- eron came up two points short as Lanie Benjamin (SF / Tony Kart) was named the series champion, becoming only the second female driver to earn a title at the Challenge.
ALEX RANTALA
PRESTON LAMBERT