Brazilian Drivers Show Speed at the PRI All-Stars Karting Classic

All drivers in the PRI All-Stars Karting Classic on-stage for the evening’s opening ceremonies and  National Anthem

Orlando, FL (December 12, 2008):  The third annual All-Stars Karting Classic event, which combines some of the top names in North American autoracing, competing against the top drivers in North American karting, took place in conjunction with the annual Performance Racing Industry Trade Show this past week in Orlando, FL.  Three Brazilian pilots; Vitor Meira from the IndyCar Series, Oswaldo Negri Jr. from the Grand-Am series, and Felipe Guimaraes who represents Team Brazil in the A1GP Series and is the current Brazilian National Karting champion competed in the event alongside such world famous drivers as Dan Wheldon (IndyCar), Buddy Rice (IndyCar), Scott Speed (Formula 1 and NASCAR), A.J. Allmendinger (NASCAR & ChampCar), Jamie McMurray (NASCAR), Ryan Hunter-Reay (IndyCar), Bryan Herta (ALMS), and Ron Capps (NHRA drag racing).

Felipe Guimaraes leads the Karter Division Prefinal on his Kart Mini

The Brazilian drivers made their mark early as Felipe Guimaraes (RDD Motorsports – Kart Mini) qualified third in the Karter division (designated for drivers who are current karting winners or champions) and then went on to take the win in the Karter Division Prefinal.  In the Karter Division Final, Guimaraes was running in third when a late-race altercation dropped him to seventh, one position away from advancing to the night’s main event, as the top six from the Karter Division advance to the back of the Masters Division final.

In the Masters Division (for regular top-level auto racing drivers) Scott Speed (Tony Kart USA) qualified on pole position with Oswaldo Negri Jr. (RDD Motorsports Kart Mini) qualifying 7th and Vitor Meira (Motorama Kart Parts – Birel) qualifying 12th.  Meira was able to work his way up to finish 6th in the Prefinal, while Negri slipped back to finish ninth in the Prefinal that was won by IndyCar series pilot Jay Howard (Maranello).

Vitor Meira watches from trackside after bad luck took him out early in the Final

In the Final, Howard controlled the entire race and led from start to finish taking the win aboard his Maranello chassis, BMW ALMS driver Joey Hand finished second aboard a Top Kart and Scott Speed took third for Tony Kart.  Oswaldo Negri Jr (RDD Motorsports Kart Mini) finished fifth while Vitor Meira encountered trouble early in the race and completed only 11 of the 40 laps.

Oswaldo Negri Jr. - “That was the first time I competed at The Stars of Karting Classic and I can tell you it was a blast. I have to Thank Kart Mini and RDD Motorsports team ( Daniel Villa, Andre Serra,Adilson and Mario ). They provided me with a very competitive equipment” said Negri after the race.

Oswaldo Negri Jr. during practice aboard his Kart Mini

All in all it was a great event, attended by close to 4,500 spectators and kicked off the three-day Performance Racing Industry Trade Show.  The event will be broadcast in the United States on the Fox Sports Network with a one-hour broadcast in April. 

To learn more about the Snap-on Stars of Karting Series you can go to www.starsofkarting.com.  To learn more about the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show you can go to www.performanceracing.com. 

Jeff Swoboda
Director of Marketing – Stars of Karting