SANDY, Utah — 12-year-old Rotax Mini-Max pilot Austin Versteeg has spent his year crisscrossing North America in pursuit of race wins and championship titles. Getting started in karting at the age of eight, and now coupled with powerhouse PSL Karting of Trois Riveries, Quebec, Versteeg is starting to turn heads as one of the most promising up-and-coming pilots in the junior ranks of karting. After taking third in the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas Championship and the title of Rotax Mini-Max Florida Winter Tour champion earlier in the year, the Sandy, Utah resident has been consistently at the front of the pack wherever he runs and now has his sights on two of the biggest events left on the karting calendar, the Pan American Challenge finale event and the granddaddy of events, the SuperKarts! USA SuperNationals.
"2011 Florida Winter Tour Mini-Max champion continues to impress all across North America"
Getting the year started at the prestigious Florida Winter Tour, the young Versteeg used his incredible consistency to score the Rotax Mini-Max title. After finishing fifth at the opening round at the Orlando Kart Center in January, Versteeg never missed the podium after that, taking third in rounds two and three and then topping the blocks on Sunday at Palm Beach International Raceway in West Palm Beach. Adding another third and another win to his tally at the Ocala Gran Prix facility for the final two rounds, Versteeg went on the claim the championship title by 91 points.
Running another winter series on the opposite coast, Versteeg and his PSL Karting crew had a great start to the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas after taking a third place podium finish and a win at PKRA's Formula K Raceway in Phoenix, Arizona. While in podium contention at the third and fourth rounds in CalSpeed, Versteeg eventually came home with a ninth and 15th place finish but rebounded at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California with two sixth place finishes in the final rounds. Versteeg's solid run in Gatorz earned him the third place in the overall Mini-Max championship.
Turning his attention to the Pan American Challenge series, Versteeg started off in grand style scoring two podiums, a third and second, at the first US qualifier at Homestead Karting in April. Heading to South Bend, Indiana the next month, Versteeg kept going with his consistent results taking third and fourth at Michiana Raceway Park. With his four qualifying events completed to be eligible for the finale event, Versteeg didn't slow down as he joined his PSL Karting team north of the border at the team headquarters in Trois-Rivieries, Quebec to prep for the upcoming Eastern Canadian Karting Championship (ECKC) / Eastern Canada Pan Am qualifier. After taking sixth in the Quebec Cup event at the end of May, Versteeg could again be seen on the podium the next day running the ECKC event after finishing third. Returning to Canada in June, Versteeg bested the mixed ECKC / Pan Am field in round four at Mosport International Karting by reaching the checkered flag first and then returned to the podium the next day after taking the third place.
From there, Versteeg would compete in two high-profile events, the first at home track Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. Running the US Rotax Max Challenge Grand Nationals, Versteeg had his sights on putting his PSL prepared CRG at the front of the field at the premier Rotax event. After scoring the fifth quickest time in official qualifying, the fifth grade pilot progressed through the three heat races to score the third place position for the prefinal race. Finishing second in the ten lap pre-main and earning a front row starting position for the final, Versteeg got caught up in a four-kart battle as the lead trio gapped the field. Versteeg topped his group, taking the fourth place in the overall run for the national title.
Back again at the PSL headquarters, Versteeg would take to the streets of Trois-Rivieres for the annual Le Monaco de Trois-Rivieres. With the 2011 event relocated to a portion of the historic Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres (GP3R) circuit, Versteeg waged a great battle with a fellow competitor in the 12-lap final. After taking the early lead, the CRG pilot surrendered the lead on the third flyer but pounced going through turn two with three laps to go to regain the lead. Holding point from there, Versteeg scored the race win at the prestigious street race and celebrated with four other PSL Karting team member race winners.
Versteeg now turns his attention to the Pan American Challenge finale event September 21-25 at New Castle Motorsports Park in New Castle, Indiana. With a solid Pan Am run to date, Versteeg will enter as one of the favorites to take the Mini-Max title. After taking third in the championship in 2010, the up-and-coming pilot will look to better his result this year and add Pan Am Champion to his already impressive resume. And to cap off 2011, Versteeg will look for a strong run at the 15th running of the biggest race of the season, the SuperKarts! USA SuperNationals this November. Taking place at a temporary course outside the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, Versteeg will throw consistency to the wind and lay it all on the line to earn top honors in the ultra-competitive TaG Cadet class.
Austin Versteeg runs with the support of PSL Karting / CRG, Nola Motorsports Park and Activa Technology.
