MONTREAL, Quebec -- Montreal native Lance Stroll made a big impression on the European karting world with a stellar performance at the 2009 Vortex ROK Cup held on October 24th at the famed South Garda Karting track in Lonato, Italy. While the results didn’t show, the effort was enough to get the attention of those in attendance as they witnessed a great run by the ten-year-old pilot from Mont Tremblant. With 60 drivers competing in the Mini ROK class from over 33 nations, Stroll and his Scuderia Karting team would face their biggest battle in the final event. Known as the home of karting in Europe, the one mile long track would see the 60 driver field cut to 30 for the final event.

“We were very excited about heading to Europe to see how our program compares against drivers from other parts of the world,” comments Hugo Mousseau, Team Manager of Scuderia Karting. “We knew the field would be tough with so many drivers coming from so many countries.”

In free practice Stroll would clock through in the fourth spot and then move to P2 in the second session, closing in on the 50 second mark. In qualifying, Stroll would get the job done ripping off a lap of 50.003, enough to grab third spot in the combined A and B groups. The prefinal was all Stroll as the youngest pilot in the field ran a solid pace taking the win by 0.023 in a tight battle with a breakaway pack of three drivers.

With a front row seat in the final, the team could not see the challenges that lay ahead. In Mini ROK competition the organizers use a standing start, something very rare in single-speed, clutch-drive karting where the norm is a rolling start. To ensure no technical issues or infractions would arise, the top five competitors are fitted with a new clutch for the final.

At the drop of the green Stroll’s clutch would lock up and not allow the 9-horsepower engine to gain RPM and get up to speed. As the entire field streamed by on both sides, Stroll shook his kart to free the clutch and gain some forward momentum. For many drivers falling five seconds back of the field would mean game over, but not for this determined driver. Head and down and eyes laser-focused, Stroll went to work knocking off fast laps as he hunted the field down and began what can only be described as a passing clinic. With only 12 short laps to get the job done, Stroll pushed himself to the limit making passes at every opportunity and working inside the top ten with a few laps to go. At the waving of the checkered flag he had made it up to eighth spot, setting second fast lap while passing an average of nearly two karts per lap. Post race penalties would move Stroll up to sixth place in the official standings, just one spot shy of a top five.

“I really believe with just three more laps Lance could have been in contention for the win,” smiles mentor and coach Mousseau. “Sometimes it’s the races that you don’t win that can be the best races and this is one of those times. We are very proud of Lance’s determination and skill this weekend.”

Up next for Scuderia Karting and Lance Stroll will be the Florida Winter Tour opening in January at the new karting facility near Orlando. For more information on Scuderia Karting including information on how to get into kart racing please contact Team Manager Hugo Mousseau at 514-686-5378 or via email at hugo.mousseau@gmail.com.