DAVID SERA WINS IN FLORIDA - NEXT STOP ADELAIDE

David Sera in action aboard his Australian-made Arrow kart. Pic: AF Images

Australian karting Champion David Sera continues to re-write the record books with a stunning victory in the Florida Winter Tour in America at the weekend.

Entering the third weekend of the six-round Tour with a handy buffer at the top of the standings, the 22 year-old still had to perform at the top his game to take the overall title from rivals Danny Formal and Marco DiLeo.

Sera’s victory means that he becomes one of only a few Australians to have won major karting events in North America. He joins the likes of current V8 Supercar driver Michael Caruso who won the North American Title back in 1997.

“Last year I had to miss a round due to my commitments in Australia, so it is a huge relief to come back this year and have won the title,” said Sera, who drove an Australian-made Arrow kart to victory in the Senior Rotax category.

“The field was full of high quality drivers and in the opening two rounds I was racing against not only the best kart racers from a variety of countries but also a couple of IndyCar drivers like Dan Wheldon and Jay Howard.

“I was pretty nervous going into the final race as it came down to a battle between myself and Marco DiLeo from Canada for the overall title. We raced each other pretty hard for a few laps in the middle of the race but I was able to get a small gap while he had to fend off some challenges from other competitors.

“I then saw that he had crashed out with a few laps to go and I knew that the title was mine.”

As a part of his prize for winning the championship in Florida, the 11-time Australian Champion has secured a place on the grid in the World Rotax Challenge Grand Final to be held in Dubai during late November.

“The trip to the World Final is now locked and loaded. I have some unfinished business there, I was the fastest qualifier there four years ago but got scrubbed out in a heat for a technicality so I’m very keen to get back there and finish on the podium,” said Sera.

“I’m definitely a better driver than what I was four years ago, so to finish on the podium will be my aim with the ultimate goal of becoming the Champion.”

While still on a high from the weekend’s results, there will no rest for Sera as he jets back into Australia on Wednesday before heading to Adelaide for round two of the CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE.

It will be Sera’s second start in Australia’s elite series in the Pro Gearbox (KZ2) category. In his only previous start in the series last August, he was victorious on his home circuit in Melbourne.

“I haven’t driven a gearbox kart for about five months, so I think it will take a little of time to re-adapt but I’m really looking forward to it,” said Sera.

“The competition is going to be really tough, there’s 32 drivers on the grid and many of them have been constantly testing and racing so they’ll all be right on top of their game.”

Sera will take to the Bolivar Raceway on Summer Road, just off Port Wakefield Road, for practice on Friday ahead of qualifying and heat races of Saturday followed by the finals on Sunday.