2012 Northern Ontario Karting Championship KICKS OFF THIS WEEKEND

"Innisfil Kart Club hosts first NOKC round April 28-29"

Gilford, Ontario - April 24, 2012 - With cool, yet sunny weather forecasted, it is time to get the 2012 Northern Ontario Karting Championship (NOKC) karting season started. After a successful inaugural program in 2011, the second edition of the Northern Ontario Karting Championship kicks off this coming weekend, April 28-29. As a Rotax Max Challenge qualifying series, the NOKC offers Rotaxians the chance to get a jump-start on their three qualifying events before the Canadian Nationals and also offers four-cycle and shifter options, creating a full spectrum of class options.

Taking to the tight and twisty long track layout at the Innisfil Indy karting facility in Gilford, Ontario for the first round, the NOKC welcomes any member from any ASN Canada FIA affiliated club to take in the great racing action and friendly competition the series has become known for. And with race day cash and series championship awards up for grabs, drivers won't want to miss out on any of the NOKC action.

Practice will take place all week leading up to official on track action Sunday, April 29. Registration will be open Saturday, April 28 after 1:00pm, and will also open from 7:30-8:30am on Sunday.   The Driver's Meeting is scheduled for 8:45am with race day practice set for 9:00am, all leading up to the qualifying sessions at 10:30am to kick off the 2012 NOKC season.

The event will see Junior Honda and Senior Honda start off the action, followed by Masters, Micro Max, Mini Max, Junior Rotax and Senior Rotax. Junior 125 Shifter, DD2 and Senior 125 Shifter will complete the running order.

Innisfil Indy's own Tony and Rose Launi invite everyone out to their facility for the kick off of the second year of the 2012 Northern Ontario Karting Championship, and be sure to enjoy some of Rose's famous veal.

The NOKC is a regional qualifying series for the Rotax Max Challenge. The 2012 NOKC series will host six events at Innisfil Indy, Sutton and Shannonville and is operated by the Innisfil Kart Club. For more information on the NOKC, visit www.nokc.ca or call 905-775-4686.

Northern Ontario Karting Championship TO AWARD CASH AND TRIPS IN 2012

"NOKC announces new prize structure to better cater to drivers needs"

Gilford, Ontario - April 10, 2012 - Known for their lucrative prize offering, the Northern Ontario Karting Championship (NOKC) is pleased to announce the addition of cash prizes to their prize structure for the 2012 series. After a successful inaugural season that saw 2011 NOKC Rotax Senior Rotax Champion Andrew Waring attend the Bridgestone Cup in Lonato, Italy, as well as three competitors compete at the recent finale round of the 2012 Florida Winter Tour, the 2012 NOKC will again award amazing trips to class champions, but also will award race day cash to podium finishers.

Listening to the needs of their series competitors, the NOKC has decided to return to awarding the popular race day cash prizes for all six rounds of the 2012 season. Two-cycle class podium finishers will be awarded $300 for first, $200 for second and $100 for third in all classes with a minimum of ten entries. Similarly, four-cycle class podium finishers will also be awarded $300 for first, $200 for second and $100 for third in all classes with a minimum of ten entries. This amazing prize structure poses a potential $32,400 payout to series drivers among the nine classes offered, as the NOKC is focused on giving back to their series karters.

Additionally, the NOKC will also award sponsorship to the two two-cycle champions with the most points to travel to either the Bridgestone Cup or Rok Cup International Final, both set for October in Italy. These fully funded trips represent the NOKC's mission to expose their series drivers to international events, all adding to one of the most lucrative prize offerings in all of Canadian karting.

The first round of the Northern Ontario Karting Championship is just around the corner, as the 2012 season kicks off April 28-29 at Innisfil Indy in Gilford, Ontario.   The NOKC would also like to remind competitors to register for their numbers online at the NOKC website, www.nokc.ca.

The NOKC is a regional qualifying series for the Rotax Max Challenge. The 2012 NOKC series will host six events at Innisfil Indy, Sutton and Shannonville and is operated by the Innisfil Kart Club. For more information on the NOKC, visit www.nokc.ca or call 905-775-4686.

NOKC AWARD WINNERS CONTEST FINAL ROUND OF THE 2012 FLORIDA WINTER TOUR

"Michael Taibi, Chad Campbell and Stefan Semeraro represent NOKC in Ocala"  

Gilford, Ontario - March 26, 2012 - Through their lucrative prize offering, the Northern Ontario Karting Championship (NOKC) recently sent three series drivers to the final round of the Formula Kart Productions Florida Winter Tour Rotax Max Challenge event. Looking to expose their series drivers to international events, as well as different tracks and the opportunity to race against world-class competition, the Northern Ontario Karting Championship announced an incredible prize structure during their debut season as class champions would receive sponsorship to attend the Bridgestone Cup in Lonato, Italy. With Andrew Waring, the 2011 NOKC Rotax Senior champion attending the event in November, Michael Taibi, Chad Campbell and Stefan Semeraro elected to use their prize offering to contest the ultra-competitive and prestigious Florida Winter Tour series. Taking to the Ocala Gran Prix facility in Ocala, Florida for the final round, all three drivers had solid outings in their NOKC sponsored GP / Innisfil Indy rides.

Taking on the two-speed DD2 class in Ocala, NOKC DD2 class champion Michael Taibi would battle world-class competition during the weekend event. Posting lap times that put him P14 and P13 for Saturday and Sunday respectively, Taibi would look to move up during the wheel-to-wheel racing action. Saturday saw the Vaughn, Ontario resident move up to tenth in the prefinal and then hold station in the final with another tenth place result. Again moving up during Sunday's prefinal to finish 11th, Taibi's progress would be derailed after posting a DNF in the day's feature race.

Chad Campbell and Stefan Semeraro would both take on the challenging Rotax Senior class at the final Florida Winter Tour round. Battling a host of international, national and regional champions, including Rotax World Champions, in a field of 46 competitors, both NOKC drivers would look to make their series proud. With qualifying times relegating both drivers to the Last Chance Qualifiers both days, Campbell would emerge with a transfer position to the day's feature event on Saturday after his third place finish. Coming away with 25th place results for both the prefinal and final, Campbell held his own against the tough competition. Semeraro would go on to place third in the consolation final.

Sunday saw the roles reversed, as Semeraro earned a transfer position to the feature after a sixth place finish in the LCQ. Posting 30th in the prefinal, Semeraro ended his campaign with an improved 27th place finish in the final. After an unfortunate DNF in the LCQ for Campbell, the senior rookie was seen battling it out in the consolation final, coming away with a third place result.

The NOKC would also like to congratulate series driver Zach Meyer on his 2012 Florida Winter Tour Open Shifter Championship. The GP pilot earned two feature wins, as well as two second place finishes, to take the overall class championship during the Formula Kart weekend in Ocala.

The NOKC has announced they will award another sponsorship during their 2012 season, with prizes awarded to the two Junior and two Senior champions between the 125cc Shifter, DD2, Rotax Senior, Rotax Junior, Mini Max and Micro Max classes with the most points. The 2012 NOKC series kicks off in six weeks time at Innisfil Indy April 28-29. The full season schedule is available at www.nokc.ca.

The NOKC would also like to remind competitors to register for their numbers online at the NOKC website. Log on to www.nokc.ca and click the "2012 NOKC # Reservation" link at the top of the page.

The NOKC is a regional qualifying series for the Rotax Max Challenge. The 2012 NOKC series will host six events at Innisfil Indy, Sutton and Shannonville and is operated by the Innisfil Kart Club. For more information on the NOKC, visit www.nokc.ca or call 905-775-4686.