A1 Team Lebanon driver Daniel Morad blitzed his way to victory last weekend, beating some of the best karters in the USA in the first event of the annual Florida Winter Tour International Rotax Max Challenge, held at Homestead Karting, Miami. Morad, despite not having been in a kart for two years, dominated his class to take overall victory at the conclusion of the karting event, an excellent performance for the young racer. Morad was using the event to keep himself fit and sharp for the next round of the A1GP Series and his strategy proved highly successful.

Morad began his racing career driving in karting championships and has always enjoyed returning to his roots to enjoy the excitement and fun of piloting the nimble and quick racing machinery in between the serious business of competing in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport.

Contesting one of the highest categories of karts, Morad drove the Rotax paddle shifter against a field of top name including local Pro Shifter veteran Josh Schreiber, the highest standing competitor from the 2008 karting tour, Joey Collins, and a number of Canadian Champions – Darren White, reigning National Champion, Richard Boake, reigning Ontario Grand National Champion, and Christophe Boisclair, five-time National Champion.

The stiff competition proved to be no match for Morad. In every session of the weekend he dominated the timesheets. He qualified on pole for both races, won both heat races and won both of the feature races, taking the overall victory for his class of karting.

Morad said of his successful weekend, “It’s been a long break between rounds of A1GP racing and I wanted to keep myself sharp, so I took the opportunity to be back on track in a highly competitive environment. These cars are very different from an A1GP racer in size and power, but the racecraft principles are the same, so it’s a good way to keep myself in shape.

“The weekend was really good fun although most of the guys I was racing are out in their karts every week, so I thought I might have a tough challenge to beat them. Once I had a few laps under my belt I was soon up to speed and on to the pace, then I was able to put the power down. I’m really pleased to have won, it’s given me a boost of confidence which I’ll be able to carry through to the next round of A1GP in New Zealand.”

A1 Team Lebanon will resume competition in the 2008/09 season of the A1GP series in two weeks time with the fourth round of racing taking place in Taupo, New Zealand.