Madrigal makes history in US Karting series

Filipino-American Alessandra Madrigal left her mark on the American karting scene when she became the first female winner in the history of the Formula Kart Racing Florida Winter Tour.

She topped a field of 19 invited karters in the Tag Junior races at the 0.7-mile long Homestead Speedway in Homestead, Florida.

Madrigal, currently campaigning in the US, scored victories in the two consecutive days of the Tag Junior Races in the 2009 Florida Winter Tour by taking pole position with a time of 47.660 seconds, topping the pre-final and winning the final of Race One, upstaging a field that featured the best international junior karters.

In Race Two (Jan. 18) she topped the qualifying sheets in a scorching 47.697 seconds, winning the pre-final and taking the checkered flag in the final with a huge seven-second margin.

She also finished second among 48 international drivers in Race One of the Rotax Junior event (Jan. 20), posting the fastest lap time of 48.778 seconds and finishing just three-tenths of a second behind the race winner who had to pull out every trick in the book to stay ahead of Alessandra’s non-stop, probing attacks.

“I’m so happy that I won the races and made it to the top of the podium. I am looking forward to competing again next month,” Madrigal said.

The young karter, who turns 13 later this month, now leads the Tag Junior series with 250 points and is ranked fifth in Rotax Junior with 307 points. Madrigal is set to see action Feb. 14-15 at the same Homestead Speedway track. The race series can be followed in real time at floridawintertour.com.