SANDY, Utah -- In his Rotax Junior rookie season, 12-year-old Austin Versteeg is already making quite the impression. After a solid outing at the season opening Florida Winter Tour Formula Kart weekend at the beginning of January and showing speed to run at the front during the Rotax weekend, Versteeg excelled this past weekend at the series opener for the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas. Taking to the Musselman Honda Circuit in Tucson, Arizona, the Nola Motosports sponsored driver battled 36 competitors and came out with an impressive fifth and third place finish during the weekend's two finals.

After placing third in the overall Gatorz Mini Max points championship in 2011, Versteeg would look to make the most out of his Rotax Junior rookie campaign. Taking to the track for official qualifying for Saturday's events, Versteeg would put his PSL Karting CRG in the eighth place in the tight junior class. Moving up a few spots to finish fifth in the prefinal race, the young gun managed to hold onto fifth throughout the long, 25 lap main event.

Back to the track for a new day, Versteeg would improve his qualifying position from Saturday to sixth on Sunday. Again showing speed and race craft, Versteeg progressed two positions in the prefinal to earn an outside row two starting place for the final. A battle for third the majority of the race became a battle for the lead for Versteeg, as the two fronts karts tangled in front of him on lap 18. Making his move to the front working lap 23, Versteeg looked poised to take the victory until a crisscross move resulted in contact for Versteeg and the second place driver. Going wide on the third to last corner, two competitors made their way by Versteeg as he recovered to cross the stripe in third.

"Moving up to the Junior class this year has been a great learning experience so far," explained Austin Versteeg. "The Junior class has always been such a big class no matter what series you are running in, and very competitive. Overall I feel like I had a good run this weekend with a fifth and third place finish after only four Junior races under my belt this season. I am looking forward to the next Gatorz race at PKRA in Arizona. I also want to thank my engineer Diego Valverde, who is the best!"

The second round of the Gatorz Challenge of the Americas is set for late-February as the series returns to Arizona, this time at the PKRA Circuit in Phoenix. Up next for the Sandy, Utah resident is a return trip to Florida for the second rounds of the Florida Winter Tour, February 10-12 and February 17-19 at Homestead Karting on the grounds of the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Here, Versteeg will continue his campaign in the TaG Junior field the first weekend and return to Rotax competition the second with his PSL Karting team.

Versteeg will continue to utilize off weekends for winter testing and training at the brand new Nola Motorsports Park in New Orleans, Louisiana. As the newest and largest track in North America, the Nola Motorsports Park will offer full Rotax/CRG support for Versteeg as he builds his strength and race craft to take on the challenging junior ranks in 2012.

Austin races with the generous support of PSL Karting / CRG, ULV race gear, Activa Technology and Nola Motorsports Park. For more information on Austin Versteeg, please visit www.AustinVersteeg.com.