Jamaica's Thomas Issa (right) shares the podium with the winner Jordan Perry (centre) and second-place Dalton Sargent. - Contributed

Thomas Issa's third-place finish at the South Florida Karting Championship on the weekend has pushed him into the limelight as one of the favourites to dominate the Rotax Mini Max events, at next month's international go-kart meet.

The meeting is scheduled for the Palisadoes International Raceway in Kingston, July 3-5.

Competing against some of best karters on the Miami circuit, Issa, driving a Spanish Court Hotel-sponsored Italian-built Birel Kart, looked good during practice and after a pep talk from coach, Peter Rae, he finished third in the Mini-Max finals on Saturday.

Issa returned again on Sunday to finished in the top 10.

There are reports that the Red Bull-sponsored karter, Colin Daley Jr, who competed in the Rotax Junior Class, also finished in the top 10.

Other Jamaicans who took part in the two-day event were Jonathan Law, Richard Lechler, Fraser McConnell, William Myers and Joshua Sirgany.

The young karters were sharpening up their preparation for next month's Caribbean Karting Carnival.

International stars

The event is expected to attract over 100 karters, who will be competing in seven classes.

A host of international stars from the United States, Canada, Aruba, Guyana, Barbados, Australia and Trinidad and Tobago are down to take part.

"Right now, I am trying to confirm a number of these drivers so that when their karts arrive there will be no problem," said Neil Williams, vice-president of the Jamaica Karting Association.