Auckland’s Kinsman brothers Daniel and Mathew were the best of the Kiwis after qualifying on Wednesday (local time) at this year’s Rotax Max Grand Finals kart meeting in New Orleans.

Of the two it was Daniel who claimed the best qualifying position after posting the 19th (out of 72) quickest time in the DD2 class, 0.385 of a second slower than fastest class qualifier Daniel Formal from the United States.

Mathew Kinsman, meanwhile, set the 20th (out of 72) quickest qualifying time in the Senior Max class, 0.652 of a second slower than poleman, Spaniard Carlos Gil.

The other Kiwis were a little further back in their respective classes, Auckland’s Stuart Marshall 45th in DD2 Masters, 1.380 seconds behind pole sitter Alan Rudolph of the United States, and Christchurch 13-year-old Marcus Armstrong 46th in Rotax Junior, 0.652 behind fastest qualifier Kyle Kirkwood, another driver from the USA.

Earlier in the week the four Kiwis were quicker, Mathew Kinsman topping the leader board in the first timed practice session in the Senior Max class and brother Daniel third in the first two timed sessions in DD2.

Combined the qualifying placings put the Kiwi team in 17th place out of 54 nations represented at the event this year.