Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex) secured pole position for the final stage of the KZ1 World Cup (the top competition for the principal class of gearbox kart racing) whereas his closest rivals all failed to make the most of their chances. As a result, they are all now outsiders looking to ambush their way back in to title contention. However, several drivers not normally expected to mount a challenge are now in contention.
At the end of the Qualifying Practice, it looked likely to be a head to head duel between the factory drivers of Tony Kart and CRG during the Qualifying Races. But the indifferent weather conditions and the unpredictability of such sporting occasions saw things turn out differently.
Spearhead of the ‘greens’, Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex), already having set the fastest time in practice, was perhaps luckier than his rivals with the rain which liberally sprinkled the International Circuit Jean Brun at Varennes-sur-Allier this Saturday. With two wins and a second place in the qualifying races, it followed that the Italian world champion took pole position for Sunday’s pre-final.
And what of the others? For the ‘blacks’ the day turned into a nightmare for Alessandro Manetti (CRG-Maxter), third in Friday’s qualifying practice. Involved in several incidents, Manetti didn’t even make the final 34 drivers to contest Sunday’s finals. Title holder, Jonathan Thonon (CRG-Maxter) had recovered from various mechanical problems including leaving and regaining the track before finishing 16th in his third qualifying race.
The Belgian will start the pre-final in 13th position. Amongst the ‘stars’ of the CRG team, it is Arnaud Kozlinski who had the best damage limitation for the team. After an accident in his first qualifying race, he then won the next two and will start the pre-final in 8th place.
Another of the hopefuls was Sauro Cesetti (Birel-TM). He won one race and is 9th, just ahead of 10th placed ex-World Champion Francesco Laudato (Birel-TM), 12th placed other former World Champion David Fore (Maranello-Maxter) and far better than the non qualification of Bas Lammers (Top Kart-TM), third in this year’s European Championship.
Consequently, they are now outsiders and it is mainly the younger drivers who have the best chance to lay an ambush for Marco Ardigo. Only 26th in qualifying practice, Nicola Nole (CRG-TM) climbed up to 2nd place and a front row start in the pre-final.
The second row is an all-Belgian shut-out with Rick Dreezen (CRG-Maxter) and Benjamin Bailly (Tony Kart-Vortex) recovering magnificently from his 17th place in qualifying. On their home territory, the French are well placed with Norman Nato (Intrepid-TM), Thomas Mich (Monza-TM), Alban Varutti (Sodikart-TM), superbly repairing the damage of 38th fastest in qualifying, and finally Arnaud Kozlinski all in with a chance.
This Sunday, the pre-final will be the penultimate big test as it will determine the starting grid for the Final. At the end of this single race, a hard fought world crown is awarded.
Varennes-sur-Allier is also the stage for the final round of the European Championship for KZ2, the second division of gearbox karting, and of the final of the European Junior Championship (KF3). In these two classes, the qualifying races continue on Sunday morning.
But already catching the eye were the victories of the Dutchmen Kevin Jansen (Energy-TM) and Joey Hansen (PCR-TM), and also the efforts of Frenchmen Enzo Zeferini (Birel-TM), Cedric Goudant (Tony Kart-TM), Paul Louveau (Tony Kart-TM) and Tony Lavanant (Energy-TM). For Lavanant, currently second in the European championship, he fared a lot better than championship leader, his compatriot Joffrey Demanse (PCR-TM) having to fight back from all sorts of difficulties after his 25th place in qualifying.
In KF3, the Juniors also had to contend with a slippery track throughout the day. Their battle is still wide open, even though the Finn Aaro Vainio (Maranello-Maxter) and the Portuguese David Manuel Tomas Da Luz (Maranello-TM) began the weekend well by winning one or more of the qualifying races.
Also winners of a race, the Italians Danil Kyvat (FA Kart-TM), Matteo Beretta (Tony Kart-Vortex) and Kevin Giovesi (Maranello-TM) were nevertheless ultimately less successful than the others.
This Sunday morning, they will finish their qualifying races, which will determine who takes the 34 places for the final stages (pre-final then Final – the only race that counts to establish who will be the 2008 European Champion). And who knows if the weather will once more return and play a part in the proceedings and ‘re-shuffle the cards’!
Information and live results on www.cikfia.com (http://www.cikfia.com/News2008/Varennes.htm ).
- Vincent CARO, CIK-FIA -
