Tony Kart Junior Racing Team wins WSK title for second year running 09.10.2009: WSK round 6, Zuera, Spain – 26/27 September Paul Spencer and his Tony Kart Junior Racing Team have won the WSK championship’s KF2 title for the second year running

WSK round 6, Zuera, Spain – 26/27 September

Paul Spencer and his Tony Kart Junior Racing Team have won the WSK championship’s KF2 title for the second year running.

Last year, the partner squad to the factory Tony Kart Racing Team swept to the title with Flavio Camponeschi. In 2009 they have retained the crown with English star, Ben Cooper with a round remaining.

Spencer’s delight was compounded by the performances of his other KF2 stars; Chris Lock and European vice-Champion, Matteo Beretta.

In the KF3 category, the team’s Carlos Sainz Junior scored a brace of runner-up finishes, with his Brazilian team-mate Guilherme Silva joining him on the pre-final podium. Having performed well in the heats, Gustavo Menezes had a far tougher time in the two finals - but stuck to his task and returned home to America having done enough to keep him in the top fifteen of the championship table. 

Knowing that he simply needed to go for points rather than outright podiums, Cooper came through the heats strongly and improved on his pre-final starting grid position to take the chequered flag in fourth place. Lock battled to a hard-fought 11th, whilst Beretta recovered to 21st after being knocked off the circuit during the race.

With one hand on the trophy, Ben’s objective for the main final was simply to finish ahead of his nearest rivals - Matteo Vigano and Joel Johansson - and he delivered in fine style. A measured and mature drive saw him avoid any unnecessary battles to put the championship beyond doubt. Chris’s stirring drive up the order to an excellent 2nd place saw him move up the points table and the 2008 European Rotax Max champion has a chance of making it a Tony Kart Junior one-two at the closing round at Lonato.

With a total of ninety points available for wins in both finals, Matteo (Beretta) will also be keen to improve his position in the standings. He took points away from Zuera thanks to his 14th position and will be keen to end his WSK season on a high, on home soil.

In the KF3 class, Carlos, Guilherme and Gustavo all made it safely through the eliminatory heats, to qualify for the pre-final. Sainz opened his account with a fine drive to 2nd with Silva putting in another exciting drive behind for 3rd.

Another quality display from Carlos saw him steer clear of trouble, finish 3rd and close the gap on Danil Kvyat in the championship standings. Guilherme dropped places in the race, but not in the points table, and will return to Lonato – the circuit where he first burst onto the European scene with a hugely impressive Winter Cup debut. Gustavo demonstrated true American grit and fought hard for his three points in 13th place.

Commentating on the weekend, Spencer said, “It was really, really good. All the drivers did a brilliant job. Ben just had to sit and watch the battles ahead and that’s exactly what he did. His maturity under pressure was just fantastic”. Acknowledging that the team built from a solid if unspectacular start to the event, Paul added “It was something of a progressive meeting in the end. The boys had to cope with endless variables, such as the ever-changing track conditions. We just kept chipping away and it all came good”.



Looking to the final round, he said, “We can go to Lonato and enjoy it. We’d like to finish in first and second in KF2 and improve each of the drivers’ points positions overall. And of course, win the Euro Cup (for teams) in both classes. That would be really, really good for me, the mechanics and of course everyone at Tony Kart and Vortex who have worked so hard to give the drivers the kit with which to consistently be able to fight for trophies.”      


Aam Jones at 100cc PR  photos Chris Walker/Kartpi portrait of Ben Cooper -  Gregory Heirman/FotoFormulaK race photo