According to a certain tradition, international Karting events follow one another at a frantic rhythm towards the end of summer. One week after the second round of the CIK-FIA U18 World Championship and Academy Trophy at Angerville, it is now the gearbox kart specialists who will gather at Sarno, in Italy, for the most important meeting of their season. At the foot of the Vesuvius volcano the competition promises to be… burning hot!
Jorrit Pex, KZ1
With over 45 horse-power for a weight of 175 kg, Driver included, gearbox karts are tremendous machines capable of reaching 100 km/h from a standing start within slightly over 3 seconds and of achieving top speeds close to 160 km/h. Fitted with brakes on all four wheels, they often deliver a breath-taking spectacle, and the World Cups for KZ1 and KZ2 scheduled for Sarno, less than 40 km from Naples, are undoubtedly a meeting not to be missed. For this occasion the Italian Organiser has indeed modified his circuit and will propose an even faster course which should perfectly suit gearbox karts.
At the technical level there is no real difference between KZ1 and KZ2. Only the tyres used are different (Bridgestone has a de facto monopoly in KZ1 and Vega is the official supplier in KZ2). For the rest, it is the Drivers who make the difference. KZ1 does regroup the cream of the crop, most often Drivers who have made a profession out of Karting. The list of candidates to victory is particularly long and it is quite difficult to tip the winners. Four-time winner of this World Cup in the last five years, Jonathan Thonon (CRG-Maxter) will nonetheless start with great odds for the bookmakers. But, although the Belgian is reputed to come through at every major event, he is also aware that competition has perhaps never been as strong as this year…
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