NEWS

Si la victoire d'Aurore Launay à la Coupe de France Féminine est logique au regard de son expérience et de son palmarès, elle n'en a pas pour autant été facile, preuve que les filles sont dans le coup en karting. Grâce à la catégorie Nationale, la Coupe de France retrouve le chemin d'un succès qui ne demande qu'à être pérennisé à l'avenir dans le cadre d'une épreuve à l'intérêt incontestable.

La Nationale a su séduire les pilotes féminines pour cette première du genre. La réussite de la course de Layrac a tout pour motiver les féminines à se préparer aux prochaines éditions de cette Coupe de France. Le matériel, et notamment le moteur Rotax, convient parfaitement à cette compétition particulière et les efforts de tous pour que la Coupe de France Féminine retrouve sa place au calendrier ont été récompensés.

C'est Adeline Charpentier (Kosmic) qui ouvre le bal en réalisant le meilleur chrono. Aurore Launay (CRG), à 2 dixièmes, emmène un peloton composé de pilotes aguerries comme de parfaites débutantes. Aurélie Honoré (Maranello) 3ème et Elodie Simoes (PCR) 4ème, montrent déjà leurs ambitions.

L'expérience parle dans les nombreuses manches qualificatives et Aurore Launay fait la razzia sur les victoires. Adeline Charpentier ne se laisse pas impressionner en seconde place et domine encore Aurélie Honoré et Elodie Simoes. Plus loin, l'affrontement continue entre Fanny Dobrenel (PCR) 5ème, Alice Colin (Tony Kart) 6ème et Kelly Cozzolino (Alpha), 7ème.

Aurore Launay remporte aussi la préfinale, mais Aurélie Honoré prend cette fois l'avantage sur Adeline Charpentier pour la seconde place. Au fil des courses, l'écart entre la tête et le peloton se resserre, les filles apprennent vite le pilotage de leur nouvel engin. La finale voit logiquement Aurore Launay s'imposer et remporter la Coupe de France Féminine 2009. Sa dauphine, Aurélie Honoré, termine pourtant à moins de 3 dixièmes... Adeline Charpentier contrôle aisément Elodie Simoes pour le gain de la 3ème marche du podium.

Bravo les filles et rendez-vous en 2010 pour une Coupe Féminine encore plus disputée !

Classement de la Coupe de France Féminine 2009 :

1- Aurore Launay
2- Aurélie Honoré
3- Adeline Charpentier
4- Elodie Simoes
5- Alice Colin
6- Chloé Terminarias
7- Johanna Hornegg
8- Fanny Dobrenel
9- Marion Baudouin
10- Cindy Moine

Communiqué FFSA / © Photos KSP

Le cru 2009 n'a pas manqué de péripéties et la hiérarchie a bien évolué tout au long du week-end sur le circuit de Layrac, proche d'Agen. Avec une victoire en préfinale et une victoire en finale, Mathieu Roméo inscrit de plein droit son nom au palmarès de la Coupe de France Minikart, première étape de la compétition karting, devant des prétendants de valeur.

Avec 41 concurrents présents en 2009, la Coupe de France Minikart confirme son intérêt auprès des tout jeunes pilotes et la relative baisse de fréquentation constatée reste très raisonnable en ces temps de crise. Ouverte aux licenciés à partir de huit ans, la compétition en Minikart offre toujours la meilleure façon de débuter en karting, d'y découvrir les rudiments du pilotage en course tout en prenant les bonnes habitudes, avant de passer au niveau supérieur.

Culminant sous un chaud soleil le dimanche, la Coupe de France Minikart a connu un déroulement impeccable sur la piste de Layrac au tracé varié, positionnée à flanc de coteau. Venus de onze régions de France différentes, les jeunes concurrents étaient majoritairement originaires du Sud du pays (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur-Corse et Midi-Pyrénées) et d'Ile-de-France. Si les moteurs sont tous des 120 cc Honda 4 temps fournis et tirés au sort, cinq marques de châssis s'affrontaient en piste.

Les essais chronométrés voyaient le Bourguignon Félix Koegler signer le meilleur temps devant l'Auvergnat Nicolas Ville et le pilote de Rhône-Alpes Anthony Muscio. Dès les manches qualificatives, le classement connaissait de sérieux changements. Jérémy Sahry prenait l'avantage grâce à ses trois victoires sur quatre courses disputées. Vainqueur lui aussi de trois courses, Thomas Rouchy décrochait sa place en première ligne pour le départ de la préfinale. Samuel Jones, Paul Guiod, Mathys Bonnet et Alexandre Vromant se plaçaient alors parmi les favoris, tandis que Mathieu Roméo pointait au 7ème rang. Félix Koegler et Nicolas Ville se retrouvaient respectivement 9ème et 13ème. Vingt-quatre pilotes seulement obtenaient se qualifiaient pour les phases finales.

Dès la préfinale, Roméo et son Sodikart faisaient parler la poudre et s'imposaient sur le fil au terme d'une brillante remontée, sept centièmes devant Vromant. Guiod et Bonnet jouaient placés, 3ème et 4ème, alors que Muscio, 5ème et Hédouin, 6ème revenaient bien dans la course. Malchanceux, Koegler ne terminait pas la manche.

La pression montait à l'heure de la finale, décisive pour l'attribution de la Coupe. Roméo n'en était pas victime puisqu'il réalisait une course superbe et franchissait la ligne en grand vainqueur avec cette fois près de deux secondes d'avance à l'issue des onze tours du circuit de Layrac. La bagarre faisait rage derrière lui. Adrien Renaudin reprenait cinq places pour terminer 2ème. Guillaume Cesano, auteur du meilleur tour en course, faisait encore mieux, puisqu'il gagnait la bagatelle de 11 places et montait finalement sur la 3ème marche du podium. Belle performance également de Koegler qui termine 8ème en venant de la 23ème position au départ.

L'épreuve a été disputée par un débutant remarqué, le jeune Hugo Hakkinen, accompagné par son champion de père, Mika Hakkinen, qui a fait preuve de beaucoup de gentillesse et de disponibilité face à l'immense intérêt dont il a été l'objet.

Classement finale de la Coupe de France Minikart 2009 :

1- Mathieu Roméo
2- Adrien Renaudi
3- Guillaume Cesano
4- Jérémy Sarhy
5- Anthony Muscio
6- Paul Guiod
7- Théo Laforge
8- Félix Koegler
9- Mathys Bonnet
10- Marco Franzoni

Communiqué FFSA / © Photo KSP

With two races scheduled in the hot Spanish sun at Zuera, the second round of the European Super KF Championship looked exciting. Manuel Renaudie and Aaro Vainio both won a race (four winners in as many races) and the young Finn, aged 15, has caused a sensation by taking control of the championship. In the Junior category, KF3, the Dutchman Nyck De Vries dominated the final ahead of Carlos Sainz Jr, son of the double World Rally Champion.

Even though Manuel Renaudie (Gillard-Parilla) took command after the heats and qualifying, it was felt that the competition was not complete at the second round of the European Super KF Championship which took place this weekend at Zuera, Spain. Therefore, from the first few metres of Race 1, the French driver found himself under direct threat from Yannick De Brabander (Intrepid-TM), who ended up finding an opening. But the Belgian was unable to escape and at halfway, he ceded to an attack by Renaudie, and this time he made it stick to take the victory. « The weekend had started well and it's great to be able to confirm a victory, » said Manu at the foot of the podium. «Especially, since after all these years, this is my first success at European level. I am very happy !»

Behind the French driver, Yannick de Brabander was gradually losing ground. First it was the young Finn Aaro Vainio (Maranello-Maxter) that passed him first. But then as he was trying to retain a place on the podium, the Belgian was overtaken on the line by Oliver Rowland (LH-Maxter). By 18 thousandths of a second, the McLaren protegee finished on the podium. In fifth, but quite a distance from the lead, the British driver Jason Parrott limited the damage to his championship hopes and finished ahead of the Belgian-American Mardin Benjamin (Kosmic-Vortex), the Finn Daniel Lindholm (Zanardi-Maxter), the Czech Zdenek Groman (Maranello-Parilla), the Briton Richard Bradley (Maddox-Maxter) and the Finn Miika Kunranta (Birel-Parilla).

The second race began with a man to man battle between Manuel Renaudie, Jason Parrott, Oliver Rowland, Yannick De Brabander and Aaro Vainio. On several occasions , these five drivers exchanged their positions in a beautiful and sporting fight. The first to drop out was Manuel Renaudie. «A stub axle bearing was seized,» he explained after the finish. «At this point, I just thought to finish to score». The French driver finally finished in 8th place.

Behind that, Oliver Rowland and Aaro Vainio had built a small gap on Yannick De Brabander when the Belgian was let down by his engine. But it wasn't until the last lap that Vainio beat his rival. A year after taking the European Junior (KF3) crown, the young 15 year old Finn won his first race in the top class of international karting. Aaro is also now the co-leader of the championship. «Last year, everything hung on a single race,» he said during the press conference. «This time, there are three meetings and you must be fast and consistent. It is obvious that I will do everything to win the title in three weeks at Essay.»

Behind the « rookies » of the category, Vainio and Rowland (who won the KF2 World Cup last year), there were two winners at the first meeting at Muro Leccese. Going on to the podium, Jason Parrott took enough points to leave Spain with the same points as Vainio. As for Simo Puhakka (PCR-TM), his fourth place was almost unexpected because he suffered over the weekend. As a result, the Finn droped to 4th in the championship behind Vainio and Parrott and Manuel Renaudie.

KF3: Deserved crown for De Vries, who wins ahead of Sainz Jr

In addition to the European Super-KF Championship, the Zuera track hosted the final of the European KF3 Championship for the Juniors' category of 13 to 15 year-olds. And although Spanish supporters only had eyes for Carlos Sainz Jr (Tony Kart-Vortex), they however had to bow to the evidence. The young matador met his match during the weekend. Impressive throughout the event, Nyck De Vries (Zanardi-Parilla) dominated in the final and landed a well-deserved European crown. Presented as one of the favourites, the young Dutchman did not collapse under the pressure. "It is true that I did not sleep very well last night", he stated after the finish. "But I think that all the favourites had a certain pressure on their shoulders. Everything went perfectly this weekend and this win makes me so happy! It is a dream come true..."

So while he put up a creditable performance, Carlos Sainz Jr nonetheless had to be content with the silver medal, and he exhibited mixed feelings. "Second is a good result", he explained. "But I was obviously hoping to win, especially here in Spain. I must however admit that Nyck was somewhat faster in the final." The podium was completed by the Russian who competes with an Italian licence, Danil Kvyat (Tony Kart-Vortex), namely the third (young) man whom the followers had tipped as one of the potential winners. In view of the podium, one might as well say that the three great favourites showed that they were equal to the situation! Among those who could have surprised the onlookers, we noted the disillusion of the Champion of Spain, Gerard Barrabeig (Intrepid-TM). Having been fastest in the timed practice, he won three out of his four qualifying heats and seemed to be the fastest competitor. Unfortunately, a collision in the first lap of the pre-final put paid to all his hopes. Starting 33rd in the final, he brilliantly recovered to the 9th position but had grounds for being disappointed.

The Italian Rafaelle Marciello (Intrepid-TM), the only competitor who could keep up the pace of the leading threesome in the final, ended up at the foot of the podium ahead of the Spaniard Colome (Tony Kart-Vortex), Britain's Jake Dennis (who had only managed to get the 63rd lap time in practice at the wheel of his Top Kart-Parilla) and Guilherme Silva (Tony Kart-Vortex), Spain's Adrian Del Rio (PCR-TM) and Gerard Barrabeig (Intrepid-TM), and the Finn Juuso-Matti Pajuranta (PCR-VKR).

Info CIK / © Photo KSP

After a race full of twists, the young Finn at Maranello, Aaro Vainio, crossed the finish line as the surprise winner of race 2 of the European Championship in Super KF at Zuera.

At first Oliver Rowland (LH / Maxter) led the race from the surprising Jason Parrott (Birel / Parilla), an incisive Yannick De Brabander (Intrepid / TM) and a prudent Manu Renaudie (Gillard / Parilla) who was wary of the start procedure, given his pole position. On the 2nd lap, De Brabander stealthily took the lead, then dropped back to 4th when Parrott, Renaudie and Rowland returned to the front. In 5th Mardin Benjamin (Kosmic / Vortex) passed De Brabander, but was faced with an unyielding Vainio who had fallen to 6th at the start.

4th lap: Renaudie got ahead of Rowland, Parrott and Vainio. Vainio and De Brabander took a bit out of Parrott. Suddenly, on the next lap, Renaudie seemed to hesitate, allowing past Rowland and Vainio, then De Brabander and Parrott. We later learned that he was the victim of a seized stub axle bearing. That was disappointing!

Rowland settled into the lead, ahead of Vainio, and followed at a distance by De Brabander and Parrott, then Kunranta, Puhakka and Foster-Jones. The race stayed roughly in that order until Kunranta retired, then later De Brabander. At the start of the last lap, Vainio closed on Rowland, but not enough to attack. That's when Rowland made a small mistake in the middle of the circuit, braking too late at the next corner, trying to defend his leading position at the hairpin. But he went a little wide and Vainio needed no time to take the opening and passed at the very end to win race 2.

Info Kartcom with Kartlink / © Photo KSP

The outcome of the race was clear in the final of the 2009 European KF3 Championship at Zuera. The suspense lasted through the first few corners with 3 drivers in front, but then Nyck De Vries (Zanardi / Parilla) decided to show who was boss. Then he continued to widen the gap to Carlos Sainz (Tony Kart / Vortex)which closed only once, when approaching the finish line. This was a proper victory and the competition could not get close. Carlos Sainz tried everything in the fateful first corner and then to not get left behind by the diminutive Dutchman, but in vain.

Raffaele Marciello (Intrepid / TM) long occupied 3rd place before it was stolen away by Danil Kvyat (Tony Kart / Vortex) at the end of the race. Colomé continued to improve by picking up 5th place. Barrabeig gave everything to come back from the back of the grid, but had to settle for a disappointing 9th position. Pierre Gasly, the first French driver, finished 23rd after racing strongly. Mathieu Jaminet was not high in the classification, he encountered problems in the form of an attacker on the first lap who stopped his attack. He was not pleased with his 25th place ... And Rémy Deguffroy? He made a quite satisfactory start before crashing with a competitor who damaged his bodywork and electronics. Obviously, it worked much less well afterwards ...

Info Kartcom / © Photo KSP