During its three Competitions in France, Italy and Belgium, the CIK-FIA European KZ2 Championship attracted a total of 85 participants. Rain marked the first two races at Essay and Adria, circuits that were used for the first time in this category, while the grand final at Genk completed the season without weather disruption at the end of July. The title was decided at the last moment after several lead changes and a few twists. The winner at Adria, the Italian Fabian Federer was crowned for the second time without qualifying for the last Final.
Corberi unbeatable in the final stages at Essay (FRA)
The Italian Leonardo Lorandi (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) opened the scoring during Qualifying Practice while the Dutchman Stan Pex (CRG / Vortex / Vega) was in the lead after the Qualifying Heats in front of Lorandi and the Frenchman Paolo Besancenez (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega). Pex won Prefinal 1 against Besancenez and the Italian Alessio Piccini (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega), while his compatriot Luca Corberi (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) stood out by winning Prefinal B after having been constantly in the top four early in the weekend. The Italian Fabian Federer (CRG / Modena Engines / Vega) would again place himself in 2nd position after experiencing trouble and retirement in his first Qualifying Heat. Corberi quickly seized the 1st position to the detriment of Pex in the Final and flew to a superb victory. Federer came back inexorably to 2nd position ahead of Besancenez and Lorandi, with Pex having to settle for 5th place.
Federer takes over at Adria (ITA)
Matteo Viganò (Top Kart / Parilla / Vega) took Pole Position in Qualifying Practice and Alessandro Irlando (Energy / TM Racing / Vega) took up the torch in the Qualifying Heats as well as Prefinal 1, while Federer won Prefinal 2 and took the lead on Irlando early in the Final, while the track was dry, Stan Pex (CRG / Vortex / Vega) coming back to 2nd position. The sudden arrival of rain caused a tight duel between the top two, but the red flag stopped the race on the 19th of 24 laps for obvious safety reasons. Federer prevailed ahead of Dylan Davies (CRG / TM Racing / Vega) and Pex. Lorandi, Corberi and Besancenez lost contact with the lead.
Genk (BEL): victory for Vigano and a new title for Federer
Although Pierre Loubère (Sodi / Parilla / Vega) was the fastest in Qualifying Practice, Alexander Schmitz (BirelART / Vortex / Vega) dominated the Qualifying Heats ahead of Irlando, Federer, Pex and Corberi, the four drivers in contention for the title. Lorandi however won Prefinal 1 against John Norris (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega), while Federer retired, with a broken sparkplug and had to attend the Final as a spectator. Vigano won in the Prefinal 2 from Andre Matisic (BirelART / TM Racing / Vega) and Corberi. Lorandi and Vigano competed for 1st place in the Final, while Corberi had given up shortly after the start. Vigano took an important victory, followed on the podium by Norris. Besancenez moved up 15 places to reach the podium in front of Pex and Matisic. Fabian Federer won the CIK-FIA European KZ2 Championship thanks to the lead previously acquired, while Stan Pex took 2nd position in the European ranking and Matteo Vigano 3rd.
Info CIK-FIA / © Photo KSP