Le Mans has returned to the organisation of prestigious global Competitions, 24 years after the last World Championship run in the Sarthe. Located just outside the 24 Hours circuit, the new Le Mans International Karting complex, created in 2013 by the ACO, provided a unique setting in the 2015 CIK-FIA World KZ Championship which was won by the Dutchman Jorrit Pex on the last lap of the Final.
With a modern fast track running in an anti-clockwise location where it is not easy to overtake, and changing weather conditions which made it a real challenge in terms of managing variations in grip, the Le Mans World Championship offered enough technical and sporting challenges to make sure that victory rewarded a true champion on the ACO’s legendary site of the 24 Hours. The FIA ??President Jean Todt graced the finals of the Competition, while the Red Bull F1 Racing Driver Daniel Ricciardo shared his passion for karting, while supporting the karts bearing his name.
Ultimate suspense for the award of the KZ World Title to Jorrit Pex
On the very last lap of the Final of the CIK-FIA World KZ Championship, the future winner Jorrit Pex (CRG-TM-B’stone Racing) made his decisive attack on Paolo De Conto (CRG-Maxter -B’stone) who had led until then. Meanwhile, Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex-B’stone) joined the two protagonists in a stunning recovery after being heavily penalised in the Qualifying Heats. Three years after his European title in KZ1, Jorrit Pex climbed on to the top step of the 2015 CIK-FIA World KZ Championship to the applause of the audience. Although the poleman after Qualifying, Paolo De Conto masked his disappointment at having to concede the crown in the final metres, Marco Ardigo lost his 3rd position because of a dislodged front spoiler and the French Driver Arnaud Kozlinski (Sodi-TM Racing-B’stone) logically recovered this place of honour in front of his team-mates Jérémy Iglesias (Sodi-TM-B’stone Racing) and Bas Lammers (Sodi-TM-B’stone Racing), in a beautiful formation finish.
Jorrit Pex is part of a passionate lineage. His older brother, Yard, raced in KZ2, while his younger brother Stan, 5th in the CIK-FIA International Super Cup in KZ2 is ready to take over. The passion of the Pex family has been followed since its inception in the company of the Verstappens, both friends and sporting partners. The Drivers have often trained together, with Jos Verstappen preparing particularly effective TM Racing engines, while Max Verstappen even today gives a helping hand in the development of the chassis.
What does karting mean to the Pexs?
– It is of course a great passion, but it is a hobby! We work together in the family business which manufactures roofing and allows us to run our team. We may seem to be a professional team, but we are true fans! I must admit that our passion drives us to adopt a professional attitude in the field of competition. There’s a lot of sacrifices, but we live for racing. Although we are supported by the CRG and TM factories, we do all the work ourselves.
Have you spent a lot of time on this passion?
– Yes of course! I started very young, seven years old for my first race, already driving a CRG. We spent much of our holidays learning different circuits, always as a family. I admit that I quickly abandoned my studies to devote myself to racing. The transition to 125cc gearbox was also made very early, in 2008. My younger brother Stan is following the same route.
How did the World Championship go?
– After a victory like that, it’s easy to say that everything went well, but it’s the truth! Despite the track conditions which are complex to manage depending on the weather at Le Mans, the performance was always there. I set the second fastest time in Qualifying and I won the Prefinal. The Final was really tough because Paolo De Conto escaped after making a good start. I had to drive at the limit for 22 laps, concentrating on reducing the lead hundredth by hundredth. I was finally back on him on the last lap and I managed to overtake. I had not even seen that Marco Ardigo had come back on us. It is obviously a great satisfaction for us to win a world title like this!
Name: Jorrit Pex
Nationality: Dutch
Date of birth: 31/05/1993
Chassis: CRG
Engine: TM Racing
Team: Pex Racing Team
2015 CIK-FIA World KZ Champion
6th CIK-FIA European KZ Championship
3rd of Germany DSKM – KZ2
2014: Champion of Germany DSKM Championship – KZ2
2013: Champion of Germany DSKM Championship – KZ2
2012: CIK-FIA European KZ1 Champion
German Champion DSKM – KZ2
2011: German Champion DKSM – KZ2
(Extract from CIK-FIA 2015 Best-of)
Info CIK-FIA / © Photo KSP