On the new layout of the Le Mans International Karting circuit, 96 of the best drivers in KZ2 competed at length to win the most prestigious award of the season. An energetic class that brings together a wide range of amateur Drivers, KZ2 offered a show full of surprises in the Sarthe under various weather conditions. It was a Franco-Italian match, as the two countries represented more than half of the field, but there were representatives of 20 nationalities. The Frenchman Thomas Laurent masterfully imposed with a perfect finish.
After a Qualifying Practice dominated by French Driver Nicolas Gonzales (Sodi-TM Racing LeCont) they then clashed during 15 Qualifying Heats, a game played in the rain on Saturday afternoon. The Spaniard Pedro Hiltbrand (CRG-Maxter-LeCont) was formidable with a score of four wins from five races. After a quiet 12th time during Qualifying Practice, Thomas Laurent (Tony Kart-Vortex-LeCont) was already back in 2nd position and confirmed his form by winning Prefinal 2 on Sunday morning, while the European Champion Joel Johansson (Energy-TM-LeCont Racing) took victory in Prefinal 1 from 47th in Qualifying Practice. Laurent started ahead of the Final with perfect control of the situation and held the lead without ever losing the necessary concentration until the end, were he crossed the line with a considerable lead of 3”. Behind him the confrontation was fierce. Although Johansson secured the 2nd position, Gonzales returned to 3rd and long held the chasing group in check. On the last lap, Hiltbrand attempted an attack on Gonzales which later cause his exclusion, and the Italian Antonio Cavalieri (Righetti / Modena) recovering 3rd place with a big smile ahead of Gonzales and Stan Pex (CRG- Racing-LeCont TM), the younger brother of the new World KZ Champion.
A kart driver from a young age, Frenchman Thomas Laurent has succeeded globally by winning the CIK-FIA International Super Cup in KZ2 at the Le Mans International Karting circuit in September. After a relatively quiet career in the youth categories, Thomas gradually became prominent in the National category before his talent burst out in KZ2 and he joined the FFSA Team France Karting this year. The young man is fast, smart and hardworking, and now that he has found the key to success in karting, who knows how far he will be able to go in motorsport?
The weekend of Le Mans was not easy to manage. Tell us what happened!
– Indeed, testing was rather complicated. We were left behind, but we continued to work without really being worried. The team relies on Cédric Goudant’s prowess and our performance gradually returned to the level of the best. I came back from 12th position in Qualifying Practice to 2nd place after the Qualifying Heats. I knew some Sodi Drivers like Charles Fiault were very fast in the rain on Sunday morning, but when the track started to dry towards the end of the Prefinal 2, I could return to the front. Starting from pole position for the Final, I immediately widened the gap with my rivals as I had done during the Coupe de France in 2013. I stayed very focused up to the end, because we have no room for error in a global competition like this. Cédric Sport did an outstanding job on my Tony Kart / Vortex. It is thanks to the team that I could win.
How does the future look?
– Karting will always be my passion, and I intend to keep going in KZ2. But my career has changed direction as at the end of this season I will head to the cars. I have just been asked by the David Cheng Racing Team to compete in the Asian Le Mans Series in LMP3. If we win the ALMS Championship, we will be invited to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. For us, it is just a dream!
Thomas Laurent
Nationality: French
Date of birth: 04/05/1998
Team: Cedric Sport
Chassis: Tony Kart
Engine: Vortex
2015: Winner of the CIK-FIA International Super Cup – KZ2, Winner of the Coupe de France – KZ2, Vice-Champion of France – KZ2
2014: 14th CIK-FIA International Super Cup – KZ2, French Champion Long Circuit – KZ 125, 5th French Championship – KZ 125, Winner of the Coupe de France – KZ 125
2013: French Champion Long Circuit – KZ 125, French Vice-Champion – KZ 125
2012: 4th in the French Championship – Nationale
(Extract from 2015 CIK-FIA Best-Of)
Info CIK-FIA / © Photo KSP