The first Competition of 2016 of the CIK-FIA European KZ – KZ2 Championship and CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy took place at the International Circuit of Aunay les Bois / Essay with varied weather conditions making it difficult for the 134 drivers present. The finals still crowned the best of the high level Competition: Marco Ardigo won in KZ, Luca Corberi in KZ2 and Callum Bradshaw in the Academy.
The Vice President of the CIK-FIA, Kees Van De Grint, followed the course of the Competition at Essay closely: “I would first like to emphasise the quality of the organisation from Claude Gripon’s team whose investment and passion are a pleasure to see. The Aunay les Bois / Essay circuit to me has all the characteristics of a real karting circuit. There was an accident that is to be deplored, but the safety of the circuit and the effectiveness of emergency action could not be challenged. Motorsport will always present an element of risk. Fortunately, the marshall who was affected in this incident is doing very well.
“As usual the KZ2 category produced hard-fought races with the full unwinding of suspense and with pleasure we saw the best drivers win in the end. The standard was very high in KZ, but the number of participants was not large enough. I am delighted to see that many brands compete with a lot of energy with their factory teams and I hope they can expand so that we have a more consistent entry. However, I regret that some drivers were able to take advantage of not participating in the entire Competition, in practice not racing in the Qualifying Heats, to preserve their tyres for the final stages. From a sporting point of view, it is not at all a good thing.
“Finally, the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy has been very exciting with all of the young enthusiastic and motivated Drivers from around the world. I extend my congratulations to the technical team from the OTK Kart Group which was able to offer the participants in the first Competition effective equipment of equal quality for all. Many engine exchanges were made at the initiation of our technical delegate without a variation in performance. The winner used different engines while remaining at the forefront of the category. The track behaviour of the drivers has improved significantly over the weekend, thanks to the front fairing fasteners limiting contact. We noticed that some drivers needed better training in the rules of competition, in addition to regular briefings, to better take into account cultural differences. On the other hand, the presence in Essay of a representative of the FIA Women in Motor Sport Commission should be emphasised.“
Henny Hemmes observed the unfolding situation CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy closely, following the progress of Shion Tsujimoto, the Japanese driver supported this year by the FIA Women in Motor Sport Commission. “I’ve been part of the Commission since its inception six years ago under the chairmanship of Michele Mouton. At Essay, I discovered what the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy really represents and I enjoyed the educational aspect of this category. This programme really is fantastic and the efforts made to provide each participant with equal equipment are welcome. Shion Tsujimoto has improved a lot since last season, she is very fast despite changing conditions that have not always been easy to manage. She obviously needs to increase her experience, but she is in an excellent position to move forward. I also followed another girl, Hamda Al Qubaisi of the UAE, for her Academy debut, although she is not directly helped by the Commission, but is supported in the Middle East.“
The Essay schedule inaugurated the new race format for 2016, appreciated by all participants. Wednesday and Thursday were devoted to unofficial free testing, which allowed them to prepare for the Competition, while the Academy Trophy started on Thursday with its traditional extra early season day with the new OK-Junior type equipment provided by OTK Kart Group whose Vortex engines use specific Dell’Orto float bowl carburettors. Everyone became familiar with their equipment and the new Vega tyres used in all categories this year. For everyone, the changing weather and much cooler temperatures for the season required rapid adaptability, particularly during Qualifying Practice on a track with changing grip between the wet and the dry which set the tone of the Competition. Note that the Competition has also changed with the awarding of points for the Prefinal in addition to those already distributed at the end of the Qualifying Heats and of course the Final.
Superb race for Ardigo in KZ
It was a quality field for the opening of the CIK-FIA European KZ Championship, even though the entry was a little too limited. The Spaniard Jorge Pescador (Praga / Parilla / Vega) took advantage of his pole position in Qualifying Practice to maintain the advantage in both the Qualifying Heats. The Italian Paolo De Conto (CRG / Maxter / Vega) was then ranked 2nd ahead of the Frenchman Jérémy Iglesias (Sodi / TM Racing / Vega) while Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) came back to 4th position after 10th during Qualifying. Ardigo then asserted his dominance in the final stages by first winning the Prefinal against the Belgian Rick Dreezen (Ricciardo Kart / Parilla / Vega) who had new tyres. Iglesias took control early in the Final before yielding to Ardigo, the indisputable winner, and Flavio Camponeschi (CRG / Parilla / Vega) on the rise since his 21st in Qualifying. The Czech Patrik Hajek (Kosmic / Vortex / Vega) and Briton Ben Hanley (Croc Promotions / TM Racing / Vega) completed the top five. In the provisional classification of the Championship, Ardigo and Iglesias lead from Camponeschi, De Conto is 4th and Pescador 5th.
Corberi relentless in the KZ2 Final
The confrontation was fierce among the 58 participants in the first Competition of the CIK-FIA European KZ2 Championship. 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 the Prefinal 2 after constantly running in the top four early in the weekend. The Italian Fabian Federer (CRG / Modena Engines / Vega) again placed himself in 2nd position after experiencing trouble and a retirement in his first Qualifying Heat. Corberi quickly seized the lead 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, Pex having to settle for 5th place. In the provisional classification of the Championship, Besancenez is in 2nd place behind the leader Corberi, with Pex still in 3rd position in front of Lorandi and Federer.
Bradshaw the undisputed leader of the Academy Trophy
At the wheel of their new Exprit / Vortex / Vega karts, the 50 participants of the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy came to Essay from 39 nations from 5 continents.
Callum Bradshaw (GBR) could hardly have achieved a better score. After setting the 2nd fastest time during Qualifying Practice, as the leader of his group, he then monopolised 1st place until the Final. Alfred Nilsson (SWE) challenged him in the Qualifying Heats before sinking in the finals. Constantly in the top three, Thomas Mialane (FRA) finished 2nd in the Prefinal ahead of Mads Eielso Hansen (DNK), but the positions were reversed in the Finale where Oliver Clarke (GBR) took over the 4th place before the very fast Jagger Jones (USA), who had the best recovery. In the provisional Trophy standings Bradshaw leads from Mialane and Hansen with Clarke 4th and ChanJoon Lee (KOR) 5th.
The next round will be at Zuera (ESP) for KZ from 13th to 15th May, KZ2 will then meet at Adria (ITA) from 3rd to 5th June and the Academy in Portimao (PRT) from June 24th to 26th.
Info CIK-FIA / © Photo KSP