The CIK-FIA Competition that has just ended at the Le Mans circuit has exceeded all expectations in terms of battles and recoveries as it reached the mid-season. With four new winners, the provisional classifications have been altered and the Races to the different titles look more open than ever in the Competitions to come during July.
Numerous twists animated every stage of the Competition at the Le Mans Karting International circuit. The famous 1384 m track gave rise to spectacular clashes. Under a constantly grey sky with rather cool temperatures for the season, a few drops of rain occasionally reduced the grip. The Finals, however, took place on a dry track. The Drivers discovered new passing possibilities on the track of Le Mans, inaugurated in 2013, whereas the frequent penalties for incorrectly positioned front fairings testified of the intensity of the battles. Despite some last-minute defections, the Le Mans field reached a significant figure, with a record of 88 drivers in the OK category. All predictions were confounded with O’Neill Muth’s victory in OK-Junior, Lorenzo Travisanutto in OK, Paolo Ippolito in KZ2 and Xavier Handsaeme in the Academy.
Handsaeme returns to the Academy Trophy
The CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy was first led by the Briton Alexander Simmonds in Qualifying Practice, while Frenchman Sami Meguetounif took the lead in the Qualifying Heats. The Belgian Xavier Handsaeme quickly took control of the Final, leaving his opponents to compete for the places of honour. 2nd on the finish line, the Spaniard Ayrton Fontecha Martinez was 5th after a penalty, while Simmonds, 3rd on the track, was disqualified for trying to re-fix his front fairing. Meguetounif thus regained 2nd place in front of the Dane Oliver Skov Skjellerup. The leader of the Trophy on arrival at Le Mans, the Dutchman Mike van Vugt was never able to defend his place despite his recovery in the Final.
With a total of 59 points, Xavier Handsaeme now has a notable lead over Dutchman Tijmen van der Helm (46 pts), 2nd in the provisional ranking of the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy. Sami Meguetounif (39 pts) moved up from 8th to 3rd place ahead of Mike van Vugt (35 pts) and Britain’s Joseph Taylor (30 pts). The third and final Competition will take place from 20th to 23rd July in Finland.
OK-Junior: Victory for Muth and advantage for Edgar in the Championship
Andrea Rosso (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) took pole position of the Qualifying Practice of this third Competition of the CIK-FIA European Junior Championship. The hierarchy was then clarified during the 10 Qualifying Heats from Friday evening to Sunday morning. Hadrien David (Zanardi / Parilla / Vega) was in front of Jonny Edgar (Exprit / TM Racing / Vega) and O’Neill Muth (Zanardi / Parilla / Vega). Muth passed David, followed by Genis Civico (FA Kart / Parilla / Vega) in the Final. A few laps under the Slow procedure stabilised the positions before a final pass over the finish line validated Muth’s victory against David and Edgar. Civico finished 4th and Jack Doohan (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega) returned to 5th position.
Jonny Edgar comfortably moved into the lead of the provisional standings with 61 points, followed by O’Neill Muth (49 pts) after Harry Thompson dropped out and Christopher Lulham’s less convincing performance at Le Mans. Harry Thompson (45 pts) is now 3rd, followed by Hadrien David (43 pts) and Christopher Lulham (41 pts). The fourth and penultimate Competition of the CIK-FIA European Junior Championship will take place from 20th to 23rd July in Finland.
Travisanutto imposes in OK
With 71 Drivers on track, the duel in the OK category started in Qualifying Practice between Dennis Hauger (CRG / Parilla / LeCont) and Théo Pourchaire (Kosmic / Vortex / LeCont) did not continue until the Final. Lorenzo Travisanutto (Zanardi / Parilla / LeCont) dominated the race despite pressure from Hauger behind him. Sami Taoufik (FA Kart / Vortex / LeCont) made an impressive comeback from 13th on the grid and took 2nd place three laps from the finish line, followed by Finlay Jack Kenneally (Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont). The latter was hustled by Hauger a few metres from the line, but the stewards re-established Kenneally in 3rd place by penalising Hauger. Pourchaire could not find the right rhythm in the Final and ended up being pushed off the track by Pedro Hiltbrand Aguilar (Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont), who was later disqualified for the manoeuvre. David Vidales Ajenjo (Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) did not manage to qualify for the Finals, far back in Qualifying Practice and not at ease in the Qualifying Heats. This under-performance and the absence of Clement Novalak (Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) modified the rankings of the CIK-FIA European Championship before the penultimate Competition which will take place from 20th to 23rd July in Alaharma (FIN) .
David Vidales Ajenjo (45 pts) still holds 1st place in the provisional ranking against Théo Pourchaire (44 pts), but Lorenzo Travisanutto has risen from 24th to 3rd in front of Clément Novalak and Karol Basz, three drivers credited with the same score of 37 points.
Ippolito creates surprise in KZ2
Quiet until then in the CIK-FIA European KZ2 Championship, Paolo Ippolito (Lenzo / LKE / Bridgestone) dominated the Le Mans Competition with poleman Alessandro Pelizzari (CKR / TM Racing / Bridgestone) one of the “Wild Card” of the weekend. The two Italians led in this order at the end of the Qualifying Heats, while the young Paul Fontaine (Sodi / TM Racing / Bridgestone) continued to reveal his talent in 3rd position. Matteo Vigano (Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone) dominated the Final by taking the lead from the third to the 21st laps. But fate did not allow him to win, his engine having betrayed him a few hundred metres from the finish. Ippolito won the Race, while Rokas Baciuska (Sodi / TM Racing / Bridgestone) was brilliant in 2nd place in front of Pelizzari. Leon Köhler (Tony Kart / Vortex / Bridgestone) finished 4th in front of Alessandro Irlando (Sodi / TM Racing / Bridgestone) and took the lead in the provisional standings.
The positions have tightened before the end of the Championship at the end of July on the Kristianstad circuit (SWE). Leon Köhler leads with 47 points against a compact trio: Paolo Ippolito (42 pts), Alessandro Irlando (42 pts) and Matteo Vigano (40 pts).
Info CIK-FIA / © Photo KSP