Although clouds had accumulated over Wackersdorf, the chances of rain remained low and the sun managed to break through for the Final of this first meeting of the 2018 FIA Karting Academy Trophy. Robert De Haan (NLD) and Paolo Ferrari (ITA) shared the front row ahead of Magnus Germansen (DNK) and Lucas Mendes (BRA). 21 laps were on the programme.
Germansen followed the leader De Haan when the lights went out to overtake Ferrari while Gael Julien (IDN) grabbed 4th position ahead of Joshua Coertze (ZAF). Elliott Vayron (FRA) fell to the back of the pack. Ferrari recovered 2nd place, Coertze 4th and Charlie Wurz (AUT) was 6th in front of Fuki Tanaka (JPN) and Lucas Bohdanowicz (ARG). Mendes gave up after a collision, Christian Ho (SGP) dropped to 20th and Bohdanowicz 17th.
De Haan gradually distanced himself from his opponents and achieved a fastest lap at halfway, with Coertze chasing Ferrari for 2nd place. In this very compact chasing pack, Wurz took 5th behind Germansen. Coertze then attacked Ferrari to take 2nd position, Germansen taking advantage to pass for 3rd. De Haan finished the meeting with another victory with a lead of more than 4.5 ”. The battle for 2nd place went on all the way to the end, but Coertze kept his place from Germansen. Julien finished 4th and Wurz 5th. Vayron finally came back from 27th to 18th place.
Info Kartcom with Kartlink / © Photos KSP