A heavy downpour covered the Alahärmä track during the lunch break, then the sun returned, but the asphalt was still wet for the start of the FIA ??Karting Junior World Championship Final. The 34 finalists arrived on the starting grid with rain tyres. Thomas Ten Brinke (FA Kart / Vortex) shared the front row with Josep Marti Sobrepera (Tony Kart / Vortex), but Andrea Kimi Antonelli (KR / Iame) was on the lookout in 3rd place next to James Wharton (Parolin / TM ). The start was given as the clouds became denser again.
Ten Brinke did not let anyone challenge him for the lead and all karts came out of the first hairpin without a hitch, although Arvid Lindblad and Tuukka Taponen (Redspeed / Iame) came off the track soon after. Wharton took 2nd followed by Rafael Camara (Exprit / TM) in front of Sobrepera and Jamie Day (Exprit / Vortex), who had started well. Wharton unfortunately retired at the beginning of lap 6 because of a mechanical problem. Ten Brinke was then 1.3” ahead of Camara, with Sobrepera 1.2′ behind’ at equal distance from Day. After not starting very well, Antonelli closed the gap and was able to take 4th place at the expense of Day. He was 2.4 seconds behind the leader. But Kajus Siksnelis (Tony Kart / Vortex) continued his incredible recovery by overtaking Antonelli on the 11th lap. The feat continued when he took 3rd place on the 18th of 21 laps: without hesitation Sisknelis passed Sobrepera who could do nothing. Two laps from his goal, Ten Brinke set the two fastest laps in the race to celebrate his title of FIA Junior Karting World Champion by two seconds ahead of Camara, who completed a very good performance. With his 13-place progression, Siksnelis secured a fantastic 3rd place ahead of Sobrepera and Antonelli.
Evan Giltaire (Sodi/TM) finished 17th with a 12-place gain, while Macéo Capietto (KR/Iame) dropped back to 25th after a few hazards and a penalty for spoiler stalled.
Info Kartcom / © Photo KSP