The favourites were on the starting grid for the Final of the first round of the FIA Karting European Championship KZ2 in Genk: Tom Leuillet (Birel ART/TM), David Trefilov (Maranello/TM), Markus Kajak (Tony Kart/TM) and Arvid Lindblad (KR/TM) held the first two rows ahead of Jorge Pescador (CRG/TM) with 23 laps to go. The sky was blue and the thermometer rose to 26°, a little less than forecast.
It was a good start for the leading drivers with Leuilet leading ahead of Trefilov and Kajak, then Pescador 4th ahead of Kris Haanen (KR/TM) who moved up five places. As usual, Lindblad was not at ease at the start and was 8th. Samuel Luyet (Tony Kart/Vortex) and Danien Vasile (DR/Modena) had to fight it out. Alessio Picini (Birel ART/TM) was in the top 10 ahead of Thomas Imbourg (Sodi/TM). Leuillet set an excellent fastest lap on the fifth lap and made up some ground on Trefilov, while Haanen was 3rd. Matteo Spirgel (Sodi/TM) had retired after a contact. Trefilov responded with two fastest laps, Leuillet improved and distanced his rival by 0,680”. Lindblad found his attacking rhythm to move up to 7th ahead of Danilo Albanese (KR/Iame). At the halfway point, Leuillet was 0.769″ ahead of Trefilov, followed by Haanen by a second. Lindblad attacked Robert Kindervater (Birel ART/TM) for 6th position. The best times were under 51″. Leuillet increased the gap in the lead but Trefilov’s 2nd place remained relatively uncertain with Haanen 6 tenths behind. Pescador in 5th and Lindblad in 6th place were also able to improve in the last three laps. Lindblad moved up to 5th on the penultimate lap at the expense of Pescador with Albanese in his wake.
Leuillet took a very convincing victory with the fastest lap, 2,6” ahead of Trefilov. Haanen finished 3rd far ahead of Kajak. It was a superb 5th place for Lindblad, a beginner in the category. Albanese was 7th, Pescador 8th, Kindervater 8th, Jean Luyet (Tony Kart/Vortex) 9th and Norton Andreasson (Tony Kart/Vortex) 10th ahead of Imbourg. Giuseppe Palomba (Birel ART/TM) had recovered 10 positions to 14th behind his team-mate Piccini. Arthur Carbonnel (Sodi/TM) and Jean Nomblot (Sodi/TM) followed each other in 16th and 17th place ahead of their team-mate David Liwinski (Sodi/TM).
Provisional results pending publication of the definitive rankings.
Info Kartcom with Kartlink / Photo © KSP