The atmosphere in Valencia on Saturday morning for the OK Super Heats of the Champions of the Future Euro Series wasn’t very inviting. Wind and rain were the order of the day, as were Maxxis rain tyres in Super Heat 1.
Super Heat 1: Solo victory for Gomez
Gabriel Gomez (CRG/Iame) chose to start from the outside lane, which worked out well for him. Oleksandr Bondarev (KR/Iame) jumped to 2nd place (+8 places) ahead of Anatoly Khavalkin (Parolin/TM), Vivek Kanthan (Parolin/TM) 4th and Kai Rillaerts (Sodi/TM) 5th (+15 places). Louis Iglesias (CRG/Iame) had fallen to 32nd place. The grip improved and Gomez began a series of fastest times from lap 7, extending his lead over Bondarev under threat from Khavalkin. Ean Eyckmans (Birel ART/TM) moved up to 5th place, followed at a distance by Dmitry Matveev (KR/Iame). Andy Consani (Sodi/TM) joined Thomas Quincé (Tony Kart/Vortex) on the list of retirements. Khavalkin had attacked Bondarev, and Kanthan followed suit with two laps to go. Gomez set the fastest lap 5.6” ahead of Khavalkin. Kanthan finished 3rd, Bondarev 4th and Eyckmans 5th then penalised 15th. Tom Dussol (CRG/Iame) was 23rd and Iglesias 28th.
Super Heat 2: Turney penalised, McLaughlin wins
The weather remained threatening, but the track had dried out since the previous Super Heat and slick tyres were the order of the day. Joe Turney (KR/Iame) immediately took the lead, while Zac Drummond (Parolin/TM) dropped to 17th after being pushed in the wet by Turney. Fionn McLaughlin (KR/Iame) overtook Thibaut Ramaekers (KR/Iame) for P2. Lewis Wherrell (Exprit/TM) was 4th and David Walther (Tony Kart/Vortex) 5th. From mid-race onwards, McLaughlin reduced the gap to Turney. Hugo Martiniello (CRG/Iame) retired on the eighth lap and Jimmy Hélias (KR/Iame) had retired at the first corner. Turney won 1.5 seconds ahead of McLaughlin, who was being chased but not attacked by his team-mate Ramaekers. But Turney received a 5″ penalty and was now 4th. Walther took 3rd place and Pavan finished 5th. Adam Rahali (KR/Iame) had made up 15 places to 9th and Drummond was back in 11th.
Info Kartcom with Kartlink / Photo © KSP – Arthur Saulnier-Bruneau