#44 SUMMARY 004 EDITORIAL 005 NEWS
Rotax THUNDER takes another step Outstanding participation for the 5th edition of the Historic Super Cup Update of the WSK Final Cup calendar Another French Championship for Kart In Pro Competition FIA Karting photographers dressed by Alpinestars Electric karting on the road to the Olympic Games RS: the new Ralf Schumacher kart manufactured by IPK
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Everything you need to know about "ROK the RIO" four months before the event Kartagene opens new horizons for karting Sodi KidRacer: a new product for 3-6 year olds 24th Clovis Trophy in Soissons The original karting experience! Just a few weeks until the 2018 24 Hours Karting Mission accomplished for LeCont in KZ, KZ2 and Academy
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INTERNATIONAL LONATO - FIA KARTING EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
NATION A BLUE EUROPE
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Lonato - FIA Karting - European Championship Lonato - FIA Karting - Academy Trophy Salbris - National Series Karting Anneville - FFSA French Championship Anneville - FFSA French Cup Angerville - FFSA French Championship Soucy - FFSA French Championship Soucy - FFSA French Cup Shenington - Tuto Super One Series
Dijon - French F4 Championship Red Bull Ring - Eurocup Formula Renault Lonato - 2018 WSK Open Cup KZ2 Final FFSA Karting Meeting - Anneville's highlights FIA Karting European Championship Lonato 2018 - KZ Final Interview with the President of the FFSA Nicolas Deschaux
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NATIONAL SOUCY FFSA FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIP
NATIONAL SALBRIS NATIONAL SERIES KARTING
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RACING IN THE HEAT WAVE IN EUROPE 3
KARTCOM NEWS #44
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he month of July 2018 will be remembered as one of the hottest in recent history. A relentless sun has raised temperatures during the many competitions of the summer, but can we complain about it? It could have been worse! And then the French team won the Football World Cup ... While the name CIK-FIA is now replaced by FIA Karting, the first two European titles of the season have been awarded at the Lonato South Garda Karting track which made its return to the international calendar. TM Racing engines still dominate the gearbox categories. CRG impressed in KZ: although Paolo de Conto was deprived of the victory and the title by a sporting decision that fuels conversation, Fabian Federer was declared the winner while Jorrit Pex took
his second European crown. The Italian event saw the emergence of new talent in KZ2 with the domination of Frenchman Emilien Denner on a Kali'Kart made by CRG against the Italians, and the coronation of his compatriot Adrien Renaudin on a Sodi from the team CPB Sport. That’s not going to improve the image of our country with our neighbours ... In France, the last four weekends have been full of national competitions. After the conclusion of the NSK at Salbris, the FFSA has awarded no less than seven French Championships and four French Cups in the space of three weeks. The IAME engines were in the spotlight in the new federal categories: X30 for Senior, Master and Gentleman, the 60cc Gazelle with manual starter in Minime. Rotax engines remain in the spotlight in Cadet and National.
EDITORIAL
KARTCOM NEWS #44 The last meeting at Soucy was honoured by a visit from the President of the FFSA, Nicolas Deschaux, whom we talked with for a long time to better understand current issues in karting. The summer break will be short-lived as the beginning of August will be marked by a highly anticipated event: the last of the four events of the European Championship for the OK and OK-Junior categories at Aunay-les-Bois / Essay (FRA) on August 2nd to 5th. The KSP - Kartcom team wishes a happy holiday to all those lucky enough to take it. See you in September for the World Championships at Genk (BEL) and Kristianstad (SWE).
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Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo Rotax
ROTAX THUNDER TAKES ANOTHER STEP From 30th June to 1st July, BRP-Rotax brought the future into the present with the very first race of the DEKM (Deutsche Elektro-Kart-Meisterschaft). This long-
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awaited event took place at one of the most modern German circuits, Oschersleben
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nder the slogan "Race like never before", 17 young drivers competed on the Rotax THUNDeR high-performance electric karts, and in bright sunshine, the 15 to 18-yearold electric kart drivers competed intensely in front of many spectators during an electrifying weekend for these very high quality electrical machines. The new Rotax THUNDeR, developed by IET and BRP-Rotax, is Rotax's first electric-powered competition kart. It
accelerates from 0 to 100 km / h in 3.5 seconds without no emissions and has opened the history of electric racing. Peter Ölsinger, Rotax Vice President of Finance and Propulsion Systems of BRP-Rotax GmbH & Co KG: "We are very proud to pass this new milestone in kart racing with the Rotax THUNDeR, which is a great confirmation of our innovative journey towards the future." Manuel Adam, General Manager RIC TECH GmbH: "We have managed our entry to this new ground and we are eagerly awaiting the next races at Kerpen and Genk, in July and August." Samuele Mazzini, CEO of S.M.R.E. "We have achieved our common and ambitious goal by laying the foundations for electric karts in real racing conditions." Rotax THUNDeR is a RIC TECH GmbH product. It is a collaboration between SMRE SpA, a leading company specialising in the development of technology-based solutions in the field of electrical mobility and BRPRotax GmbH & Co KG, the leader in the production and development of motors and recreational vehicles
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS:
Philipp Britz, a 16-year-old from Saarbrücken, won both races on Saturday. Dennis Siemens, also 16, of Bielefeld, won the first race on Sunday, while Lukas Hortsmann of Meerbusch won the second.
NEXT RACES OF THE 2018 DEKM: • 28th to 29th July in Kerpen 24th to 26th August in Genk (BE)
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Info FIA Karting Š Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
A MAGIC ENTRY FOR THE 5 CIK-FIA HISTORIC SUPER CUP. TH
For the fifth time Historic karts will feature as a support act during the CIK-FIA World Championship from 7th to 9th September in Genk (BEL) and what a quality show it will be!
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ircuit promoter Dave Ritzen said : "The popularity of the event went beyond my expectation; we were already over subscribed before the entry closing date. So we had to disappoint a few people. However the 42 karts selected will give
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an excellent view of how chassis design has developed from the pioneer days over five decades. We welcome participants from ten different nationalities, among them some karting legends like Martin Bott, Jeff Wullens, Georg Bellof and Paul Lemmens to name just a few. Besides the on track action, there will be also an area with milestone karts on display such as the Reattino, the first kart produced by the oldest still existing kart manufacturer Birel, the Tecno Piuma that changed chassis design philosophy for ever and last but not least karts with which some F1 stars staked their claim to karting fame."
Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet
www.vegatyres.com
UPDATE OF THE WSK FINAL CUP CALENDAR
The WSK Final Cup, which has been extended to three events this year, will start on October 21st at Lonato on the South Garda Karting circuit. The second round will take place at the 7 Laghi circuit in Castelletto from 8th to 11th November and the last round has also been moved back one week, from 22th to 25th November at Adria. Entries will soon be open on the wsk.it website.
WSK FINAL CUP - 60 MINI OK-JUNIOR / OK / KZ2 • 21 October - Lonato • 11 November - Castelletto • 25 November - Adria
Nicole Colleoni - Ph: Sirio Serughetti - Art Direction: Guido Monfrini / Makelab.it - Make-up: Lorenza Bacchieri - Location: Pista 7 Laghi Castelletto di Branduzzo (PV) - Riproduzione vietata - Imposta di pubblicità a cura di chi lo espone in pubblico - Backstage:
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he last two competitions on the schedule have been delayed by a week at the request of several major teams. WSK Promotion has decided to release the weekend of 18th November,originally scheduled for Adria to allow drivers who wish to participate in the 22nd Supernationals, the annual big race in Las Vegas.
www.vegatyres.com/backstage
WSK Promotion is already preparing for the big finale of the season consisting of three rounds.
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Info KARTCOM - Renaud Didier © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
ANOTHER FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIP FOR
KART IN PRO COMPÉTITION
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The last two events for Kart In Pro Competition team have again resulted in successes and podiums. At the NSK in Salbris, as well as at the French National Championship, Yannick Iglesias’ training instilled a positive dynamic in his drivers, while at the same time giving them the benefit of equipment prepared with knowledge that has been recognised for many years.
total of 67 entries. The best female at the beginning of the meeting, Luna Cleret then didn’t quite reach her potential. Victor Soulan was able to turn his 37th lap into 17th place overall, just ahead of his team-mate Noam Abramczyk. The latter was aiming for a top 12, before dropping back after a retirement in the second of the three Finals. At the French Championship in Angerville with X30 engines or at Soucy with its young talented drivers, the Kart In Pro Compétition team hopes to continue on the same path ...
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n Salbris, Hugo Martiniello confirmed his great form in Minime. Only 8th in Qualifying, he was able to improve the situation with his team and his Formula K chassis to progressively move up to the front. He ended up on the top step of the podium after a great effort and an impressive level of performance. In Cadet, Louis Iglesias significantly increased his points total thanks to a clear round. This gave him a 3rd place in the NSK in his first year in the categorie. A week later at Anneville, Sami Meguetounif and Kart In Pro Compétition had set themselves the challenge of retaining their French National Championship. This difficult mission succeeded beyond their expectations. Not only did Sami reach his goal of winning the title, but he did it with panache by achieving pole position, winning all three heats and all three Finals, while accumulating several fastest laps in the race. The work provided by Kart In Pro Competition team was flawless, as was the quality of the engines refined internally in the workshop at the Brignoles circuit. In Normandy, Meguetounif pulled the whole team up, as his team-mates showed good progress and an excellent level of performance. All reached the Final at the wheel of their Exprit karts, out of a
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Info KARTCOM - Renaud Didier © Photo KSP - Léo Kalmès
FIA KARTING PHOTOGRAPHERS DRESSED BY ALPINESTARS The European Championship and Academy Trophy held at Lonato, Italy, was an opportunity for FIA Karting to distribute the new jackets that photographers must wear when they go to restricted areas, such as the track or the dummy grid.
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he equipment manufacturer Alpinestars took charge of the manufacture of this high quality product, specially designed for photographers. Reinforced in various places, ventilated, equipped with numerous pockets for the storage of accessories and numbered, this jacket proves as comfortable as it is practical. It bears the logos "FIA Karting Championship" and "FIA Action for Road Safety".
Info KARTCOM - FrĂŠdĂŠric Billet
RS, THE NEW RALF SCHUMACHER KART MANUFACTURED BY IPK Ralf Schumacher, a former F1 driver with the Jordan, Williams and Toyota teams, who has been active in karting in recent years with his team KSM Schumacher Motorsport, has launched RS, his own range of karts. He chose IPKarting to produce the chassis that will bear his name.
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he RS chassis will be designed and manufactured at the IPKarting site in Salizzole (VR), Italy, and distributed worldwide directly by KSM Motorsport, based in Kerpen, Germany. The RS brand will make its debut on the international scene at the World Championship in Genk on 8th and 9th September.
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Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo Birel ART
ELECTRIC KARTING
ON THE ROAD TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES The idea is not as crazy as it seems. E-karting would allow the FIA to bring motorsport into Olympic competition for the first time. In 2012, the International Olympic Committee recognised the FIA as the governing body of world motorsport. The Olympic test bench for new disciplines, the Youth Olympic Games, created in 2010, will this year in Buenos Aires host a demonstration of electric karting in the form of a slalom. Very concerned about road safety, the FIA has a strong argument to convince the governing bodies by highlighting the training of young people through e-karting.
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ilent, non-polluting and relatively simple to implement in city centres, e-karting has all the attributes needed to join the Games. It also respects the spirit of the Games thanks to its one-design formula that puts all competitors on an equal footing, an unavoidable condition of Olympism, the athletes having to make the difference and not the equipment. Gender equality is also integral to this project. The President of CIK-FIA, Felipe Massa, is a strong supporter of the project. For him, karting is perfect for the Olympic Games. "The prospect of one day seeing motorsport as part of the Olympic Games is still a long way off, but bringing a real motorsport competition into the Youth Olympic Games is an important first step," he said. E-karting could be ready to join the Youth Olympic Games in 2022 in South Africa. Competitors selected in national competitions would then compete in Qualifying Heats for a grand Final. Buenos Aires 2018, from 6th to 18th October 2018, will be an important step for this project.
NEXTEVENTS 30 SEPTEMBER
TROFEO D'AUTUNNO Rd.1
7 OCTOBER
TROFEO D'AUTUNNO Final
13 OCTOBER
ROK CUP INTERNATIONAL FINAL
21 OCTOBER
WSK FINAL CUP Rd.1
28 OCTOBER
TROFEO DELLE INDUSTRIE
South Garda Karting
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Lonato del Garda (Brescia-Italy)
www.southgardakarting.it - info@southgardakarting.it - Tel. +39 030 9919958
NEWS
Info KARTCOM - FrĂŠdĂŠric Billet
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT "ROK THE RIO" AT FOUR MONTHS OF THE EVENT While the calendar has passed the middle of 2018, ROK Cup Promotions is finalising the final details of the first annual "ROK the RIO" event in Las Vegas. The ROK Cup USA is making an extra effort to ensure that teams and drivers get the most out of their stay at the Sin City RIO All Suites Hotel and Casino.
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"W
e are well ahead of the programme and we check every detail three times," says Garrett Potter, ROK Cup Promotions Manager. "As some of you know, the RIO is now accepting room reservations and we will open entries on Friday, 20th July. We have developed our schedule based on the Finals on Saturday, which will allow teams, drivers and families to stay and enjoy some time in Vegas without rushing home late Sunday night, and we have a large number of international drivers coming to the competition, so I think you will see surprising entries".
As teams and drivers continue to progress in their local, regional and national programmes in 2018, ROK Cup Promotions is getting ahead by providing all the information needed for everyone to plan their trip to Las Vegas.
Potter continues:
"With our ROK the RIO event taking place during one of Vegas' busiest weeks, you'll certainly find plenty to do during your stay - ROK the RIO, SEMA and Halloween, for sure, it will be a great experience." SEMA is one of the largest industry fairs in the world. Although reserved for industry members only, ROK the RIO participants will be eligible to participate if they have a registered business. And while Las Vegas is known as the Wonderland for adults, Halloween will also help kids find their niche. Whether it's candy or treats at Caesars Palace Mall, a haunted house or a horror show, Halloween enables family activities for all ages.
Please consult the links below: REGISTRATION SEMA
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HALLOWEEN EVENTS IN LAS VEGAS
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ENTRY (OPENING ON JULY 20TH)
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AGENDA OF THE MEETING
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PLAN OF THE TRACK
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HOTEL INFORMATION
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STAND REQUEST FORM
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RULES AND REGULATIONS
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Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
KARTAGENE
OPENS NEW HORIZONS FOR KARTING The desire to transmit the passion and values of kart racing has always been part of Kartagene's DNA. Marc Berteaux is constantly looking for new opportunities to get young
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people racing by giving them the best chance of finding their own way. The Kartagene Driver Programme ensures this mission with unfailing commitment at the Salbris circuit.
Kartagene has also recently developed new ways to introduce karting to more young people. Thanks to a partnership with a school in the region, a "mechanical sport" option is now offered as part of the education of college students. This innovative initiative is currently experiencing tremendous success with young people.
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t's not a revelation to say that karting is unknown. Everyone knows it," explains Marc Berteaux. "On the other hand, to see the impact on young people of simple concrete actions opens up enormous possibilities. When you are passionate and knowledgeable about the subject, it is not that complicated to show how attractive this discipline is in many different ways. During our first day of discovery last May, the students were enthusiastic and their teachers were also convinced.
As a result, demands for our "motorsport" option have exploded, ahead of sports that were much better known. At the beginning of September, it will encompass all classes at the College SaintGeorges de Salbris, with more than 50 students from 6th to 3rd. This is a very encouraging first step, and we will not stop there!" Satisfied with this new way of introducing karting, Kartagene will continue to develop its strategy in this field. By continually working in contact with the field and people, a second day called "Kart Day" will soon be organised for a younger audience, 7 to 14 years old. The underlying idea is of course to give a new impetus to the French School of Karting at Salbris. Marc Berteaux has not finished exploring the possibilities of this new orientation towards the general public, a concrete action that is already bearing fruit.
KARTAGENE.FR
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Info KARTCOM - FrĂŠdĂŠric Billet
SODI KIDRACER A NEW PRODUCT FOR 3-6 YEAR OLDS The Sodi KidRacer innovates in the market of fun karts for very young drivers. Entirely designed by Sodikart's Research & Development department, it is equipped with a motor controller made by Selva.
THE LATEST ADDITION TO THE SODIKART ELECTRIC KART RANGE Aimed at young drivers wishing to learn the rules of driving a real kart, the KidRacer is at once reliable, manageable and fun. For power, it is equipped with an electric motor designed and adjusted to offer linear acceleration, pleasant and reassuring. Its automatic brake allows the little ones to easily understand how to stop the kart. From an operators point of view, the batteries on board have a large storage capacity allowing the kart to run for a full day.
A COMPLETELY CUSTOMISED MOTOR CONTROLLER FROM SELVA According to the specifications of the R & D department of Sodikart, the controller drives a brushless motor of 24V 650W, especially during startup phases, which can be tricky on an electric vehicle. The operation of the coin mechanism, as well as a library of sounds, are among the options integrated into this specific unit. To allow the child to have the sensation of fast driving, the sounds reproduce the roar of an internal combustion engine in tune with the different phases of driving. Configurable by the operator, according to his needs, using an HMI (Human Machine Interface): they can easily configure and modify the session time, speed, sound effects, etc. The KidRacer is completely autonomous, it does not require the presence of a technician dedicated its operation. Selva has integrated a very high-performance power unit, consisting of the latest-generation MOS transistors, without heatsinks, to allow continuous use of the vehicle without fear of overheating.
WWW.SELVA.FR
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ENERGY POWER www.energycorse.com
d l r o W e h T
f o l l is fu
Y G R ENE
: TORM S Y G E NE R L E R OF ION A T WINN A N INTER E M A I L 2017 ION A L T A A N N I F ER K INT O R A ND 2017 L A N FI
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Info FFSA Karting
24TH TROPHY CLOVIS AT SOISSONS:
THE EXCITEMENT OF THE ORIGINAL KART! Persisting against all odds thanks to the perseverance of ASK Soissons and the benevolent eye of the municipality, the Clovis Trophy sees its 24th edition on Sunday 19th August in the streets of the city of Vase, the first capital of France. The latest race in the town, open to all categories, the Clovis Trophy shows its participants the incredible intensity and popular fervour of the early races in the history of karting.
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n downtown Soissons, in the department of Aisne, thousands of spectators on pavements, balconies and windows recall the enthusiasm of the street races that we still see in Pau and Monaco. Last of the big "straw boots" races, in 2018 the Clovis Trophy offered a unique race of its kind in France. While safety has been adapted to current standards, the unique atmosphere of a street race has been preserved with the support of the city of Soissons. Difficult to describe, the pleasure of such a race must be experienced live with the joy shared between drivers and the spectators like nowhere else. This kind of competition the origin of the popular karting craze in the 60s and 70s, two legendary decades for this discipline. Year after year, ASK Soissons is fighting to keep this special race on schedule. It now takes place on the 578 m long track of Saint Jean des Vignes, in the centre of Soissons, and this club race brings
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together the enthusiasts. All categories will be hosted on Sunday, 19th August, 2018 from 9am to 6pm. The traditional demonstration of historic karts will of course be on the programme. An on-site catering service will allow everyone to make the most of this exceptional day. Access is free for the public. Entries can be made online on the website www.asksoissons. fr until 11th August for an amount of €65, then increased to €70 and €20 for historical karts. Registration will only be final upon receipt of the payment by ASK Soissons. The programme includes free practice, Timed Practice, Prefinal and Final for each categorie.
All information can be found at ASKSOISSONS.FR
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Info ACO © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
JUST A FEW WEEKS BEFORE THE 2018
24 HOURS KARTING
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As the summer break in August looms, the countdown is on for the 34th 24 Hours Karting. Entries are still open for the teams that will start Saturday, 29th September at 1500, twice round the clock on the Le Mans Karting International Circuit while the 24 Hours Truck will start on the Bugatti circuit. Surprises are inevitable!
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he ACO dedicates all its energy to the preparation of the flagship endurance karting event in direct collaboration its karting club, the ASK ACO. Karting is the first step in the ACO's endurance pyramid and driver pathway. Learning to drive and training future talent is one of the priorities of the legendary Sarthe club. Progression towards the highest level of endurance then moves through the categories LM P3 and LM P2 before the top categorie in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, LM P1. It's the same for the endurance karting that starts in GP3 with young teams like Wintec-Kartagene and its four drivers trained in the French Junior Championship: Mathis Poulet, Lukas Papin, two winners of the ACO Volant, and PierreFranรงois Duriani joined by Evan Spenle, who are racing in a kart powered by an OK-Junior engine. The progression continues in GP2, the largest proportion of the field with a Rotax Max engine and specialists in the discipline. Finally the battle for the overall victory concerns the GP1 class and their powerful OK engines. Karting endurance specialists and factory teams compete in the CIK-FIA Endurance Championship, a prestigious title created in 2016 to formalise the importance of endurance at the international level.
counting for the FIA European Truck Racing Championship. The ACO confirms its desire to create bridges between the various disciplines and to offer a wider experience to the expected numerous enthusiasts Le Mans. Also on the programme is a curtain-raising race for young drivers "the cadets 24-minute" and a historic race for karts from 1986 to 2000 "The 20,000 rpm" in which Julien Canal is expected to participate. Throughout the weekend, spectators will also enjoy the leisure kart and simulator activities. In collaboration with the CIK-FIA, the ACO continues the preparation for the 2018 24 Hours Karting. Find the rules and the registration form below, to reserve your place on the starting grid of the 2018 24 Hours Karting on 29th and 30th September at Le Mans.
RULES
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REGISTRATION FORM
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The major brands Birel ART, CRG Energy Corse and Sodikart have already shown their willingness to compete for the title with factory teams bringing drivers to compete for the track record. The presence of these true karting stars alongside pure amateurs contributes to the aura of the 24 Hours Karting and its appeal to the general public. This year, the show will be completed with the simultaneous running of the 24 Hours Trucks on the Bugatti circuit,
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Info KARTCOM - Renaud Didier Š Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
LECONT
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED IN KZ, KZ2 AND ACADEMY The official supplier for the KZ and KZ2 categories at the European Championships, as well as the CIK-FIA Academy Trophy, the tyre manufacturer LeCont has fulfilled its contract perfectly thanks to products that have ensured performance and durability on a benchmark circuit for all teams and drivers: the famous South Garda Karting at Lonato. LeCont would like to congratulate them for their performances and the show they put on. The Italian Grand Prix gave rise to intense races and thrilling suspense until the checkered flag of the finals of the three categories represented in Lonato. This observation was only possible thanks to the quality of the tires supplied to competitors throughout the meeting, both in the "premium" version in KZ and KZ2, and in the "option" version at the Academy Trophy. "Firstly, I am very satisfied with the very positive feedback we received during the weekend from the main stakeholders, the drivers and the teams," said Paolo Bombara, marketing manager at LeCont. "At Salbris, some of them had clearly confirmed that our tyres had been performing equally well from one set to another, while regretting a degradation in
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performance after a few laps. It must be recognised that the tarmac of Salbris is quite old and has become very abrasive over the years. The phenomenon was known to everyone. At Lonato, on the other hand, everything went very well, proof that the problem did not come from the tyres. I confirm that we used exactly the same rubber batch (single production lot) to produce both the Salbris and the Lonato tyres."
A VERY FAST POLE POSITION As usual, the Lonato circuit has been used extensively since the beginning of the season by different organisers. In KZ2, pole position was 46 "693 at the Winter Cup, then 45" 803 at the Andrea Margutti Trophy, each time with two other manufacturers. More recently, at the WSK Open Cup where the heat was as high as in the European Championship, the best time in the Qualifying Heats was 46 "161. At the Italian Championship 15 days earlier, the pole time was 45 "810 and the best lap in the Final was 46" 132. However, at the KZ2 European Championship with LeCont, all these times were beaten, as pole went down to 45 "770. And even down to 45 "624 in KZ! In this categorie, 12 drivers qualified in a window of just over a tenth. In the Final, the fastest laps were 45 "754 (KZ) and 46" 052 (KZ2). These reference times once again demonstrate the efficiency of LeCont tyres, combined with real driving pleasure. "We are looking forward to the World Championship at Genk in
September to again offer very efficient tyres to delight all competitors on this demanding track," said Paolo Bombara.
A NEW BARCODE Unfortunately, in sport, there are always people who want to get around the rules! In karting, it turned out that tyre barcodes could be removed using a razor blade, or a cutter, and then replaced with a new one. For LeCont, always in search of innovation and perfection, it was important to react, despite a very short lapse of time between Salbris and Lonato. "In collaboration with an external partner, we have succeeded in developing a new barcode that can not be removed without "fatally� damaging the tyre, preventing any tampering. Unlike others of this type, this barcode does not deform and remains legible, as easily as before, by the machines of the technical commissioners. It is always attached before vulcanisation and remains, like the previous one, 100% compliant with the CIK-FIA regulations," says Paolo Bombara.
In anticipation of upcoming future homologations, LeCont continues to explore new solutions that will likely be used in the future, such as RFID technology. This incorporates an electronic chip inside the rubber for maximum security. Remember that LeCont was the first manufacturer in the world to adopt in an international event - all sports combined - the RFID technology embedded in a tyre. It was already in place in 2012, in Bahrain, during the last round of the U18 World Championship (https://www.fia.com/news/multiple-noveltiesbahrain-even-tyres). It was also the first international karting race held at night.
AT LECONT, WORK AND RESEARCH CONTINUE UNCEASINGLY ...
26
CALENDAR
AUGUST 2018 05/08 12/08 12/08 19/08 26/08 26/08 26/08 26/08
ESSAY A1 SPEEDWORLD CASTELLETTO ASSEN MIRECOURT GENK MIRECOURT CROIX EN TERNOIS
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP ROTAX MAX - EURO TROPHY IAME - EURO SERIES EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE DEUTSCHE KART MEISTERSCHAFT COUPE DE FRANCE CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE
OK / OK-JUNIOR DD2 / X30 SENIOR / X30 JUNIOR / X30 MINI X30 JUNIOR / X30 SUPER SHIFTER / X30 MINI / X30 SENIOR SUPERKART MINIME OK-JUNIOR / OK / KZ2 NATIONALE KZ2 MASTER (LONG CIRCUIT) / KZ2 (LONG CIRCUIT) / KZ2 GENTLEMAN (LONG CIRCUIT)
CEE ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE ACADEMY TROPHY CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE IAME - SERIES FRANCE WORLD KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP INTERNATIONAL SUPER CUP CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE CHALLENGE ROTAX MAX FRANCE WORLD KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP ENDURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP ROTAX MAX - EURO TROPHY
ACADEMY SUPERKART X30 SENIOR / X30 MASTER / X30 GENTLEMAN / X30 SUPER / X30 MINIME / X30 JUNIOR KZ KZ2 F4 ROTAX MAX / DD2 / ROTAX MASTER / NATIONALE / CADET OK / OK-JUNIOR OK DD2 / ROTAX SENIOR / MINI MAX / ROTAX JUNIOR
CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE IAME INTERNATIONAL FINAL ROK CUP INTERNATIONAL FINAL CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE WSK - FINAL CUP EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP TROFEO DELLE INDUSTRIE
F4 SUPERKART KZ2 MASTER / KZ2 GENTLEMAN / KZ2 X30 SUPER / X30 MINI / X30 JUNIOR / X30 SUPER SHIFTER / X30 SENIOR / X30 MASTER SUPER ROK / ROK SENIOR / JUNIOR ROK / SHIFTER ROK / MINI ROK F4 OK / 60 MINI / OK-JUNIOR / KZ2 SUPERKART OK / 60 MINI / OK-JUNIOR / KZ2 / X30
CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE WSK - FINAL CUP CHAMPIONNAT DE FRANCE SKUSA - SUPERNATIONALS WSK - FINAL CUP
KZ2 MASTER (LONG CIRCUIT) / KZ2 (LONG CIRCUIT) / KZ2 GENTLEMAN (LONG CIRCUIT) OK / 60 MINI / OK-JUNIOR / KZ2 ENDURANCE
SEPTEMBER 2018 09/09 09/09 09/09 09/09 09/09 09/09 09/09 16/09 23/09 30/09 30/09
A1 SPEEDWORLD GENK NOGARO LE MANS (CARS) GENK GENK MAGNY-COURS (CARS) LAVAL KRISTIANSTAD LE MANS WACKERSDORF
OCTOBER 2018 07/10 07/10 07/10 14/10 14/10 14/10 21/10 28/10 28/10
JEREZ (CARS) LE VIGEANT VARENNES / ALLIER LE MANS (CARS) LONATO LE CASTELLET (CARS) LONATO LE MANS (CARS) LONATO
NOVEMBER 2018 11/11 11/11 11/11 18/11 25/11
PAU ARNOS CASTELLETTO ANGERVILLE LAS VEGAS ADRIA
DECEMBER 2018 01/12
PARAIBA
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ROTAX CHALLENGE GRAND FINALS
OK / 60 MINI / OK-JUNIOR / KZ2
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© Photo KSP - P
Philippe Kalmès
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PEX AND RENAUDIN KZ
CROWNED AT LONATO
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KZ2
FIA KART. EUROPEAN CHAMP. KZ / KZ2 2/2, LONATO
KEY POINTS ORGANISER
+
CIK-FIA
LOCATION
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South Garda Karting, Lonato, Italie 1200 m
DATE 13th to 15th July, 2018
ENTRIES 106 drivers - 2 categorie • 5th FIA Karting event of 2018 LeCont tyres • Lonato's much anticipated return to the calendar • Strong CRG performance in KZ • De Conto loses the title following a penalty • Pex crowned again • Frenchmen Denner and Renaudin shine in KZ2 • Title for CPB Sport and Sodi Good weather
Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
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DE CONTO SANCTIONED,
FEDERER WINS, PEX
THE CHAMPION
F
rancesco Celenta (Praga / TM) could have been the hero of Lonato. As the poleman and leader of the heats, the victory could have gone to him without a breakdown in the Final. Although Paolo De Conto (CRG / TM) clearly dominated in the decisive race, his bold overtaking earned him a debatable penalty. De Conto was penalised, Celenta retired, the victory went to Fabian Federer (CRG / TM) ahead of the excellent Marijn Kremers (BirelART / TM) and the always brilliant Ben Hanley (Croc Promotions / TM). Bas Lammers (Alpha / TM) performed very well in 4th position while Jérémy Iglesias (Formula K / TM), who started well, was down in 14th. 5th in the Final, Jorrit Pex (CRG / TM) was finally crowned.
FINAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE FIA KARTING EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP - KZ 1 2 3 4 5
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Jorrit Pex Jérémy Iglesias Fabian Federer Marco Ardigo Paolo de Conto
50 pts 39 pts 37 pts 35 pts 32 pts
KZ
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KZ2
DENNER FIRED UP,
RENAUDIN WINS THE TITLE
e
milien Denner (Kali'Kart / TM) dominated the European KZ2 in Italy. The young Frenchman won almost everything against an impressive Italian armada before concluding with an indisputable victory in the Final. A strong 2nd, Giuseppe Palomba (Intrepid / TM) was the most serious of his rivals. It must be said that Riccardo Longhi (BirelART / TM) was delayed in a heat. His speed however allowed him to move up from 9th to 3rd position ahead of Matteo Vigano (Tony Kart / Vortex) and Giacomo Pollini (Formula K / TM). The leader after Salbris, Adrien Renaudin (Sodi / TM) managed his race with caution against to his opponents in the standings. 7th in the heats, he secured the European title with his 9th place in the Final.
FINAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE FIA KARTING EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP - KZ2 1 2 3 4 5 6
Adrien Renaudin Giacomo Pollini Émilien Denner Giuseppe Palomba Riccardo Longhi Alessio Piccini
46 pts 37 pts 35 pts 34 pts 34 pts 34 pts
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Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
THE BLUES ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS,
A BLUE EUROPEAN CHAMPION
A French CIK-FIA European Champion in KZ2! It had not happened for 10 years. With his incredible talent that has allowed him to win so many races and titles since his debut in karting, Adrien Renaudin will have taken a year and a half from joining the demanding categorie, to achieve this goal that was close to his heart.
I
t is not a trivial achievement, as the European KZ2 Championship this year counted nearly 80 registered drivers, from a score of nationalities. Adrien recounts... "At the beginning of the season, we made every effort to be ready on D-Day. With the CPB Sport team, we participated in several international events to prepare this deadline in the best conditions." "From the first round of the European Championship, I had some very competitive Sodi / TM Racing equipment, and I came out on top of the Qualifying Heats and I led the Final from start to finish,
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posting the fastest lap in the race, so it was a perfect weekend." For the last event in Italy, Adrien Renaudin knew that his mission would be difficult at the circuit of Lonato where some Italian drivers are particularly sharp and difficult to beat at home. The lead he had in the provisional classification of the European Championship allowed him to avoid risk taking. In the Qualifying Heats, he put in a respectable performance and even won a heat, warning his opponents of his performance level. Relief came at the end of the 25 laps of the Final, with another top 10 and the long awaited coronation. "A big thank you to everyone who participated in this success: the entire CPB Sport team, Paul and Florent Bizalion, the Sodikart factory, Gildas MĂŠrian, Bertrand Pignolet and Julien Dexmier, TM Racing engines prepared by Franco Galiffa, the whole family, as well as all my partners."
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Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
DID DE CONTO DESERVE TO WIN OR LOSE THE EUROPEAN TITLE AT LONATO?
The question may legitimately arise a few days after the second and final round of the FIA Karting European KZ Championship at Lonato. On the track, the factory Italian CRG - TM Racing driver Paolo De Conto won the Final 2.2'' ahead of Fabian Federer (CRG / TM) and 3.7'' ahead of Marijn Kremers (BirelART / TM). He was then virtually the European Champion. However, his overtake on Francesco Celenta (Praga / TM) drew the attention of the stewards. More than an hour after the finish, the decision came in the form of a penalty of 10'' which dropped De Conto to 11th position in the race and 5th place in the Championship which was finally won by Jorrit Pex (CRG / TM).
in the lead. At the moment, Celenta lost a few lengths, then gradually gave way to a much faster opponent. He retired nine laps later due to a mechanical problem. Was De Conto's manouevre on Celenta wrong? This remains a matter of debate ... Viewing the video of the KZ Final (9'40) will allow everyone to form their own opinion. Certainly De Conto quickly took the lead over Celenta, while his level of performance could have allowed him to wait a bit to find a better opening. The subsequent retirement of Celenta, however, negated the consequences of the incident. Difficult to judge in these conditions if the penalty of 10'', with heavy consequences, was the best thing to do ... Fortunately, all was not lost for CRG, as Fabian Federer won the Final and another driver of the brand, Jorrit Pex (CRG / TM), won the European KZ Championship .
S
o what happened on the 9th of the 25 laps of this final? Starting 3rd, De Conto quickly went into action to overtake Kremers at the end of the lap of the Lonato circuit, and then catch up with Celenta. On lap 8, De Conto had joined Celenta and was looking for ways to overtake him. The attack took place on the next lap, at the penultimate hairpin. De Conto surprised Celenta who was heading towards the apex. The two karts came into contact, indisputably, but not very hard, and De Conto was
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Info KARTCOM - Renaud Didier Š Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
BIREL ART
TWO PODIUMS TO CONCLUDE THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP KREMERS GETTING USED TO BEING ON THE PODIUM
SUPERB RECOVERY FOR LONGHI IN 3RD POSITION
"In 2017, my first KZ European Championship had already been very good with the Birel ART team, having finished 3rd. This time, I would again like to underline the remarkable work done by my team, which again allowed me on to the podium of a European race. I'm as motivated as ever for the World Championship," said Marijn.
Winner of three heats at Salbris, he won four times this time! Forced to start 9th following his technical problem, he had a great attacking race and achieved his place on the third step of the podium at the end of the race.
In Italy, the Dutchman Marijn Kremers was one of the most prominent drivers in the top class of KZ, with the second fastest Qualifying performance. He kept his place on the front row for the Final after winning in a heat. The last race of the meeting was very intense with 20 drivers able to run on very close times and aim for the top positions. After fighting all the time, Kremers was 2nd.
The Dutchman's performance was completed by the excellent weekend of the Belgian Rick Dreezen (KSW), who put Birel ARTTM kart in the top 10.
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In KZ2 Riccardo Longhi has consistently shown himself to be one of the most successful drivers in the categorie. "From now on, a simple incident in a heat is a great disadvantage. This happened to me at Salbris, then here at Lonato with a faulty sparkplug. In both cases, it prevented me from starting in a favourable position for the Final, even though our technical potential is extraordinary this season and the victory, even the title, was conceivable," commented Riccardo.
The team was also delighted with the 13th place for the Swedish driver Alexander Dahlberg, including finishes in all the heats. For his return to this level of competition, the Italian Manuel Cozzaglio won a heat, with only a clutch
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problem during Qualifying depriving him of the Final. It was more difficult for the Ukrainian Ivan Peklin because of his position quite far back in the Timed Qualifying session. There was satisfaction for the the Birel ART Racing KSW team with the qualification for the Final by two of its drivers, the German Kevin Pieruszek and the Italian William Lanzeni, out of a total of 78 drivers.
"WE ARE READY FOR THE WORLDS"
Team manager of the Birel ART Racing team, Davide Fore delivers his analysis. "All of these week-ends have confirmed that Birel ART Racing is more than ever at the highest European level. This final of the European Championship is the proof, with podiums for Marijn Kremers in KZ and Riccardo Longhi in KZ2. I really want to congratulate the technical team for their high quality work as well as the drivers for their attention, as well as for these outstanding results, and the engine manufacturers for their excellent TM Racing engines." "Lonato really is a test for the chassis, with its long fast part which is linked by more sinuous corners and hairpins. It was grippy as well as hot. And in these conditions, these performances are very significant at this circuit that all the teams know perfectly. The chassis balance is really good, as is its competitiveness and consistency. From now on, we have to finish at the front in the European Championships for OK and OK-Junior, but I am really optimistic for the world events in September. The Birel ART Racing team is ready to take up these upcoming challenges."
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LUIGI COLUCCIO | KF
RICCARDO LONGHI | KZ
/BirelART
@BirelART
@Birel_ART
INTERNATIONAL
G N I T I C X E S E L T BAT IN ITALY
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FIA KARTING ACADEMY TROPHY 2/3, LONATO
KEY POINTS ORGANISER
+
CIK-FIA
LOCATION
+
South Garda Karting, Lonato, Italie 1200 m
DATE 13th to 15th July, 2018
ENTRIES 48 drivers - 1 category • 2nd round of the 2018 • CIKFIA Academy Trophy • Exclusively Exprit / Vortex / LeCont karts • Highly contested races Victory for Albanese • Very close racing among the frontrunners • Uncertain rankings in the Trophy • Good weather
Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
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ALBANESE WINS AT HOME, NAVALON KEEPS HIS LEAD
S
ami Meguetounif (FRA) again managed the fastest time in Qualifying Practice, before dominating the Qualifying Heats. But Federico Albanese (ITA) took advantage of his perfect knowledge of the track to remain in ambush and launch his attack in the Final. Meguetounif was even downgraded to 4th position. Meanwhile, two drivers stood out: Guilherme de Figueiredo (BRA) and Suleiman Zanfari (MAR), who managed to get on the podium behind Albanese. The leader of the provisional classification, Jose Maria Navalon (ESP), was satisfied with 5th place. The last event in Genk (BEL) in September promises to be tumultuous.
PROVISIONAL RANKING OF THE FIA KARTING ACADEMY TROPHY AFTER LONATO 1 2 3 4 5
Jose Maria Navalon Sami Meguetounif Federico Albanese Kobe Pauwels Suleiman Zanfari
51 pts 47 pts 40 pts 33 pts 29 pts
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Info FFSA Academy © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
SAMI MEGUETOUNIF CONQUERS THE FIA KARTING ACADEMY TROPHY
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The two drivers entered for the Academy Trophy under the banner of the 2018 France FFSA Espoirs Karting team have again displayed great skill during the Italian leg of the Academy Trophy at Lonato. With pole position, three wins out of three in the heats, 4th place in the Final and 2nd position in the provisional ranking of the Trophy at the end of the meeting, Sami Meguetounif is more than ever one of the best elements of the 2018 vintage. Although very fast, Craig Tanic was less successful.
I
n Italy, the staff of the FFSA Academy helped to put the two drivers of the French team in the best position to achieve the objectives set, in a competition where there is no place for improvisation. As at Salbris, Sami Meguetounif and Craig Tanic showed their ability to fight at the forefront and achieve some of the fastest lap times. "We took advantage of all the Free Practice sessions we had at our disposal to improve both the equipment and the drivers," admitted Marc Berteaux, coach of the France team. "Sami was very quick at the finish, but Craig did not know the Lonato circuit and we helped put him on the right track." In the first session, he was six tenths from the best. Then, he was able to achieve 7th in timed practice in the same tenth as Sami, who took a magnificent pole position.
ability to adapt and his will to aim for the podium. "The two drivers in the French team push each other, which is positive," said Marc Berteaux. Alas, a retirement in the last heat sent Craig back to 20th place. His Final was problematic, with Craig Tanic dropping down to 30th place with a lot of regrets and frustration. "Craig has great potential, but he is still inexperienced, remember that he was still in Cadet in 2017. The gaps are extremely tight in the Academy pack, everyone has the same OK-Junior equipment and it is important to manage your race, without rushing too much," continued Marc Berteaux.
MEGUETOUNIF RAKED IN THE POINTS!
For his part, Sami Meguetounif started a captivating duel at the front of the race. Oscillating between 1st and 3rd place over the laps, he was surprised by the return of another driver at the end of the race and crossed the finish line in 4th position. "It was not long before Sami got a second consecutive podium, and the important thing is that he remains in the title race, 2nd in the standings just four points behind the leader at Genk in Belgium in September," concluded his coach.
HIGHS AND LOWS FOR CRAIG TANIC
In the Qualifying Heats, Sami Meguetounif drove the perfect course: three heats, three wins! By finishing in his wake once, in turn Craig demonstrated his
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Info KARTCOM - Renaud Didier © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
SULEIMAN ZANFARI
A MOROCCAN PODIUM AT THE CIK-FIA ACADEMY TROPHY After his victory in the Italian Championship a week earlier, Suleiman Zanfari remained in the same dynamic during the second of the three events of the 2018 CIK-FIA Academy Trophy. The Moroccan motorsport hopeful has worthily represented the colours of his country and the FRMSA (Royal Moroccan Federation of Motor Sports). The points scored at the circuit of Lonato, especially during the Final where he finished in 3rd position, allow him to hope for a flattering classification in this world-renowned FIA karting trophy.
T
he Moroccan flag has floated on the podium of the Academy Trophy at the Italian Grand Prix! A highlight that we owe to Suleiman Zanfari (just 13 years old), who was particularly fast, inspired and determined at Lonato. This Academy Trophy has the distinction of seeing young
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drivers from many nationalities (37 in all) compete at the wheel of identical OK-Junior karts. It's the talent of the driver, his motivation and his sensitivity in the development of the equipment that make the difference. In the hot weather, Suleiman Zanfari's progress was methodical and noticeable. In the Qualifying Heats, he successively finished 5th, 3rd and 5th, posting a fastest lap in the race. In the Final, he made a magnificent start to the race and quickly moved up to 4th position. "The top three were ahead, but I pushed as hard as I could to join them," commented Suleiman. Concentrated on his goal of the podium, he managed a masterful pass on the French driver Sami Meguetounif at the chicane to gain 3rd place. Such an overtaking manouevre at this place is certainly the prerogative of the greatest! "This season, I am really proud to have been chosen by the FRMSA to represent Morocco in this great international competition. Going for this podium was important to me. I have moved up to 5th in the provisional classification of this Trophy and I intend to take advantage of the last race in Belgium to finish in the top three in the Final." Suleiman, a Lotus Kart driver in 2018, wanted to thank his coach Karol Basz, World Karting Champion in 2015, and Gabriele Bassetta, a brilliant mechanic, for their valuable help.
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NATIONAL SERIES KARTING 3/3 – SALBRIS
KEY POINTS ORGANISER
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3MK Events
LOCATION
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Circuit International de Salbris Salbris - France 1477 m
DATE 28th June - 1st July, 2018
ENTRIES 148 drivers - 7 categorie • 3rd meeting of 2018 NSK • Quality field • Interesting races • Presentation of tickets for the Rotax Grand Final • Good organisation and friendly atmosphere • Fine very hot weather
! S N O I P M A H C 8 Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
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MARTINIELLO
WINS THE FINAL AND OUTRAN CROWNED
MIN
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H
aving arrived as leader at Salbris, Clément Outran (DR) has kept his advantage intelligently this weekend. Maxens Verbrugge (Parolin) however dominated most of the meeting, including Qualifying and the heats. First to cross the finish line of the Final, he was penalised for coming out of his corridor and his spoiler. Arthur Dorison (Tony Kart) and Alan Lanfray (Kosmic) failed to materialise in the Final and it was Hugo Martiniello (Formula K) who prevailed ahead of Outran and Sacha Avril (Kosmic). Outran's strategy paid off over the complete season.
FINAL RANKING OF THE NSK 2018 - MINIME 1 2 3 4 5
Clément Outran Kimi Mérieux Arthur Raphanel Arthur Dorison Paul Grisel
401 pts 357 pts 354 pts 319 pts 318 pts
NIME
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VICTORY FOR SPIRGEL,
TITLE FOR NAEL
CAD
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T
héophile Nael (DR) managed his season perfectly to ensure the best outcome. After setting the fastest time, he has shown coolness in the heats as in the Final to achieve his goal. Mattéo Spirgel (Birel ART) threw all his energy into the battle. Leader after the heats, he earned a deserved victory in the Final, but could do nothing more to counter the ambitions of Nael. Andy Ratel (Top Kart) was 2nd on the podium in front of Léo Poncel (KR).
FINAL RANKING OF THE NSK 2018 - CADET 1 2 3 4 5
Théophile Nael Matteo Spirgel Louis Iglesias Léo Poncel Augustin Bernier
403 pts 385 pts 360 pts 354 pts 286 pts
DET
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SOLID SUCCESS FOR
MASSON
NATIONAL
A
While César Gazeau (FA Kart) shone from Qualifying until the Prefinal, Esteban Masson (Kosmic) ensured solid heats and gave his best effort to win the Final which allowed him to also win at the end of the season. Guilhem Crespin (Exprit) made a good return on the second step of the podium of the Final followed by Louis Pelet (Tony Kart), one of the leaders of the category. Gazeau finished 5th behind Ethan Bernard (Tony Kart).
FINAL RANKING OF THE NSK 2018 - NATIONAL 1 2 3 4 5
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Esteban Masson Florian Rousseau Ricci Guilhem Crespin Guillaume Treillard de Quinemont César Gazeau
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388 pts 348 pts 343 pts 314 pts 306 pts
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VICTORY AND TITLE FOR
BERNIER
ROTAX MAX
V
ictor Bernier (Kosmic) was flawless in the Rotax Max category. Poleman and leader at the end of the heats, he finished a most convincing performance by leading the Final from start to finish to the win. His performances earned him the advantage over Bastien Borget (Sodi) in the overall standings. Milan Petelet (Sodi) took the lead, eventually taking 2nd place in front of Paul Fourquemin (Sodi), coming back well in the Final, while Borget was to fight against LĂŠonie Claude (Tony Kart) to finish in 4th.
FINAL RANKING OF THE NSK 2018 - ROTAX MAX 1 2 3 4 5
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Victor Bernier Bastien Borget Milan Petelet Nicolas Picot Paul Fourquemin
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414 pts 389 pts 380 pts 361 pts 332 pts
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A WINNING COMEBACK FOR
ROMAIN MANGÉ R E T S A M X A M X A ROT
T
hree drivers dominated the battle in the over 30s. Éric Le Moine (Sodi) took pole position, while Romain Mangé (Tony Kart) finished at the front of the heats and made a winning comeback in the Final after an incident early in the race. Meanwhile, Rudy Champion (Sodi) followed in 2nd position with his strategy for the championship all the more effective as his rival Olivier Paris (Sodi) lost his 4th place in the Final after coming in under weight.
FINAL RANKING OF THE NSK 2018 ROTAX MAX MASTER 1 2 3 4 5
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Rudy Champion Romain Mange Bruno Dos Santos Antoine Antier Éric Le Moine
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414 pts 392 pts 350 pts 338 pts 316 pts
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BESANCENEZ
CROWNED DESPITE THE EFFORTS OF PICOT
DD
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O
n the track, Nicolas Picot (Tony Kart) emerged victorious from a tight confrontation between four drivers. Andrew Williamson (Exprit) set the fastest lap, followed by Lucas Joly (Sodi) and Paolo Besancenez (Sodi), the best placed in the standings when arriving at Salbris. Picot defeated his opponents and won the Final, while the battle lasted until the finish for Besancenez to finish 2nd in front of Joly. Besancenez had the pleasant surprise of winning in the season standings.
FINAL RANKING OF THE NSK 2018 - DD2 1 2 3 4 5
Paolo Besancenez Lucas Joly Andrew Williamson Nicolas Picot Jordan Caille
400 pts 382 pts 369 pts 340 pts 108 pts
D2
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FINAL PUSH FOR
LAVERGNE
DD2 M
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T
he DD2 Master competition changed configuration because of Paul Louveau's injury and the premature withdrawal for personal reasons by Christophe Adams at the start of the meeting. Franck Lavergne (Sodi) never surrendered the lead of the category, while taking pleasure in fighting the DD2 drivers. Romain Bossard (Sodi) was at first his main challenger before giving in to Gil Berthelot (CRG) and Marc Brunet (Sodi).
FINAL RANKING OF THE NSK 2018 - DD2 MASTER 1 2 3 4 5
Franck Lavergne Marc Brunet Christophe Adams Romain Bossard Paul Louveau
411 pts 364 pts 280 pts 204 pts 198 pts
MASTER
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CHAPPARD & MEGEUTOUNIF CHAMPIONSÂ !
KARTCOM NEWS #44
FRENCH OK AND NATIONAL CHAMP. ANNEVILLE
KEY POINTS ORGANISER
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FFSA
LOCATION
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Circuit Lucien Lebret Anneville - France 1217 m
DATE 6th - 8th July 2018
ENTRIES 75 drivers – 2 categorie • 3rd FFSA Karting event of 2018 • National: Rotax Junior / Bridgestone • Quality entry • Few drivers in OK • Hilly circuit, difficult to overtake • Professional organisation • Fine very hot weather
Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
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NATIONALE
MEGUETOUNIF CONFIRMS HIS GREAT FORM
A
lready the winner in 2017 at Lohéac, Sami Meguetounif (Exprit / Rotax) won everything at Anneville. Poleman in Qualifying ahead of 66 other participants, he won his three Qualifying Heats before continuing his winning streak in the three Finals. Paul Fournier (CRG / Rotax) and Craig Tanic (Birel ART / Rotax) followed in Qualifying, but Victor Bernier (Kosmic / Rotax) and César Gazeau (FA Kart / Rotax) gave him most opposition in the heats. Bernier lost his chances in a clash at the end of Final 1 and Gazeau remained closest to the winner in the three races on Sunday, managing to steal the moment in Final 2. Esteban Masson (Kosmic / Rotax), Dylan Léger (Tony Kart / Rotax) and Fournier were successively on the podium in the Finals, but it was Fournier who was 3rd in the Championship thanks to his consistency at the forefront.
RANKING OF THE 2018 FRENCH NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP 1 2 3 4 5
Sami Meguetounif César Gazeau Paul Fournier Esteban Masson Dylan Léger
302 pts 255 pts 210 pts 203 pts 199 pts
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CHAPPARD, UNDISPUTED FRENCH CHAMPION IN OK
T
OK
he OK entry was certainly not very significant, but the newcomers made good progress. Strengthened by his international experience at high level, Franck Chappard (Redspeed / IAME) largely dominated the battles from beginning to end against a young driver from Rotax, Marc Cammarata (Sodi / Vortex) who enjoyed the experience. Note that this one used a machine usually entered in the French Endurance Championship in GP1. Corentin Pelletier (Kosmic / Vortex) finished 3rd in the standings, even though Nicolas Markiewicz (Redspeed / IAME) took his place in Final 3.
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Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
2018 FRENCH OK CHAMPIONSHIP FOR
FRANCK CHAPPARD Entered in the CIK-FIA European Championship where he has achieved very interesting performances, the Kartland driver Franck Chappard took advantage of the end of the school year to participate in the French OK Championship at the Norman circuit of Anneville at the wheel of his Redspeed chassis with an IAME engine. Facing a relatively small field, Franck had no difficulty dominating the category from the start of the meeting to the finish. After taking pole position, he then won three Qualifying Heats.
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T
he racing progressed during the meeting and Franck was able to fight against Marc Cammarata early in the race. He then resumed his excellent pace to win the three Finals with a consistent lead, each time setting the fastest lap. "It's a good experience and I'm delighted to have won the French Championship," he said at the finish. "With my status as favourite, I had to avoid making the slightest mistake on this relatively complex track. I always drove fast while maintaining
a margin of safety. We made a small mistake with the tyres to start with, but it did not affect the result. It is always interesting to learn a new circuit and it was a good training for the last event of the European Championship, in early August at Essay. I think it's a good thing to race the OK in France. Everyone has been able to appreciate their level of performance and this may make some people want to race in this very interesting category that is not necessarily very expensive at this level."
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Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
SAMI MEGUETOUNIF SUCCESSFUL BET IN NATIONAL
Already the winner in 2017 in Lohéac, Sami Meguetounif doubled his bet this year at the circuit of Anneville with breathtaking mastery. Dominant without giving away a win, which demanded a perfect mastery of driving, Sami has achieved an impressive clear course against the top specialists in the National category to win another French Championship in scorching heat.
I
n addition to his international programme in OK-Junior and his participation in the CIK-FIA Academy Trophy as a member of the French FFSA Espoirs Karting Team, Sami Meguetounif made it a point of honour to participate in the the French National Championship, a highly contested event for 12 to 16 year old drivers with Rotax engines.
before the start of the competition and that was enough to get my bearings. The standard is very high and the races are very tight. It is important to be fast from the start because the overtaking opportunities are not numerous. It's also a good preparation for me to stay on the pace before the Academy Trophy at Lonato next week." Sami had no lack of speed. Already leading the official Free Practice, he confirmed by achieving pole position in Qualifying, a tenth ahead of his opponents. He then confirmed by winning his three Qualifying Heats, each time setting the fastest lap in the race. The title rewarded his incredible level of performance in the three Finals that he won without faltering despite fierce competition. Now a double French National Champion, Sami is about to return to international competition, more motivated than ever to shine at the highest level.
"I only had two days of testing to get used to the equipment, which differs significantly from what I am using this season," confided the champion. "I learned the track during Free Practice just
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POWERF BATTLE
IN NORMANDY
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FUL ES
Y
COUPE DE FR. KZ2 KZ2 MASTER KZ2 GENTL. ANNEVILLE
KEY POINTS ORGANISER
+
FFSA
LOCATION
+
Circuit Lucien Lebret Anneville - France 1217 m
DATE 6th - 8th July 2018
ENTRIES 70 drivers – 3 categories • 3rd FFSA Karting event of 2018 • Tight races • Beautiful return for Besancenez • Hilly circuit, difficult to overtake • Professional organisation • Fine very hot weather
Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
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KZ2
BESANCENEZ AT THE FINISH
A
lthough the young Oliver Rasmussen (Exprit / Vortex) was a favourite in KZ2 (LeCont tires) after his pole position in Qualifying, his two race wins and the Prefinal. But the Final changed the game with the early overtake by Thomas Landais (Sodi / TM) followed by Paul Evrard (Kosmic / Vortex). But Paolo Besancenez (Sodi / TM) came back strongly in the leading group and took the lead at halfway. Holder of the fastest lap in the race, he was a strong winner, over 2.5 '' ahead of Landais. Enzo Valente (BirelART / TM) completed the podium in front of Paul David (BirelART / TM), coming back from 11th in Qualifying, while Rasmussen was less comfortable in this last race.
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harles Fiault (Sodi / TM) set the fastest time in the 30 and over category. Then it was Antoine Poulain (Sodi / TM) who took control in the Qualifying Heats. Constantly in the top three, Julien Jehanne (Tony Kart / LKE) pushed his advantage in the Prefinal, after the retirement of Poulain (broken chain) and confirmed in the Final, attacking Fiault on lap 17. A former driver from Normandy who recently returned to business, Julien Jehanne convincingly won the KZ2 Master French Cup ahead of Fiault and Vincent Fontenille (CRG / TM), solidly in 3rd.
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KZ2 MASTER
NATIONAL
JEHANNE, THE SURPRISE WINNER
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KZ2 GENTLEMAN
DUCROT CONTROLS SAVOURET
E
mmanuel Ducrot (Sodi / TM) and Franck Savouret (KR / TM) clashed over the weekend at the front of the 45 and over category. Ducrot took pole position, Savouret took the lead after the Qualifying Heats, Ducrot won in the Prefinal, but Savouret ended up winning a highly contested Final and won the French Cup for KZ2 Gentlemen in front of his brave rival. Marc Berteaux (Sodi / TM) lost contact with both men after being disqualified from the second heat for being under weight due to intense dehydration. While Bruno Benabent had recovered 3rd place, Berteaux made a good recovery in the Final and finished on the podium.
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GASSIN, RICHE
WIN AT ANGERVI
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& ROUXEL
ILLE
SENIOR FRENCH CHAMP. MASTER AND GENTL. ANGERVILLE
KEY POINTS ORGANISER
+
FFSA
LOCATION
+
Circuit International Gabriel Thirouin Angerville - France 1200 m
DATE 13th - 15th July 2018
ENTRIES 161 drivers - 3 categories • 4th FFSA Karting event of 2018 • New categories with IAME X30 engines • Komet tyres • National calendar returns • Nice work by ASK Angerville • Difficult sporting process • Several technical penalties • Numerous entries in Senior • X30 Junior national final in addition • Fine very hot weather
Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Lionel Gripon
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A FIRST FOR
BASTIEN GASSIN
T
he Senior category was first dominated by Antony Dugué (Exprit), who took pole position and was the undisputed leader of the Qualifying Heats in front of his team-mates at Kart in Pro, Bastien Gassin (Exprit) and David Leguem (Exprit). Gassin took the lead in the Final 1 against Dugué and Leguem. Charles Tesnière (Kosmic) reacted in the second Final by winning in front of Gassin and Leguem, but Dugué lost contact at the end of the race. Gassin managed the situation perfectly in the third Final, his 3rd place being enough to give him the title. It was Leguem who won and Romain Jaloux (Sodi) made a nice comeback in 2nd position. Leguem took the 2nd place in the championship ahead of Nicolas Picot (Tony Kart), who had started off with the 22nd in Qualifying.
RANKING OF THE 2018 FRENCH SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP 1 2 3 4 5
Bastien Gassin David Leguem Nicolas Picot Romain Jaloux Paul Fourquemin
275 pts 260 pts 199 pts 195 pts 190 pts
SÉNIOR
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MORGAN RICHE SUCCEEDS ON HIS RETURN
T
he young manager of the RM Concept team was pleased to enter the Master category at the wheel of a FA Kart chassis. He was headed by Maxime Bidard (CRG) at the start of the weekend, who started strongly with pole in Qualifying and 1st place at the end of the heats. Rich however, won the three Finals ahead of Bidard, each time the fastest on the track, but penalised in Final 3. 3rd position experienced more vicissitudes. Laurent Marchandise (CRG) finished in 3rd place twice, before giving up in the third race. Alexis Couturier (Tony Kart) and Gerard Cavalloni (Kosmic) shone in the latter, while Rudy Champion (Sodi) put in good performances to get on the podium of the championship.
RANKING OF THE 2018 FRENCH MASTER CHAMPIONSHIP 1 2 3 3 5
Morgan Riche Maxime Bidard Rudy Champion Alexis Couturier Eric Chapon
300 pts 241 pts 203 pts 203 pts 196 pts
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NATIONAL
BEAUTIFUL DOMINATION BY
X30 JUNIOR
JOULIÉ WINS IN THE LAST METRES
O
rganized by IAME Series France, the X30 Junior national final was won by Enzo Joulié (KR) at the finish after a beautiful three-way battle with Enzo Lévêque (Kosmic) 2nd and Victor Bernier (Kosmic) 7th after a penalty. Mathis Jaubert (JB 17) finished 3rd, in front of Tom Uzan (Kosmic) and Victor Soulan (Exprit).
FRANCK ROUXEL
F
ranck Rouxel (Sodi) came close to a perfect score in the French Gentleman Championship. After taking pole position, he had to retire in the first heat before resuming his victorious march to the title. Willy Runget (Tony Kart) gave him a hard time in the heats ahead of Laurent Daumard (Exprit). But Runget ensured a solid performance that allowed him to take 2nd position in the standings while Guy Collignon (Kosmic) moved up to 3rd place.
RANKING OF THE FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIP GENTLEMAN 2018 1 2 3 4 5
Franck Rouxel Willy Runget Guy Collignon Frédéric Ostier Jean-Philippe Pouquet
GENTLEMAN
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302 pts 237 pts 187 pts 178 pts 176 pts
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NAEL & TAN
FINALLY CROW
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L NIC
WNED
CHAMP. OF FRANCE CADET AND JUNIOR 5/5 - SOUCY
KEY POINTS ORGANISER
+
FFSA
LOCATION
+
Circuit de Soucy France 1100 m
DATE 20th - 22th July 2018
ENTRIES 86 drivers - 2 categorie • 5th FFSA Karting event of 2018 • Visit from the President of the FFSA Nicolas Deschaux • 5th and final Junior event • One-make formula using Exprit / Vortex / B'stone • FFSA Academy organisation • New 950mm chassis in Cadet • Rotax Minimax engine with B'stone tires • Return to the Federal Calendar • Frequent overtaking • Growing tension as the finals approach • Fine very hot weather
Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
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SPIRGEL DOMINATES, GILTAIRE PENALISED AND
NAEL WINS
M
attéo Sprigel (Birel ART) had dominated the beginning of the meeting. He was the best driver in Qualifying, and he kept up the pace during the heats against Evan Giltaire (Top Kart), Léo Poncel (KR), Gaspard Simon (Top Kart) and Théophile Nael (DR). Giltaire won the first of the three Finals, marked by the beginning of an intense three-way battle with Spirgel and Nael, and only Poncel was able to keep pace. Spirgel took the lead in Final 2, winning in front of Nael and Giltaire. Giltaire and Spirgel swapped the lead many times, watched by Nael, but the duel ended with a clash between the two contenders on the last lap, Spirgel dropped out, Giltaire was sanctioned afterwards and Nael seized the win. Poncel finished 2nd, Simon took 3rd place ahead of Louis Iglesias (Formula K) and Enzo Menedez (CRG).
RANKING OF THE FRENCH CADET CHAMPIONSHIP 1 2 3 4 5
Théophile Nael Léo Poncel Mattéo Spirgel Gaspard Simon Evan Giltaire
262 points 225 points 209 points 205 points 195 points
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TITLE WIN FOR TANIC
E
TANIC
lliott Vayron was the quickest in Timed Practice against Evan Spenle and Sacha Maguet. Spenle took the lead after the heats, finishing in front of Vayron and William Nicouleau. But Craig Tanic, who had learned the track, was gaining strength and dominating the Prefinal stage before dominating the Final with no hesitation and the fastest lap. Starting from the front row, Vayron lost several places at the start of the Final with Nicouleau taking a good 2nd place and Doriane Pin coming back in 3rd. Very fast, Tom Uzan finished 4th in front of Maguet. In the standings of the season, Craig Tanic and Evan Spenle, who finished on equal points, were separated by their previous results, while Elliot Vayron was in 3rd position after a good meeting.
FINAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE 2018 FRENCH JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP 1 2 3 4 5
Craig Tanic Evan Spenle Elliott Vayron Mathys Jaubert Doriane Pin
131 pts 131 pts 123 pts 110 pts 107 pts
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Info FFSA Academy © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
FFSA ACADEMY
DAY OF GLORY FOR TANIC The 2nd season of the French Junior Karting Championship kept its promises until the end. Arriving at the circuit of Soucy (89), at least six drivers could have won the title. It was not until the result of the last Final that the name of the 2018 Champion was revealed. After a very good meeting where he progressively increased in power, the young Martinique driver Craig Tanic won the finyals to be crowned on the wire against Evan Spenle.
"T
he 2018 season of the French Junior Championship operated by the FFSA Academy has brought us much satisfaction!”, said Christophe Lollier, the National Technical Director. "In the five events, we had five different polemen and five different winners in the Final. It was very hotly contested! But what strengthens us in our approach, is that it is especially satisfying to see excellent progress over the course of the season. Most of our participants have been able
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to take advantage of the training to move in the right direction. The detection component of our mission has also proved very effective as Craig Tanic will be invited to participate in the next CIK-FIA World Junior Championship in Sweden, in a renowned team, while Evan Spenle will soon be able to make his debut in F4. As for the young Elliott Vayron, he is on track to get good results next year. The apprentice mechanics at the FFSA Academy have also learned a lot on the ground. On a technical level, our Exprit / Vortex equipment confirmed the performance and consistency found in 2017. In the Timed Practice at the last event at Soucy, the top seven were in the same tenth of a second. Our one-make formula is now well established in French karting and we have already recorded great interest for the 2019 season. The first tests are scheduled for mid-September." The competition at Soucy opened with great uncertainty as to the outcome of the French Junior Championship. The circuit was both winding and technical, requiring precise and consistent driving to shine, while the possibilities for overtaking were not lacking. The Junior races were among the most interesting of the weekend while no incidents tainted their smooth running. The President of the FFSA Nicolas Deschaux was keen to see for himself the interest of the formula during Saturday. He was able
to ensure on the ground that the training and detection missions were well met by the staff of the FFSA Academy. Three drivers were particularly evident in the heat of Soucy, fighting until the end for the French Championship. Craig Tanic continued his strong progression, tied with Evan Spenle, and their previous results had to be examined to decide the result, while Elliott Vayron was 3rd on the podium of the season.
VAYRON STARTS IN POLE POSITION
On Saturday morning, Elliott Vayron used all his panache to post the fastest time in Timed Practice. He was 5 thousandths ahead of Evan Spenle, with Sacha Maguet 3rd in front of Tom Uzan and Joran Leneutre.
SPENLE TAKES CONTROL IN THE HEATS
Motivated by the prospect of the title, Evan Spenle gave his all and won the two Qualifying Heats to lead on Saturday night. He was followed by Elliott Vayron and William Nicouleau, both on the same score. Craig Tanic, who was learning the track, climbed in 4th position in front of Tom Uzan.
TANIC RETURNS IN THE PREFINAL
Increasingly effective, Craig Tanic quickly joined the top three and grabbed the 1st position halfway through the battle for 2nd place. Elliott Vayron was 2nd in the battling group ahead of William Nicouleau, Evan Spenle and Doriane Pin.
FINAL RANKING OF THE FRENCH CHAMPIONSHIP JUNIOR 2018 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Craig Tanic Evan Spenle Elliott Vayron Mathys Jaubert Doriane Pin William Nicouleau Macéo Capietto Tom Uzan Sacha Maguet Mathéo Cochet Pierre-François Duriani Mathys Poulet Xavier Duvignau Lukas Papin Joran Leneutre Hugo Besson Ayrton Marquet Damyen Droux Maxime Dufour Paul Adrien Pallot Noah Andy
131 pts 131 pts 123 pts 110 pts 107 pts 106 pts 106 pts 96 pts 94 pts 92 pts 76 pts 71 pts 65 pts 52 pts 38 pts 22 pts 22 pts 20 pts 17 pts 9 pts 3 pts
THE FINAL VICTORY AND TITLE FOR TANIC
Now at full strength, Craig Tanic immediately flew into the undisputed lead of the Final and won with the fastest lap of the race and nearly three seconds ahead of his pursuers. Elliott Vayron lost places in the opening laps and William Nicouleau finished 2nd, followed by Doriane Pin, Tom Uzan and Sacha Maguet completing the top five.
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Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
GOOD JUNIOR PROGRESS FOR
MAGUET
Noted for his very good results at Aunay les Bois, Sacha Maguet again performed well during the last event of the French Junior Championship at Soucy. With the 3rd fastest time, he made a convincing run back in the top five of the Final, which let him finish the FFSA Academy championship in the overall top 10.
T
he fourth meeting of the season did not meet his expectations. At Ancenis, however, Sacha was well placed in 5th position of the heats. But the two Sunday races saw cruel disappointments. He immediately lost contact with the leaders during an incident at the start of the Prefinal before being penalised for his spoiler. He then made a splendid comeback from 18th to 3rd position in the Final, but had to retire four laps from the finish. After these setbacks, Sacha was determined to finish the Junior season on a positive note. The Soucy track first gave him the opportunity to set the 3rd fastest time in Qualifying. The heats were not easy and he was in 8th
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position on Saturday night. He only gained a place in the Prefinal before upping his pace in the Final to reach the top five. "This season in the French Junior Championship has not been easy for me," said Sacha. "I had to deal with a lot of different setbacks, but I'm glad I could still show what I'm capable of! It was in any case a very positive experience within the FFSA Academy. I learned a lot from the coaches, which helped me to win the Prefinal at Essay and finish 2nd in the Final. After more problems at Ancenis, I am happy to have been able to return to 5th at Soucy and to keep 9th place in the Championship. I feel better prepared for the rest of my career."
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GOOD REWARD FOR
CARANTA 117
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FRENCH CUP FOR MINIME SOUCY
KEY POINTS ORGANISER
+
FFSA
LOCATION
+
Circuit de Soucy France 1100 m
DATE 20th - 22nd July 2018
ENTRIES 43 drivers - 1 category • 5th FFSA Karting event of 2018 • Visit from the President of the FFSA, Nicolas Deschaux • New 950mm chassis • IAME Gazelle 60cc engine • Vega tyres • Beautiful races • Some technical penalties • Fine and very hot weather
Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Philippe Kalmès
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CARANTA
EARNS HIS CUP
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J
immy HĂŠlias (Tony Kart) excelled from pole position in Timed Practice, but it was Jules Caranta (Tony Kart) who took the lead after the Qualifying Heats against Maxens Verbrugge (Parolin) and ClĂŠment Outran (Energy). The Prefinal gave Caranta and Outtran the opportunity to race a tight duel in which they repeatedly traded the lead. Caranta ensured his victory on the last lap. He was leading the Final, leaving his opponents far behind him. Starting from 32nd place after his retirement in the Prefinal,
Helias joined the fight for the lead while Caranta flew to a deserved victory, Outran again took 2nd place after Helias' disqualification from the whole meeting and Verbrugge's technical non-compliance. Three consistent drivers at the forefront, Guillaume Bouzar (Parolin), Kimi MĂŠrieux (Top Kart) and Tom Montagne (Kosmic) completed the top five.
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SUPER ONE
HIT HIGH SUMMER AT SHENINGTON
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TUTO SUPER ONE SERIES, ROUND 6, SHENINGTON
KEY POINTS ORGANISER
+
Super One Series
LOCATION
+
Shenington Kart Club, Shenington, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom 1018 m
DATE 14th - 15th July 2018
Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo Kartpix - Chris Walker
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MSA BRITISH CADET KART CHAMPIONSHIP
A
rvid Lindblad took pole in Timed Qualifying, 0.6s ahead of William MacIntyre and Sam Shaw a further hundredth back. However, MacIntyre was ahead after a heat win, with the other heat going to Shaw. Lindblad won Final 1, taking over control of the lead pack from MacIntyre before halfway and taking the chequered flag two tenths ahead of MacIntyre, who had Maximus Hall on his bumper. In Final 2 Hall made the best start but Freddie Slater led most of the race before MacIntyre seized the lead on the last lap to win by less than a tenth. Lindblad is four points ahead of MacIntyre in the Championship standings, with a 23-point gap to Maxwell Dodds.
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NATIONAL
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MSA TKM JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
A
bbi Pulling was 2nd in Qualifying behind Jack Nicholson but won both heats to take pole for Final 1, while Nicholson dropped back with a penalty in Heat 2. Final 1 saw two red flags and the race eventually abandoned, with Pulling leading all six laps while Connor Kearney was close throughout. In Final 2 Pulling led most of the way apart from a brief period with Archie Strong in the lead, but he later dropped to the back leaving Kearney, Morgan Kidd and Ben Watson to fight over 2nd which eventually went to Watson over a second behind Pulling. Pulling is a huge 56 points ahead of Daniel Butterworth in the Championship with Kearney 3rd.
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MSA TKM SENIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
s
am Fowler qualified on pole in the biggest class of the meeting, just 0.02s ahead of E Plate holder Pete Newman. Fowler stayed ahead with two 2nd places in the heats, with the wins going to Newman, Chris Whitton and Joseph Reeves-Smith, but Newman dropping down the Intermediate Classification after problems in his other heat. Fowler won Final 1, leading from lights to flag but never pulling away from Whitton and Reeves-Smith, while Newman made up eight places to 6th. Reeves-Smith won an exciting Final 2 which was a constant battle with Fowler, Max Goldsmith and Newman, with Fowler unfortunately not finishing. Despite a relatively low-scoring Shenington, Adam Sparrow is leading the Championship by 13 points from Kristian Brierley, while Fowler and Reeves-Smith are in 5th and 6th.
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MSA X30 JUNIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
C
Clayton Ravenscroft qualified on pole in a session where the top seven were in the same tenth but problematic heats dropped him down to 11th on the Final 1 grid while Alex Lloyd took pole with two heat wins. After starting 6th, Lewis Thompson took the lead from Nelson King near the end of Final 1 with Lloyd also having a shot in the lead in the early stages. Ravenscroft, Caden McQueen, Lewis Gilbert, Casper Stevenson also formed part of the lead group in a race full of suspense. Ravenscroft gained five places to win Final 2 ahead of Thompson after tailing him for much of the race and overtaking five laps from the end. This time the two of them were out on their own, pulling away from McQueen in 3rd. Ravenscroft now has a five-point lead over Gilbert with Dragan Pinsent further back in 3rd.
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NATIONAL
MSA X30 SENIOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
j
oe Turney took pole in Timed Qualifying ahead of Morgan Porter and Oliver Hodgson who posted exactly the same time. Hodgson then won both heats to put him on pole for the first Final. He led much of Final 1, but was attacked by Turney who led a lap, then in the latter half Sean Butcher came through to win by half a second. Turney had his revenge in Final 2 where Hodgson led all the way with Turney close behind, until Turney pulled ahead to win on the last lap. Porter was the fastest man on the track but took 3rd too late to reel in the leaders. Turney’s win has given him a 15-point lead over Porter, with Hodgson another seven points behind.
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I
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COLLET INCREASES HIS LEAD IN THE BURGUNDY HEAT
FRENCH CHAMP. F4 4/7 - DIJON
KEY POINTS ORGANISER
+
FFSA Academy
LOCATION
+
Dijon-Prenois France 3800m
DATE 13th - 15th July 2018 • FFSA Academy Championship • New Mygale F4 to FIA standards • Nice weather • Three races during the weekend • First success for Nouet • Pole positions for De Wilde and Eteki • Eight different winners since the beginning of the season • Collet increases his lead, positions tight behind him • Next meeting from 7th to 9th • September in Magny-Cours
Info KARTCOM - Frédéric Billet © Photo KSP - Guillaume Veuve
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In the Qualifying Practice, Ugo De Wilde secured the fastest time and pole position in Race 1, while Adam Eteki won the pole of Race 3. The top four were in the same tenth.
D
e Wilde took advantage of his 1st place to win a rather quiet Race 1, the drivers being busy saving their tyres on an abrasive track in the heat. Eteki took 2nd place against Pierre-Louis Chovet while Caio Collet finished 4th ahead of Ulysse De Pauw. Theo Nouet won his first victory from the reverse grid of Race 2 while outdoing his opponents by more than 6''. Arthur Leclerc settled in to 2nd place by passing Esteban Muth, Collet and De Pauw finishing again in the top five. Race 3 was also hotly contested. Collet was quick to chase Eteki and De Wilde. He ended up joining them and overtook to add important points to his score in the Championship. From 8th place, De Pauw made a good recovery up to 3rd position in front of Nouet and De Wilde.
PROVISIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE FRENCH F4 CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER DIJON 1 2 3 4 5
Caio Collet (BRA) Ugo De Wilde (BEL) Ulysse De Pauw (BEL) Adam Eteki (FRA) Arthur Leclerc (MON)
154,5 pts 131 pts 129 pts 126 pts 116 pts
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CARS
Info KARTCOM - Renaud Didier ©
SHIHAB A
AFFIRMS AMONG THE B
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© Photo KSP - Guillaume Veuve
AL HABSI
BEST HOPES OF THE F4
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At the French F4 Championship, Shihab Al Habsi's steady progress continued through a meeting filled with emotion, new experiences and top performances. At only 14 years old, the youngest driver on the grid discovered the fast circuit of Dijon-Prenois, former home ground of the French Formula 1 Grand Prix. In one of the races, Shihab also had the honour of starting from the front row of the starting grid: a first for a driver from the Sultanate of Oman. Without any private testing, he continues to progress within the top 10 and is constantly getting closer to the best.
"S
hihab is one of the only drivers not to have had the opportunity to drive the Dijon circuit in practice before the race, a definite disadvantage in this extremely high level Championship," said his coach StĂŠphane Daoudi. "Despite everything, he showed a lot of fighting spirit. In Race 1 in particular, he made a strong start to the race to climb back to 10th, a position he was able to defend with firmness, in order to win his place in pole position for Race 2, according to the inverse grid principle." Despite his lack of experience against more seasoned rivals, he took the opportunity to improve his lap times and win 2nd place in the Junior rankings, as in Race 1. The third and final race confirmed his progress. 13th at the end of the first lap, he overtook well to return to 10th. But above all, he drove at a pace very close to leaders with great strength, proof that the work done on his fitness has made him much sharper than at the beginning of the season! The FFSA Academy French F4 Championship has moved into the second part of the season and Shihab Al Habsi intends to take advantage of the last three events of 2018 to continue this ascent.
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Info KARTCOM - Renaud Didier © Photo KSP - Guillaume Veuve
CAIO COLLET,
VOLANT WINFIELD 2018, WIDENS THE GAP IN F4
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Last February, the Winfield Volant Jury made no mistake in confirming Caio Collet as the winner of the 2018 vintage. Since then, at each race the Brazilian has confirmed the quality of the training he received at Winfield Racing School during the talent detection operation, and the details of the 2019 edition will gradually emerge.
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t the circuit of Dijon-Prenois, Collet added another victory to his record and widened the gap with his main rival. The goal of winning the French F4 Championship, recognised by the FIA, is clearly the objective displayed by this talented young driver. Collet’s weekend was not easy, however, as he had to be satisfied with the 4th fastest time in a Qualifying that was interrupted by a red flag. "I only missed a place on the front row of the grid for Race 1 by three hundredths. In this one, I lost a position, which I could not recover despite setting the fastest lap," said Caio. 4th in Race 2 after starting in 6th position, the young driver and his Winfield-coloured car rose in Race 3, which the Brazilian won after a strong attack. "The changes we made to the car have been beneficial and, for my part, I have listened to the advice of those around me." In Burgundy, the Winfield Volant driver had amassed the biggest collection of points, which allowed him to move to more than 20 points in the lead of the Championship before the last three meetings of the season. As for Stuart White, after his magnificent performance in the Volant Final, Winfield decided to help him in the first three 2018 F4 events. "We were not wrong in supporting him, as we led him to victory. During his last race at Spa Francorchamps, where he set the two fastest laps, he has always been very combative and successful in overtaking," explained Frédéric Garcia, head of the Winfield Racing School. "Today, he is also involved in the Formula Ford South Africa Championship, and the results he has already achieved have persuaded us to support him in this new challenge, with the participation of the Winfield coaching team and the goal of winning the title, which will allow him to join the prestigious Mazda "Road to Indy” programme with a $200K scholarship shootout in the United States."
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Info KARTCOM - Renaud Didier © Photo KSP - Guillaume Veuve
THÉO POURCHAIRE LEGITIMATE DISAPPOINTMENT IN BURGUNDY
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On the fast track of DijonPrenois that he likes, and where he was able to be very fast during the weekend, Théo Pourchaire had a highly frustrating meeting. After a Qualifying where he suffered the first blow of bad luck despite his speed, he managed to come back to 4th in Race 1. But the young motorsport hopeful entered in the French F4 Championship then experienced two other difficult races on a track that put the tyres to the the test. The points lost may be expensive at the end of the championship.
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espite his tender age (he will celebrate his 15th birthday in August), Théo Pourchaire has brilliantly enlivened the French F4 Championship since the beginning of the season. Accustomed to winning the Junior category, he regularly races at the forefront of the general classification. In Burgundy, he hoped to continue his progression towards the lead. "Dijon was the fourth of the seven events scheduled for 2018. That's precisely half of the Championship," said Theo. "This is the kind of moment that you need not to miss to stay in the right group in the Championship standings. So I was very focused on Saturday morning on completing a good Qualifying session. I managed to improve my laps until I got a time that would give me pole position. But the race management put out the red flag for an incident and did not validate my fastest time, while it was
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apparently completed before the flag went out. In single-seaters, the place on the starting grid is very important and I would have preferred to finish Qualifying in pole rather than in 5th position."
A TOP FOUR, THEN SETBACKS Thanks to a fast and incisive race, Theo managed to gain a place to finish 4th. On Sunday morning, the driver from Grasse started in 7th position of Race 2, according to the reversed grid for the top 10 of the previous race. Unfortunately, the multiple French Karting Champion didn't have a satisfactory balance at the wheel of his car. "As a safety measure, a tyre was changed, but this changed the behaviour and grip of the car, which became unstable under braking. I finished 6th, but I think a better place was possible," says Theo.
POURCHAIRE REMAINS THE BEST OF THE JUNIORS In Race 3, Théo Pourchaire continued to have problems. He couldn't find the efficiency that his car had had at the start of the meeting. "The tyre wear did not allow me to attack as I wanted," said Theo. "I especially tried to avoid the return of my rivals, because it was difficult for me to move up in the hierarchy." In this difficult race, Theo could only save 8th position. "It was quite frustrating to see that all my rivals in the general classification scored more points than me at Dijon. I am afraid that this deficit will be difficult to recover in the last part of the season. The good thing is that I won the three Junior Championship races again, where I now have a big lead."
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Info Renault Sport © Photo DPPI
MARTINS VICTORIOUS AT THE RED BULL RING !
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By achieving his first Formula Renault Eurocup success at the Red Bull Ring, Victor Martins (R-ace GP) has become the seventh different winner in ten races this year. The driver of the Renault Sport Academy won in front of Max Fewtrell (R-ace GP) and Christian Lundgaard (MP Motorsport) after the penalty imposed on Lorenzo Colombo (JD Motorsport). Although Yifei Ye (Josef Kaufmann Racing) still leads the overall standings, the title fight is tighter than ever before the second half of the season.
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n Friday afternoon, Qualifying turned to Victor Martins' advantage with 1'29''288. The Frenchman got his first pole position ahead of Lorenzo Colombo and two of his Renault Sport Academy partners, Christian Lundgaard and Max Fewtrell. The third row was occupied by Richard Verschoor and Yifei Ye (Josef Kaufmann Racing), followed by Alex Peroni (MP Motorsport), Charles Milesi (R-ace GP) and Oscar Piastri (Arden Motorsport).
EPIC RACE IN THE ALPS
Initially, Lorenzo Colombo took the advantage at the first corner, but the Italian went wide and Victor Martins was quick to recover control of the race. Behind the two men, Max Fewtrell overflowed Christian Lundgaard while Alex Peroni was in the top five before the return of Richard Verschoor. Starting 10th, Logan Sargeant gained two places before engaging in a duel with Yifei Ye, closely observed by Axel Matus (AVF by Adrian Valles) and Neil Verhagen (Tech 1 Racing). The opening laps were marked by great battles at all levels. The leading quartet stood out and each driver put the pressure on the other without making a mistake. Further back, Yifei Ye erased Logan Sargeant before tackling Alex Peroni, the Australian surrendering on the eleventh lap. In a tight pack, Neil Verhagen also used all his offensive qualities by surprising Axel Matus and Logan Sargeant, but was finally forced to retire at the end of the race. Despite the small gaps at the front, the positions remained frozen. Victor Martins kept his composure to win in front of Lorenzo Colombo. The Italian, however, was penalised by ten seconds after
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the finish for jumping the start. He dropped to 6th behind Max Fewtrell, Christian Lundgaard, Richard Verschoor and Yifei Ye. In 7th, Alex Peroni resisted the attacks of Neil Verhagen until the end while the last two places in the points gave an opportunity for a spectacular fight. Long 10th despite a damaged nose, Axel Matus (AVF by Adrian Valles) ended up giving in to the offensives of Oscar Piastri and Frank Bird (Tech 1 Racing).
THEY SAID: Victor Martins (R-ace GP):
"It was a tough race, but really amazing! It demonstrates the quality of this category and the excellent standard of the drivers involved. I did not get the best of the starts. I did not make the right choice before the first corner, but I managed to get out of it to overtake Lorenzo in the third corner. After that, we had to stay focused until the finish and I thank the team for their outstanding work. This is an excellent result for the second half of the season, but we must redouble our efforts to build on this momentum."
Max Fewtrell (R-ace GP):
"The key today was whether to keep my place or fight for everything. The goal was to score more points than my competitors in the overall standings and that's exactly what I did. So I'm happy with this result, although it was quite difficult to follow the other cars. Unlike yesterday, I had to deal with a serious deterioration of tyres and we must look into it. However, I have every confidence in my team and I think we will have a solid weekend at Spa next week."
PROVISIONAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION AFTER RED BULL RING 1 2 3 4 5
Yifei Ye (Josef Kaufmann Racing) Christian Lundgaard (MP Motorsport) Max Fewtrell (R-ace GP) Victor Martins (R-ace GP) Charles Milesi (R-ace GP)
124 Pts 118 Pts 109,5 Pts 102 Pts 82,5 Pts
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Info Renault Sport © Photo DPPI
CHARLES MILESI
RETAINS HIS PLACE IN THE TOP FIVE OF THE EUROCUP
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Arriving in Austria, Charles Milesi was hoping to experience a sparkling weekend and challenging races on the Red Bull Ring's hilly track, in the wake of his recent excellent performances in the 2018 Formula Renault Eurocup. Unfortunately, some problems prevented the French hopeful achieving the expected result. Charles Milesi, however, is in an encouraging 5th place in the provisional standings, having just reached the milestone of mid-season. After his victories at Silverstone and Monaco in May, Charles Milesi was delighted and motivated by his R-ace GP car at the fifth of the ten meetings scheduled this year in Formula Renault Eurocup. He regretted, however, that he had not been able to prepare for this event as he would have liked with Simumotion, particularly on the physical level, because of a painful arm injury. The French driver also had the disadvantage of learning the Austrian track and its many idiosyncrasies.
A FIRST ENCOURAGING QUALIFIER
As he foresaw, the collective tests did not fully meet his expectations. "Honestly, I did not feel 100% sure of my abilities," said Charles. "We then carried out a very informative debriefing with my technical team and sports coaches to improve my performance. I was able to be pretty fast in the first Qualifying session, although I think it was possible to pick up a tenth here and there." He finally posted the 4th fastest time in Group A, which gave him a start position of 8th in Race 1.
driver made a mistake at a hairpin. He restarted right in front of me, instead of letting me through, which cut me off. Subsequently, I could not improve, as the session was interrupted by the red flag!" Charles had to be content with 13th position.
STORM ON THE TRACK AND UNDER THE HELMETS
In Race 1, Charles Milesi kept up a strong pace, with the third fastest time in the race. "In the end, a violent downpour hit the Red Bull Ring. As we were on slick tyres, the race management had to put out the red flag and the points were halved. The point I scored for finishing 10th turned into a half-point!" His difficult Qualifying at the start of the meeting turned against him in Race 2. "In the pack, I had to contend with drivers who hit me twice. Then the car was tricky to drive, especially in the fast curves, because of a damaged rear diffuser. With my arm pain, it became very difficult. Even with the slipstream, it was impossible for me to attempt a pass and I had to settle for 13th place. It's a shame, I had a very good feeling at this beautiful circuit. In the end, a much better result would have been possible with a more advantageous place on the starting grid."
HEADING FOR SPA FRANCORCHAMPS
While the Formula Renault Eurocup had a break of nearly two months between Monaco and the Red Bull Ring, the drivers will follow up with another meeting in the space of a week. This time, they will head for Belgium and the legendary circuit of Spa Francorchamps, opening the famous 24 Hours of Spa. On 27th and 28th July, Charles Milesi intends to return to the podium. "In the Championship, anything is still possible. The standard is very high this year and positions change frequently at the front. For now, I'm 5th, but it's a position that can change very quickly if I score big points in a meeting."
"I was hoping I could have a better time in the second Qualifying session. Alas, while I had just started a fast lap, with an excellent sector 1, a
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VIDEO
PLAYER WSK OPEN CUP 2018 KZ2 FINAL Lonato
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MEETING FFSA KARTING
Les moments forts d'Anneville
R VIDEO FIA KARTING EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
Lonato 2018 - Finale KZ
INTERVIEW DE NICOLAS DESCHAUX
Président de la FFSA
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