GENK - For the first of these two days of racing in Belgium, the KF1 World Championship offered the numerous spectators a fair amount of spectacle and developments. As from the qualifying practices the championship leader Nyck De Vries (Zanardi-Parilla) was betrayed by a faulty engine and was unable to complete a single lap. The Italian Flavio Camponeschi (Tony Kart-Vortex) couldn’t ask for more and clinched the pole position ahead of the Polish driver Karol Basz (RK-BMB), the Brit Alex Albon (Intrepid-TM), the Frenchman Léo Roussel (Sodi-Parilla) and the Czech Tereza Gromanova (Kosmic-Vortex).
It appeared as though it was going to be a pretty animated debate...and so it was! Even before having even approached the first bend of this first Race, several drivers left all their ambitions of a podium place behind them; namely Karol Basz, Tereza Gromanova and Léo Roussel. Flavio Camponeschi took full advantage to escape … for good! « When I looked back after the first lap I noticed that there was nobody behind me », the smiling Italian commented as he left the podium. Behind him it took three laps for the Brit Jordon Lennox-Lamb (CRG-Maxter) to overtake Sébastien Bailly (Kosmic-Vortex), who had set off well from 11th place, and extract himself from the rest of the pack. Finally the Belgian had to give way to the attacks emanating from Alex Albon and … Nyck De Vries, who performed brilliantly coming up through the pack from the last spot on the grid
In the middle of the pack, spirits were heated by the sun and the heat in Genk. The Italian Ignazio D’Agosto (Tony Kart-Vortex), second in the championship, gave up as the result of an incident as also the Czech Libor Toman (Birel-BMB) and Karol Basz, who nonetheless had climbed back up into 7th place following his mishaps in the first lap. The top-10 was finally completed by Léo Roussel, following a great climb back after the jostle at the start, the Japanese Yu Kanamaru (Tony Kart-Vortex), Sébastien Bailly, the Italian Felice Tiene (CRG-Maxter), the Frenchman Loïc Réguillon (Sodi-Parilla) and the Finn Mikko Pakari (Maranello-Maranello).
Following this rather hectic first Race, the second also kicked off with an accident at the start. Definitely cursed during this first day, Ignazio D’Agosto was once again forced to retire, as did his team mate Yu Kanamaru. Up front, Flavio Camponeschi built up his lead ahead of the two Brits Alex Albon and Jordon Lennox-Lamb. Fourth at the end of the first lap, Nyck de Vries swiftly grabbed second place and headed off in pursuit of the leader. Lap after lap the Dutchman managed to glean a few tenths to fill the gap one lap from the finish. Fighting it out for first place the two drivers nudged each other on the straight, with the Italian finishing his race off track whilst De Vries took the chequered flag as overall victor. But having analysed the various fitted cameras the Stewards of the Meeting decided to exclude the Dutchman… a decision which nonetheless Nyck De Vries’ entrant has appealed against! Therefore the championship leader provisionally retains his victory points. Already second in the first Race, Jordon Lennox-Lamb once again scored heavy points by finishing ahead of his team mate Felice Tiene, the latter getting the better of Alex Albon just after the half-way mark. Loïc Réguillon completed the top-5 ahead of Sébastien Bailly, Léo Roussel, the Belgian Dylan Lahaye (Maranello-Maranello), the Brit Chris Lock (Tony Kart-Vortex) and Tereza Gromanova.
KZ1 : Total Suspense
After a tension ever growing in intensity right up to the start of the Final, the KZ1 World Cup (the top karting category fitted with gearboxes) also guaranteed an unequalled spectacle. Especially seeing that not a single driver had managed to get clear of the lot during the qualifying heats. Having set fastest time during the timed sessions, Davide Foré (CRG-Maxter) dropped back to 6th place in his first qualifying heat … prior to taking command in the following two, giving him pole position for the Pre-Final. « I retained my first place, but today we saw that there are quite a few of us capable of winning », the Italian explained. « Anything could happen tomorrow during the Pre-Final and the Final and it will be pretty tight. All the better for the spectators, because I reckon they will be in for quite a spectacle! »
The first row of the Pre-Final, which also determines the starting grid for the Final will be completed by Arnaud Kozlinski, Davide Foré’s team mate. With Rick Dreezen (Tony Kart-Vortex) in the third row, the top-3 has not altered since the qualifying heats. Victorious in the first qualifying heat, the Dutch girl Beitske Visser (Intrepid-TM) will set out from the 4th place, just ahead of the Belgian Jonathan Thonon (CRG-Maxter), who climbed up well from his 12th place following the timed laps. However Anthony Abbasse (Sodi-Maxter), Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex) even the European Champion Paolo De Conto (Energy-TM) could also lay claim to the final victory. Having collided at the start of the final qualifying heat, the fast Yannick de Brabander (Parolin-TM) and Thomas Mich (Monza-TM) will need to climb back up from their respective 12th and 14th places. The start of the Pre-Final will be given at 10.15hrs and the Final, the sole decisive race will be at 13.45hrs.
KZ2: Everything still needs to be done!
There is also full suspense around the KZ2 World Cup. Even though the qualifying heats are still not completed (there are still three to be held on Sunday morning), several drivers were impressive. The Italian Mikko Torsellini (CRG-Maxter) confirmed his best practice time by clinching two victories in the heats, as did his compatriot Marco Zanchetta (CKR-TM). Amongst the other top young players, we find the Italian European Champion Fabian Federer (CRG-TM), winner of one heat, the Czech Jan Midrla (Birel-TM), winner of another heat also, as also the Swede Joel Johansson (Energy-TM), who won one heat but was also involved in an accident. For these various favourites it will be important to avoid any incidents during these final qualifying heats, whilst others will be battling it out to be part and parcel of the 34 finalists. If, as some have announced rain happens to be at the rendezvous there should be even more entertainment on the Genk circuit this Sunday |
