FLORIANÓPOLIS - Toro Rosso's ace Jaime Alguersuari won the sixth edition of the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champs this Sunday at Arena Sapiens in Florianópolis, but was able to celebrate only right before the Top 3 press conference. At that time, the rookie Jules Bianchi was the man to deserve all the credits with two victories in the double-header race, but the French failed to comply with the regulations regarding the minimun weight after the second heat and allowed the Formula 1 brigade to extend their dominance - Felipe Massa (2006), Michael Schumacher (2007 and 2009), Rubens Barrichello (2008) and Lucas di Grassi (2010) were the previous winners.
Alguersuari took part of the Felipe Massa promoted event for the second time, after his début in 2010, and displayed a strong shape all the weekend. He was only unable to match Bianchi's pace as the French driver seemed to be far out of reach for the remainder of the field. The Spaniard got the checkered flag twice in the second spot, the first one, on Saturday night under tricky conditions in the wet, after a fierce battle against Massa.
"I feel sorry for Jules, but rules are for everybody. Anyway, the important thing is to be part of a big party like this. I love to come to Brasil and Florianópolis, and I look forward to being here again next year", commented Alguersuari. The host of the race had also something to cheer about. "After such a complicated year like this, it is as good feeling at least to get to the podium. It is for sure a big push for the new season in Formula 1", said Massa.
Results
Heat 1
1 - Jules Bianchi, 25 laps in 26min17s395
2 - Jaime Alguersuari, + 7s487
3 - Felipe Massa, + 7s2538
4 - Nelsinho Piquet, + 20s280
5 - Antonio Pizzonia, + 21s602
6 - Rubens Barrichello, + 22s529
7 - Jérôme D'Ambrosio, + 26s620
8 - Lucas di Grassi, + 29s376
9 - Allam Khodair, + 29s788
10 - Luciano Burti, + 35s827
11 - Vitantonio Liuzzi, + 38s301
12 - Ricardo Zonta, + 38s406
13 - Tony Kanaan, + 38s982
14 - Cacá Bueno, + 39s209
15 - Xandinho Negrão, + 39s292
16 - Vítor Meira, + 40s254
17 - Bia Figueiredo, + 40s308
18 - Adrian Sutil, + 42s598
19 - Leonardo Nienkotter, + 43s513
20 - Hélio Castroneves, + 43s584
21 - Enrique Bernoldi, + 47s417
22 - Max Wilson, + 47s730
23 - Pastor Maldonado, + 2 laps
24 - Christian Fittipaldi, + 2 laps
25 - Pietro Fitttipaldi, + 3 laps
26 - Tuka Rocha, + 3 laps
DNF
Popó Bueno, + 16 laps
Marcos Gomes, + 22 laps
DSQ
Gianni Morbidelli
Heat 2
1- Jaime Alguersuari, 33 laps in 31min30s485
2- Lucas Di Grassi, + 5s211
3- Rubens Barrichello, + 5s353
4- Felipe Massa, + 5s946
5- Jerome D´Ambrosio, + 6s515
6- Antonio Pizzonia, + 6s997
7- Ricardo Zonta, + 11s371
8- Luciano Burti, + 14s500
9- Marcos Gomes, + 14s791
10- Helio Castroneves, + 18s226
11- Vitantonio Liuzzi, + 18s720
12- Cacá Bueno, + 31s409
13- Enrique Bernoldi, + 31s641
14- Gianni Morbidelli, + 39s020
15- Pietro Fittipaldi, + 46s142
16- Allam Khodair, + 4 laps
DNF
Popó Bueno, + 11 laps
Max Wilson, + 12 laps
Adrian Sutil, + 14 laps
Tony Kanaan, + 16 laps
Christian Fittipaldi, + 21 laps
Tuka Rocha, + 24 laps
Pastor Maldonado, + 31 laps
DQS
Jules Bianchi
Nelsinho Piquet
Vitor Meira
Leonardo Nienkotter
Bia Figueiredo
Final standings:
1 - JAIME ALGUERSUARI - 45 points
2 - FELIPE MASSA - 29
3 - LUCAS DI GRASSI - 28
4 - RUBENS BARRICHELLO 26
5 - JULES BIANCHI - 25
6 - ANTONIO PIZZONIA - 21
7 - JEROME D' AMBROSIO - 20
8 - LUCIANO BURTI - 14
9 - RICARDO ZONTA, NELSINHO PIQUET - 13
11 - VITANTONIO LIUZZI - 12
12 - ALLAM KHODAIR, MARCOS GOMES - 7
14 - HELIO CASTRONEVES, CACÁ BUENO - 6
16 - TONY KANAAN, ENRIQUE BERNOLDI - 3
18 - GIANNI MORBIDELLI - 2
19 - XANDINHO NEGRÃO, PIETRO FITTIPALDI - 1 |
