SECOND ROUND OF THE "2007 INTERNATIONAL OPEN MASTERS” CHAMPIONSHIP
The second round of the 'International Open Masters "FIA Authorised Series", counting towards the "Coppa d'Italia Karting ACI-CSAI Open Masters" was held at Ugento. This was an important occasion not only for the purpose of the chamipionship, where the rankings in the various categories have already started to emerge, but also as a practical test of what the first heat of the European KZ1, KZ2 and KF1 championship, which will actually be disputed at the circuit in Puglia on 6th May, will look like.
With 217 drivers (36 in KF1, 62 in KF2, 71 in KF3 and 48 in KZ2), the Salentina track was the stage for an exciting series of elimination rounds and 8 concluding finals (2 in each category) which propelled the italian drivers amongst the top contenders. Above all Mario Mariovich Turchetto from Friuli in KF2 (but also Flavio Camponeschi), Matteo Viganò in KF3 and Marco Ardigò in KZ2. Also anticipating victory is Davide Forè in KF1.
KF1
FINAL 1: LAINE (FIN) (MARANELLO/PARILLA/VEGA)
FINAL 2: LAINE (FIN) (MARANELLO/PARILLA/VEGA)
In KF1 it was the Finn Laine (Maranello) who pulled off a sensational double, putting a dent in the competitiveness of the two english Tony Kart drivers Calado (second in both races) and Catt (3rd in race 2 and still ranked the leader), besides the Birel colour-carrier Cesetti, who went to the podium in race 1. A big disappointment however for Forè, who in the first final because of the bad luck of withdrawal his first victory with Maranello, while in the second final he was confirmed in competition climbing back up to fifth place. There were also good performances from the Englishman Parrott (Birel) and his compatriot Millroy (Zanardi).
KF2
FINAL 1: MONRAS (E) (MARANELLO/PARILLA/VEGA)
FINAL 2: TURCHETTO (I) (BIREL/PARILLA/VEGA)
The Spaniard Monras (Maranello) and the italian champion of the Junior 2006 Turchetto (Birel) shared success in KF2. In the first final it was the other Spaniard Tarancon (FA Kart) who was first across the finish line, but for a collision with Monras a couple of bends before that he was disqualified. Unlucky in this race was Camponeschi ( FA Kart), who started from pole position in race 1 but was put out near the start by a sensational accident which saw at least a dozen drivers involved at the first bend. Also on the rise was the Czech Toman (Birel), second in race 1 but forced to stay out of race 2 so as not to miss the plane which would allow him to…. not miss school the next day. The race was ideal for the Czech Lucie Panackova (Crg), who came fourth in the second finale after a beautiful recovery. Confirmed at the head of the placings however was the Englishman Stevens (Tony Kart), placed second in race 2.
KF3
FINAL 1: VIGANO' (I) (BIREL/XTR/VEGA)
FINAL 2: HARVEY (GB) (MARANELLO/XTR/VEGA)
A fine exploit by Viganò (Birel) in the first KF3 final which gave him victory in front of the Spaniard Cunill (Tony Kart) and the other brilliant Italian Ceccon (Birel). In race-2 however, in pole position, Viganòs engine failed to start, and the dream of making his mark in a spectacular encore disappeared for the driver from Bergamo. In this way in the second final it was the Englishman Harvey (Maranello) who gained the upper hand and won ahead of Cunill and Ceccon. So with this win Harvey is taken to the top of the ranking with 23 points advantage over Viganò, while the previous leader, the Finn Suvanto, was this time pushed to the rear against his will.
KZ2
FINAL 1: ARDIGO' (I) (TONY KART/VORTEX/VEGA)
FINAL 2: ARDIGO' (I) (TONY KART/VORTEX/VEGA)
Revealing himself to be ever more dominant in KZ2 was the Brescian Marco Ardigò (Tony Kart), in his third victory after the success of the first race at Sarno and the double win in Puglia. Amongst his main adversaries who confirmed themselves on this occasion were Toninelli (Intrepid), at the podium in both races, and Cozzaglio (Monza-Birel), a close second in the first final. There was also a very good performance from the Spaniard Iglesias (Pcr), who was fourth in race-1 and mounted the podium in the second final. Amongst the unsuccessful protagonists Manetti (Intrepid), after having drawn back up to ninth place in the first final, was straight away forced to retire from race 2. This double victory at Ugento takes Ardigò to the top of the table with a 7 point advantage over Cozzaglio and 38 over Toninelli. |
