As a support class to the KF1 World Championship karting held in Murro Leccese, was the KF2 World Cup, the class for aspiring young hopefuls. All the signs pointed to the favourite Flavio Camponeschi (Tony Kart-Vortex). Third in the World Cup last year and European Champion this year, this young 16 year old Italian had all the odds in his favour. Far from being intimidated by all this pressure, Flavio Camponeschi lived up to his Favourite’s billing.
On Friday he missed out on top spot in the timed practice by just 55 one thousandths of a second. But thereafter, he was wheel perfect. Five wins in his five qualifying races, victory in the pre-final and then absolute domination in the Final. Camponeschi didn’t offer his
opponents even a chance of beating him. I can hardly believe it’, said the shy young Italian with stars in his eyes. ‘To win the world cup after having already won the European Championship. This has been a perfect year for me. I thank the team and everybody who has helped me win so many trophies this year. Now I am ready to move up to the
top class, the KF1’.
After having secured the world championship with Ardigo, the Tony Kart team won the world cup and even made it a double courtesy of British driver Oliver Rowland (Tony Kart-Vortex). Already integrated into the McLaren young drivers development programme, just like Lewis Hamilton was, Oliver was to regret a penalty imposed in the pre-final for a jump start. Starting in 9th place, at the start of the second lap Oliver had had a fantastic first lap to move up to 3rd place. But Camponeschi had already established a gap... ‘I don’t think I could have beaten Flavio anyway, the British driver sportingly acknowledged. ‘I could match him for speed on a particular lap, but not consistently throughout the race. I am already satisfied by winning my battle with Zdenek Groman over the closing laps’. In the absence of a close race for first place, the spectators enjoyed the battle between Rowland and the Czech Zdenek Groman (Maranello-Parilla). With Toman and Groman on the podium, the Czechs had certainly enjoyed a fruitful karting festival at Muro Leccese.
Just missing the podium, other honourable placings were taken by Frenchman Loïc Reguillon (Sodi-Parilla), the Italian Felice Tiene (CRG-Maxter), the Belgian Sami Luka (CRG-Maxter), the Brit Elliot Burton (Tony Kart-Vortex), the Finn Leopold Ringbom (Gillard-Parilla), the Swede Timmy Hansen (Tony Kart-Vortex) and the Brit Robert Foster-Jones (FA Kart-Vortex). |
