The last event of the season gave us a further satisfaction in this year rich in victories. Marco Ardigň won the CIK-FIA Asia Pacific KF1 Championship on the track in Macau. Marco started from the first line, next to Sauro Cesetti (Birel-Parilla), he was leading the race since the first bend and was first for all the 25 laps of the final, without any attack from the rivals. Under the chequered flag our World Champion ended with a gap of 1’838 on the rival Cesetti (2nd) and of 4’’102 on Manuel Renaudie (Gillard-Parilla).
For the Tony Kart Racing Team this is the third victory out of four editions of the CIK-FIA race in Macau, race which closes the international karting season. The success was gained thanks to the meticulous work of all the staff already during the free practices on Thursday. On this track it is difficult to find a good grip and it is essential to find a good balance between the high speed in the long and fast bends and the central part of the track. The technicians worked in a good way also thanks to the versatility and the high performance of the material with every kind of track conditions. The result was great and our drivers were leading the race starting from the qualifying. Marco signed the pole and Gary did the fourth time at 167 hundredths from his team-mate.
The heats confirmed the potential: our two drivers Ardigň, without penalties (two victories), and Gary with 8 (6th and 2nd ) started from the first and second line in the pre-final. The start of the pre-final was critical for Gary, a rival in the bagarre at the first bend touched the driver forcing him to give up the race and losing the possibility to fight for the victory. Oliver Rowland was noticed for his great start in the pre-final, which took him from the sixth to the fist position; unfortunately Oliver, in this way, was penalized of 10’’ because he started a little bit before the green of the traffic lights ( electronic survey).
At the beginning Marco let race the group of young drivers making their début in KF1, led by his team mate Rowland and from the English Harvey. In the final phase of the race the technical skills of our Champion stood out and the second position, just behind Cesetti, allowed us to start from the first line in the super final. In the final Ardigo led the group starting from the first bend, gained a great gap and kept it until the chequered flag.
The KF3, the other CIK-FIA category present at the Asiatic circuit, was won by Carlos Sainz Junior using a similar material: FA Kart with Vortex engine.
Giacomo Aliprandi –Tony Kart Racing Team, Team Manager
“This victory closes a positive season. The track in Macau, not being particularly used has an asphalt on which it is difficult to find a good grip. We were already aware of this and other particularities of the track so we hadn’t any surprise. Our material has a great versatility, this is proved by the fact that we won the KF1 World Championship in Europe, two weeks ago we didn’t gain the victory in the USA due to an accident but it was not our fault and today, in Asia, we won another CIK title. These results are emblematic.”
In sight of the KF1 World Championship, what do you think about this track?
“It’s always a great pleasure for us to come here in Asia, the public welcome us warmly and everyone is really competent, moreover the organization of the event is good and get better from year to year. They are glad to have here these races. The track, as I have already said, has specific characteristics which make it interesting. The judgment is positive from all the points of view.”
Marco Ardigň- Tony Kart Racing Team driver, KF1
“It was a hard race! As always. I gained a good gap already at the start and at that point I tried to keep it without giving to my rivals the possibility to attack me. The race was really long, in fact after 23 laps on this track the tyres were really exploited. When I saw that the gap that I had on my rivals was always considerable, I stayed concentrated on the race in order not to give any chance to recover to my rivals. This is a good success, which closes another positive year.”
Gary Catt - Tony Kart Racing Team driver, KF1
“ I am really afraid for what happened, I had a great potential. The Kart were perfect and I thought to do well. Unfortunately at the first bend in the pre-final, when I was fourth, there was a mess behind me and someone touched me compromising my race and the possibility to win. Marco proved, once again, our potential…it was a pity. Now I am already thinking to the new season, we started to work for 2009 and I am confident and happy to be part of this team."
Oliver Rowland - Tony Kart Racing Team driver, KF1
“This one has been my first experience in KF1, I have to compete with many experienced drivers starting from my two team-mates, Marco and Gary. I will learn many things from them.” |
