Like every year, the 2009 CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship will comprise three events, the first one being scheduled for Nevers-Magny-Cours (F) on 17-19 April, within the framework of the "Rencontres Peugeot Sport". The following rounds will take place in the Czech Republic, at Most (on 5-7 June), and in the Netherlands, at Assen (on 7-9 August).
Long considered as a single-make category engine-wise because Rotax’s domination was overwhelming, Superkart (the former Formula E) has been able to redevelop over the last few years thanks to the arrival of new, more modern engines types. And competition between engine Manufacturers is now going full swing, to such an extent that several Drivers renewed or changed their equipment during the winter. The recent national competitions held in France and in Great Britain showed the great leap forward made by everyone, and several records have already been shattered, so we can expect to see the fastest time ever recorded for a Superkart at Magny-Cours (1’40”610 - 157.83 kph) fall this year.
Notwithstanding the aging hardy Rotax and the heterogeneous twin-engine TM, there are six leading makes: the Japanese Yamaha, the French FPE, the Italian DEA, the Canadian BRC, the Danish PVP and the Czech VM. The safe values are the Yamaha of the reigning Champion, Peter Elkmann, and the FPE dear to Damien Payart (plus those of Lee Harpham, Malcolm Crowe and Gavin Bennett); however, with a reinforced bunch of Drivers (7) and the experience gained during a full year, the DEA should be in a position to claim victories, as should the BRC, the colours of which will now be represented by Trevor Roberts, a key Driver. Having made it to the podium in 2008 at the Lausitzring (D), the reed-valve-engined VM will also be able to count on an extended presence on the track as Stefan Malm and Alexandre Sébastia are joining the 2008 duo composed of Michal Bartak and Marcel Maasmann. Although it will no longer be led by its genitor Poul Petersen (who will focus on servicing his Drivers), the PVP engine will still be racing, in particular with the Norwegian Erik Martin Gjertsen and the Australian Carlo Chermaz, whose début on European ground will be worth watching. In its hybrid version fitted with substitute sumps and cylinders, the “old” Rotax will try to prove that it is still alive and kicking, particularly with Britain’s John Riley.
Used to Superkart fields, former Ford, BMW and Opel official Driver in the Swedish Touring Car Championships, Thomas Johansson will this year be joined by another colleague who also has a well-filled career: the Dutchman Cor Euser, whose talent was expressed in Formula 3000 and IndyCar in the 80’s and 90’s and was long associated with the Marcos company in GT.
In all, 49 Drivers (representing 12 nationalities) will take the start at Magny-Cours for a programme composed of two qualifying practice sessions (on Friday and Saturday) and two races of 50 km each (on Saturday at 17h30 and Sunday at 15h15). For any further information, please consult: www.cikfia.com/News2009/MagnyCours.htm
The full entry list: http://www.cikfia.com/News2009/MagnyCours/Entry%20List%20SK.pdf
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