UK’s Gavin Bennett (Anderson-DEA) is the 2009 CIK-FIA European Superkart Champion, regaining the title that he had previously won in 2007. He dominated proceedings each time he took to the track at the famous TT Circuit at Assen. First he was top of the leader board in Free Practice and then in both Qualifying Practice sessions, setting in the process a new reference lap time for Superkarts at Assen, almost 2 seconds under the former record, and also relegating his closest follower to over 1 second! Finally he took an easy ‘lights to flag’ victory by over 10 seconds in Race 1 (Round 5) to take an unassailable lead in the championship standings, with a round to spare!
‘Glad, happy, everything’ was his reaction on winning the title. Then after a short reflection, ‘It was a bit of a surprise to be so far in front. We haven’t changed anything since the last rounds in Czech Republic. I had expected a stronger challenge from Trevor (Roberts) but he’s had problems’, the new Champion explained.
At the moment, it is his intention to defend his title next year, although ‘we do need some sponsorship for 2010’ he pointed out.
Outgoing champion, Germany’s Peter Elkmann (MS Kart-Yamaha) went down fighting. He had a great wheel to wheel battle with Damien Payart to just take 2nd place from him, and was gracious in acknowledging Bennett’s superiority this season. ‘Gavin earned his title this year. He has proved to be a worthy champion. He has been fast and consistent all year. That is how a championship should be won’.
Race Two was inevitably something of an anti-climax, but if the championship had still been open, the finish would have been most dramatic. The last lap commenced with Bennett-Elkmann-Payart again in places 1-2-3 but first Elkmann put his hand in the air as his motor spluttered and then Bennett did likewise as he suffered the same fate. So France’s Damien Payart (PVP-FPE) inherited a victory in front of UK’s Mark Owens (ADE-DEA) with Carl Hulme 3rd. Hulme (Anderson-FPE) was the only driver to finish in the top ten in every round of the series. ‘That is some consolation I suppose’, he said, adding ‘I was very poor this morning’.
The superkarts had taken their place in front of 57,000 spectators, a record at the famous Rizla Racing Day at Holland, with motor cycle, saloon car and single seater car races completing the programme. |
