From the 3rd to the 6th September the world of karting will focus its attention on the “Circuito Internazionale Napoli” in Sarno (Salerno), where the most important event of the season will come on stage with the KZ1 World Cup: 76 drivers representing 14 countries will compete here with a top ranking of equipments and technicians at the highest level. During the same weekend 78 drivers of the young class will take part in the KF3 World Cup. The KZ1 125cc shifter class, the queen category of karting, will present an excellent plateau of protagonists and first of all the CRG official team which is also holder of the last two world titles conquered by the Belgian Thonon.
The CRG official team, racing with high performance Maxter engines, will line up its best drivers who will fight for the final success. The forecasts are favourable for Thonon, who is definitely in great shape at the moment thanks to his brilliant victory conquered recently in Salbris and a third place at the European KZ1 in Wackersdorf.
Other CRG drivers will join this World Cup such as the five times World Champion Davide Forè, the French “Koko” Arnaud Kozlinski (he was recently third in the World Cup in Suzuka and was the winner in 2006) together with the very fast American driver Gary Carlton who has always been a protagonist in the international races of these last years and also the USA champion in 2006 and 2007.
Another promise of the international karting, Luca Tilloca from Alghero, will join CRG and the other four champions in KZ1: he has already shown his qualities during the European KZ2 championship this year.
The KZ1 World Championship will also be an occasion to test in such an important race the new “LH” chassis, produced and marketed by CRG, signed by the F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton. The LH chassis has already had a positive debut this year during the international events of the WSK series and the British Oliver Rowland will drive it for the race in Sarno: he was the KF2 World Champion in 2008 and McLaren is keeping an eye on him. This is anyway his first time in KZ1 World Cup and his debut with the shifter kart.
CRG-Maxter will take part in the KF3 World Cup in Sarno with the Finnish Matias Koykka - a real revelation in the European KF3 - together with the Rumenian Robert Visoiu who made his apprenticeship mainly in the international WSK Championship and in the European Championship.
Among the official drivers there will be several private drivers who will run with CRG chassis in this double world event.
In the KZ1 class the CRG chassis will be the most used ones with a total of 16 drivers (19 with Maxter engines). CRG Holland will also participate in the event with the Dutch Rick Dreezen and Arjan Kievitsbosch together with the two fast brothers Jorrit and Yard Pex who were already in great evidence in the European KZ2.
Other names are Nicola Nolè (European ICA champion in 2006), the Dutch Danny Bleek, Daniele Delli Compagni (a protagonist in the European KZ2), William Benedetti, the Croat champion Krisijan Habulin of KK1 Team, the Bulgarian Mishel Georgiev and the French Anthony Garbarino.
The CRG colours will be defended in KF3 also by the VDK Racing Team with the Belgian Bryan Laloux and the AKK Team with Risto Vukov from Macedonia.
Last week the whole CRG team made a two-days test on the “Circuito Internazionale Napoli” in Sarno which was useful to improve the performances before the World Cup.
Here are the comments and expectations of the CRG drivers:
Jonathan Thonon: “I want to do my best for the CRG team. We have seen how well we have raced in the recent WSK race in Salbris even against those competitors who were absolute protagonists at the beginning of the season. In these last years we have never been disappointing at the World Cup and also this time I am in a great shape for this event. I went through a two-days’ test with my engine tuner Savard and everything was OK. CRG chassis and Maxter engine have had an excellent development so I am satisfied and ready to win my third title in a row.”
Davide Forè: “I am quite sure that I am able to win this World Cup and therefore to repeat my success of 2006, also that time I could win the title thanks to a penalization against Thonon. I have been sharing success in these last years with my team-mate and I hope to be able to win at the end. Of course first of all we need to race, a mishap is always possible and every time is a new story. We will have four heats each and just the qualifying heats will be very important to find the right set-up.”
Arnaud Kozlinski: “I was fourth last year so this time I hope to reach at least the podium. I like the circuit very much, I have already won the podium at the Super KF World Cup in Suzuka and I’d really like to enhance this season with a good podium in this KZ1 World Championship. The tests were OK and furthermore I will also avail myself of the engine tuner Savard so I trust in a good result.”
Gary Carlton: “It will be certainly a difficult race but I think I will run at best. I have the potential to win and I could be able to be successful if I won’t be unlucky. The whole team is supporting me and believes in me, so it’s the same for me. We have the bases for that and the test in Sarno was definitely OK. Last year I started 29th and after 7 laps I was already in the 11th position, then I broke my motor. I hope his time not to have any mechanical problem. I know we can do it and I will do my best to make a good performance.”
Oliver Rowland: “It’s the first time that I’m driving an LH chassis with gears and also my first KZ1 World Championship. I am sure it will be a difficult event for me but I think I will do well. I have to work hard and I will try to make a good Final. Last year I won the KF2 World Cup, I’ll do my best in Sarno but it will be difficult to win there.”
Luca Tilloca: “This is my first World Championship. I aim at qualifying for the final phase and to get over the heats. I am very trustful but as it happened during the European championship a mishap is always possible and in that case it was a real pity because there were the conditions to obtain a very good result after the podium I had reached in the first Final in Muro Leccese. My expectation is to arrive in the Final then we will see. Certainly I hope to get a good result but I have to compete with the best drivers in the world.”
CRG-MAXTER OFFICIAL DRIVERS
Sarno (I), September 3rd-6th 2009
CIK-FIA KZ1 WORLD CUP
1 - Jonathan Thonon (B) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop
Waterloo (B), 22.10.86
Winner of 2007 and 2008 KZ1 World Cup. 3rd at 2009 European KZ1 Championship. 2008 European KZ1 Champion. 2002 European ICA Champion.
3 - Davide Forè (I) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop
Brescia (I), 16.07.74
Winner of 2008 World Cup for KF1. 1998, 2000, 2004 and 2006 World Karting Champion. Winner of 2006 World Cup Super-Icc. 1994 European Formula A Champion.
4 - Arnaud Kozlinski (F) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop
Bordeaux (F), 8.10.81
3rd in 2009 World Cup for Super KF. 2nd at 2008 European KF1 Championship. Winner of 2006 World Cup for FA. 2nd at 2003 and 2004 World Championship.
21 – Gary Carlton (USA) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop
Marysville, California (USA), 3.5.86
2006 and 2007 USA Icc Champion. 6th at 2007 European KZ2 Championship. 13th at 2008 European KZ1 Championship.
48 – Oliver Rowland (GB) - LH-Maxter- Dunlop
Sheffield (GB), 10.8.92
Winner of 2008 World Cup for KF2. 5th at 2008 European KF2 Championship. 3rd at 2008 KF2 WSK Series. 2007 British Junior Champion. 2003 and 2004 British Cadet Champion.
67 – Luca Tilloca (I) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop
Alghero (I), 27.7.87
3rd at 2009 KZ2 Final-1 at Muro European Championship.13th at 2009 European KZ2 Championship.
CIK-FIA KF3 WORLD CUP
111 – Matias Koykka (FIN) - CRG-Maxter-Vega
Lahela Tuusula (FIN), 23.11.94
2009 European KF3 Championship (11th)
158 – Robert Visoiu (RO) - CRG-Maxter-Vega
Pitesti (RO), 10.2.96
2009 European KF3 Championship (42th)
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