Morgatto confirms Birel ART's progress in Champions of the Future at Rødby
International competition continued on a new track last weekend. After Trinec in the Czech Republic, the Birel ART Racing team discovered the Rødby circuit in Denmark for the third round of the Champions of the Future Euro Series at the beginning of June, two weeks before the FIA Karting European Championship - OK and Junior.
Matheus Morgatto put in a convincing performance in OK, but his Final 9th place only partially reflected his level of competitiveness. In OK-Junior, Kit Belosky gradually built up his strength before gaining 12 places. Matias Orjuela, driving for Leclerc by Lennox Racing, made an excellent start to the meeting, but had a very complicated Final.
"It's a mixed bag for us on our return from Denmark," said Riccardo Longhi, Birel ART Racing Team Manager. "The most important thing is that we are continuing to improve our equipment in both categories. Matheus Morgatto in OK and Matias Orjuela in OK-Junior were able to fight their way into the top three in the Qualifying Heats as we discovered the specificities of a new circuit. Our technical progress is very encouraging for everyone, drivers and mechanics alike. However, the results did not follow the same pattern. Morgatto could have done better than 9th in the OK Final. Joel Bergstrom was delayed by a number of setbacks in the heats and had to retire in the Final. In the OK-Junior class, Kit Belofsky showed his mettle after the heats with significant gains of 10 places in the Super Heat and 12 positions in the Final. Back on the international scene after his political absence from the Czech Republic, Russia's Gerasim Skulanov had to cope with a difficult Qualifying session and some complex heats. In the satellite team Leclerc by Lennox Racing, Matias Orjuela got off to a very good start with a 4th place in Qualifying and some very solid heats, three times 3rd and once 2nd. Unfortunately, he crashed out 19th in the Final and finished 26th because of a front fairing penalty".
The renewed confidence in the equipment's performance and the data recorded last weekend bode well for the third round of the European Championship, which will be held again at Rødby from 15th to 18th June.