Twists and turns in the Finals at Val Vibrata
The final stages of the second and last round of the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - KZ, KZ2 & KZ2 Masters were the scene of some exciting racing with its share of surprises. David Trefilov (DEU) won the KZ Final, while Lorenzo Travisanutto (ITA) was crowned champion, Maksim Orlov took victory in KZ2 ahead of new champion Matteo Spirgel (FRA), while Riccardo Nalon (ITA) won the KZ2 Masters title.
It was a particularly intense weekend, ending with some breathtaking Finals in Italy on the classic Val Vibrata circuit. Temperatures in excess of 30°C helped to provide a high level of grip, which suited the CIK-FIA-homolgated Dunlop 'Option' DH H tyres very well. The races lived up to their promise, with a number of twists and turns affecting both the Final results and the fight for the titles, which proved almost impossible to predict.
Trefilov wins the KZ Final, Travisanutto wins the Championship
Lorenzo Camplese (ITA) won the KZ Super Heat on Sunday morning, but Italian Lorenzo Travisanutto remained leader of the Final Intermediate Classification and holder of first place on the starting grid for the Final. Germany's David Trefilov got off to the best start and stayed in first position, first breaking away from Camplese, then ahead of Travisanutto, who set the fastest time during the last eight laps. It was his return to second position that gave Travisanutto the title by just a point over Senna Van Walstijn (NLD), who had dropped from eighth to fourth. It has to be said that the Dutchman's main rival, Viktor Gustafsson (SWE) had dropped several places to seventh in the battle. Danilo Albanese (ITA), who had been held up since his first Qualifying Heat, was unable to get involved in the fight for the title, with his comeback to sixth place at the finish line only giving him fifth place in the standings behind Trefilov.
2024 Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - KZ final standings:
1- Lorenzo Travisanutto (ITA - Parolin / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 146 points
2- Senna Van Walstijn (NLD - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 145 points
3- Viktor Gustafsson (SWE - CRG / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 131 points
4- David Trefilov (DEU - Maranello / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 118 points
5- Danilo Albanese (ITA - KR / IAME / Dunlop) - 107 points
KZ Team standings after Val Vibrata
1- Sodikart (FRA) - 229 points
2- KR Motorsport (ITA) - 200 points
3- CRG (ITA) - 178 points
4- Tony Kart Racing Team (ITA) - 158 points
5- Parolin Motorsport (ITA) - 148 points
KZ2: Orlov secures Final victory and Spirgel the title
Maksim Orlov, who had been on fire since the start of the Qualifying Heats, won Super Heat A ahead of Matteo Spirgel (FRA) and Kasper Schormans (NLD), while Markus Kajak (EST) won Super Heat B ahead of Marek Skrivan (CZE) and Daniel Vasile (ROU). Spirgel, the leader of the Championship standings, took the lead in the Final, while the heat was on behind him. The machines and the drivers were put to the test and the number of retirements increased. Orlov quickly closed the gap on the leader, but took his time to attack. It was only with five laps to go that he seized first position in unstoppable fashion. It has to be said that Spirgel was above all concentrating on the title and that Orlov was no threat to him. His team-mate Schormans had moved up to third ahead of Vasile, his Championship rival, so Spirgel could savour the title. Orlov took a fine victory by more than 7 tenths ahead of Spirgel, with Schormans joining them on the podium, Vasile and Cristian Bertuca (ITA) completing the race's top five.
2024 Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - KZ2 final standings:
1- Matteo Spirgel (FRA - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 176 points
2- Daniel Vasile (ROU - Birel ART / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 142 points
3- Maksim Orlov (Parolin / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 140 points
4- Kasper Schormans (NLD - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 106 points
5- Marek Skrivan (CZE - IPK / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 96 points
KZ2 team standings after Val Vibrata
1- CPB Sport (FRA) - 294 points
2- Birel ART Racing Srl (ITA) - 217 points
3- Modena Kart ASD (ITA) - 170 points
4- IPK Factory Team (CZE) - 128 points
5- Maranello SRP Factory Team (DEU) - 107 points
KZ2 Masters: Nalon wins a crazy Final and becomes Champion
Favourite Davide Fore (ITA) retired after contact on the first lap of the Final, then Mirko Mizzoni (ITA) led ahead of Antonio Piccioni (ITA), but retired with a technical problem on lap 8. Riccardo Nalon (ITA) took the lead and never relinquished it, crossing the finish line 1.9" ahead of Piccioni. A potential champion, Anthony Abbasse (FRA) was in third place on the track before being penalised to seventh position. He left third place to Andrea Spagni (ITA) while Roberto Profico (ITA) and Kristijan Habulin (HRV) completed the top five. Nalon added the title of European Champion to his victory.
2024 Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - KZ2 Masters final standings:
1- Riccardo Nalon (ITA - Parolin / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 153 points
2- Anthony Abbasse (FRA - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 147 points
3- Kristijan Habulin (HRV - TB Kart / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 139 points
4- Davide Fore (ITA - Birel ART / TM Kart / Dunlop) - 127 points
5- Alessio La Martina (ITA - KR / IAME / Dunlop) - 110 points
KZ2 Masters team standings after Val Vibrata
1- Erre Esse Motorsport (ITA) - 153 points
2- Tony Kart Racing Team (ITA) - 149 points
3- Sodikart (FRA) - 147 points
4- TBKart Racing Team srl (ITA) - 139 points
5- Birel ART Racing Srl (ITA) - 134 points
Follow the evolution of the International Karting Ranking (IKR) after the Italian event.
The next event of the Mondokart.com FIA Karting Championships will take place on the PF International circuit in the United Kingdom from 12th to 15th September with the World Championships for the OK & Junior categories and the OK-N World Cup.