Valencia: Gomez keeps the advantage in OK, Schaufler takes Junior lead
Poleman Gomez (BRA) held on to top spot after the OK Qualifying Heats in Valencia, while Turney (GBR) held off a spirited comeback. Schaufler (AUT) dominated the OK-Junior against Van Langendonck (BEL).
Thirty-six Qualifying Heats were run in Valencia, eighteen in each category, to establish the intermediate rankings for the first 2024 Competition of the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championships - OK and Junior on Saturday evening. Weather conditions remained favourable on Friday afternoon and throughout the day on Saturday. The races on the 1,435 m Kartódromo Internacional Lucas Guerrero were of a high intensity and provided an excellent sporting spectacle.
Sunday's programme will begin with Super Heats for the top 72 finishers in each category, to select the best 36 for the Finals in the early afternoon.
Junior: Schaufler completes a clean sweep
With five wins from five starts, Austria's Niklas Schaufler took the lead in the Qualifying Heats of the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - Junior in Valencia. Poleman Dries van Langendonck (BEL) was a convincing second with four wins. Christian Costoya (ESP) and Sebastian Lehtimaki (FIN) kept pace in third and fourth positions, while Borys Lyzen (POL) moved up to fifth (+8 places) and Roman Kamyab (GBR) sixth (+10 places). Behind Sebastien Minns (GBR), Bosco Arias (ESP) moved up from 27th to eighth. Iacopo Martinese (ITA) and Noah Baglin (GBR) completed the top 10. Scott Kin Lindblom (SWE) climbed a remarkable 40 places to 19th.
Gomez leads after the OK heats, but Turney closes in
Gabriel Gomez (ITA), poleman in Qualifying, maintained his level of performance during the Qualifying Heats of the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship - OK in Valencia. He won four times to maintain his lead in the standings. Despite finishing ninth in Qualifying, Joe Turney (GBR) managed to climb back into second place, with four wins to his credit. Matheus Morgatto (BRA) moved up to third place with two wins ahead of Sebastiano Pavan (ITA), also a two-time winner. Less at ease in the last heat, Lewis Wherrell (GBR) was fifth ahead of Vivek Kanthan (USA), who had already won once. Miguel Costa (BRA) moved up to seventh ahead of Davide Bottaro (ITA) and Zac Drummond (GBR), while Ean Eyckmans completed the top 10 on Saturday evening. A steady run by Louis Iglesias (FRA) took him up to 11th ahead of Markas Silkunas (LTU) and Anatoly Khavalkin, both of whom were delayed by retirement. Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL) made up some of his lost ground to finish 16th (+13 places).
Provisional schedule for the Valencia Competition
Sunday, March 24th
09:00 - 10:05: Warm-up
10:10 - 11:45: Super Heats
13:20 - 14:55: Finals