CRG gets back on top of the world of international karting and does it in the most beautiful and clear way ever, winning both the most important titles in the shifter categories: the FIA Karting World Championship KZ and the FIA Karting World Cup KZ2. A perfect weekend for the CRG drivers at Le Mans in France, where the two most important titles were awarded in a single round.
Viktor Gustafsson has won the title in the KZ top class, starting from the front row and immediately taking the lead without leaving it until the chequered flag. The Swedish driver thus has brought back to CRG the world title that had been missing for some seasons, the 46th of the rich and prestigious Palmares of the Italian Factory. Gustafsson's success was built right from the Qualifying Practice where, with P4 in his group, he secured the front start in the Heats where he then took 2 wins. The CRG - TM duo proved to be fast in all track conditions, confirming itself as versatile as also demonstrated by Jeremy Iglesias in KZ, who was always among the most competitive and who got an excellent P3 in the end at the finish line. With this title and two drivers on the podium, CRG has deployed an incredible show of strength, presenting the chassis that will be going on the market in 2023 in the best possible way on a prestigious stage.
The same chassis, always powered by TM engines, was also the great protagonists of the KZ2 World Cup in which the CRG Racing Team has obtained a clear victory with Arthur Carbonnel, the real ruler of the event: starting from pole position, he has later won the race with a 4” advantage over the runner-up; an unusual gap in kart racing. Carbonnel was perfect in the Qualifying stages with 3 victories in the Heats that guaranteed him the pole position for the Final, where he has then conquered the title, also scoring the fastest lap in the race. The CRG celebrations in KZ2 could also have included Jorge Pescador, who had started from the 2nd row in the Final, after scoring 3 wins in the Heats. Unfortunately, the Spaniard got a puncture in a front tire, while he was fighting for the podium and was forced to retire. As for the other CRG drivers, Paavo Tonteri and Brandon Nilsson were very unlucky in KZ2: they missed the qualification for a few points, due to two retirements in the Heats. Both of them will be a bit disappointed considering that they were very fast in the other qualifying races. Very unfortunate was also Natalia Balbo, who had scored an excellent P7 in her group in Qualifying, but then some race contacts stopped her ambitions in the Heats. Out of the finalists in KZ2 there were also Gerard Cebrian, Lorenzo Giannoni, Andrea Bosetto, Archie Tillett, Vincenzo Marinov, Axel Matus and Josep Vea.
In the KZ top class, on the other hand, Alex Irlando compromised his weekend by losing a Heat, after he had started very well with 3rd place in the first one, so he qualified in the middle of the group for the Final, where he was then blocked by brawl and traffic. Jaime Alguersuari was also unlucky: he did not take part in Qualifying Practice due to a problem and therefore he always had to start from the back of the grid in the Heats. Finishing P24 in the end, achieving laps times very close to the best ones, represents for him a reasonable result.
Now it is time to celebrate at CRG and share this amazing success with the technical partners, starting with TM which, with the support of Gianfranco Galiffa on the track, has guaranteed to the team exceptional engines.
CRG drivers’ post-race reactions
Viktor Gustafsson (KZ - World Champion): “This exceptional result repays us for the great work done this year, preparing this event in the best possible way, often also sacrificing performance in lower level races. However, this aspect is part of the duties of a Racing Team of a Factory like CRG, because the chassis production for the sales network and for the national Championships comes from our work. Going back to today's race, I have to say that the whole weekend was perfect, both in the early days with variable weather and little grip on the track, as well as on Sunday, when we have made good use of the new tires. I want to thank all the guys in the team who did an amazing job and my mechanic, Riccardo Messana, with whom I shared the transition to CRG last year. A big thank you also to TM who provided us with exceptional support regarding the engines. I am very happy and I want to enjoy this moment that repays us for all the work done this season”.
Arthur Carbonnel (KZ2 World Cup Winner): “Winning this important title on my home track is a dream which comes true for me. I chose to change teams only before the summer break and this choice turned out to be very positive. The team did a great job and the feeling with the chassis and the engine was very good right from the first free practice sessions. Scoring the pole position for the Final gave me confidence and in the race, I was immediately able to take a small advantage, which allowed me to manage the tires well. I am sorry for Jorge because he deserved to be on the podium too, confirming how competitive our chassis-engine package is. Obviously, I want to thank CRG for giving me this great chance, my mechanic, Gianfranco Galiffa for the engine support and my family who always follows me”.
Jeremy Iglesias (KZ): “I am certainly happy for the result, but above all for the great demonstration of competitiveness that we have been able to give unanimously with the whole team. For what concerns my race, I had the speed to stay with Viktor and in the early stages I tried to go away with him, but we couldn't do that, because our competitors for the podium were always really close. In this phase, I lost some time, but I didn't want to take any risks and compromise such a positive weekend for the team. In the end, P3 is a very positive result, even more so if we evaluate it on the difference we have been able to make on the other TM-powered teams. Congratulations to Viktor who had a wonderful weekend and thanks to all the guys in the team and to Gianfranco Galiffa for the great engine support he has provided us throughout the season”.