With 153 Drivers in northern Italy, warm sunny weather, very tight gaps, surprises and not all of the favourites well placed after the timed sessions, the Qualifying Heats and Final already promise a big show for the second and last Competition of the CIK-FIA European Championships for KZ and KZ2, as well as for the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy. Although the Italian Francesco Celenta was fastest in KZ, two Frenchmen, Emilien Denner in KZ2 and Sami Meguetounif in the Academy who achieved the other two pole positions.
The first two CIK-FIA European Championships of 2018 are ready to be awarded in the KZ and KZ2 categories. Therefore, the tension is palpable in the paddock at Lonato! Most Drivers are very familiar with "South Garda Karting" and the gaps have been kept infinitely small throughout the various test sessions. It must be said that the circuit of Lonato, perfectly managed by the Corberi family, has become the training ground of the big international teams, who know every square centimetre of tarmac of this 1200m track. In all three categories, the Drivers use LeCont brand tyres, the Prime version in KZ and KZ2, and the Option version in Academy.
As for the Academy Trophy, the CIK-FIA wanted to present the "FIA Education Program" programme to the young Drivers. In the presence of Monégasque Charles Leclerc, the Driver from the Alfa Romeo Sauber team in Formula 1, the members of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) have in particular informed the Drivers about the Race-True programme initiated to inform the athletes and their teams on anti-doping matters.
KZ: Francesco Celenta surprises the favourites
Already very fast throughout the Official Free Practice, Francesco Celenta (ITA) confirmed his potential in Qualifying Practice by taking pole position. The two Dutchmen Marijn Kremers and Jorrit Pex waited until the end of the session to move up the hierarchy and settle in the 2nd and 3rd places respectively. Absent from Salbris, Mirko Torsellini (ITA) marked his return to KZ with a brilliant 4th place ahead of Rick Dreezen (BEL). Jérémy Iglesias (FRA), who won at Salbris in May, had to settle for the 9th fastest performance.
Emilien Denner creates a surprise in KZ2
With 78 entries at Lonato, the KZ2 category once again has a great field. About 90% of them finished in the same second in the Qualifying Practice, proof of the quality of the Drivers and the careful preparation of their equipment. In the end, none of the top-ranked Drivers in the Championship standings managed to secure pole position. In the first session, Emilien Denner (FRA) quickly achieved a reference time of 45 "770, which no one managed to beat afterwards. In the following session, Giuseppe Palomba (ITA) settled temporarily in 2nd place in 45 "860, before being preceded by Riccardo Longhi (ITA), the fastest of the third session. Behind this trio, Alexander Schmitz (DEU) finished 4th ahead of Alessandro Giardelli (ITA). Current leader overall, the Frenchman Adrien Renaudin finished 10th, doing better than his two compatriots who follow him in the Championship.
Meguetounif still fastest in the Academy
A true pole position chaser, Sami Meguetounif (FRA) reiterated his Salbris performance. But it was tight! Federico Albanese (ITA) conceded only six thousandths to the poleman. Travelling from South Africa in this Trophy which brings together no less than 38 nationalities at Lonato, Joshua Coertze took 3rd place ahead of Guilherme A. De Figueiredo (BRA) and Joshua Rattican (GBR). The top two in the provisional ranking, Jose Maria Navalon Boya (ESP) and Kobe Pauwels (BEL) will be keen to recover during the Qualifying Heats after their 12th and 15th positions respectively.
The programme will continue on Saturday, July 14th in Lonato with the Qualifying Heats from 10:30 to 17:25, follow it via live-timing and live-streaming on the website www.cikfia.com.