The temperature wasn't the only thing to rise during the Qualifying Heats which have been taking place since Friday afternoon in Italy, during a competition that on Sunday afternoon will decide the winners of the FIA Karting European Championships - OK and Junior as well as the FIA Karting Academy Trophy. Race direction and the stewards are keeping a close eye on compliance with the regulations.
On Saturday evening, Rene Lammers (NLD) was leading in OK and Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL) in Junior before the Super Heats, while Wojciech Woda (POL) and Hugo Marti (ESP) were tied at the top of the Academy Trophy with two heats remaining on Sunday morning.
The races were hotly contested on the Cremona Karting track. The grip was better than in previous races, but there were no problems with excessive rubber deposits. The racing remained intense and physical on a track that was not easy to master, while the heat was beginning to take its toll.
Lammers makes the break in OK
Dutchman Rene Lammers, who leads the provisional standings in the European Championship - OK, took the lead in the heats with four wins and a second place. Thailand's Enzo Tarnvanichkul also maintained a very good pace with his three wins. Kean Nakamura-Berta (GBR) made up five places in third place thanks to a series of second places and a win. Fionn Mc Laughlin (IRL) moved up to 4th ahead of Luigi Coluccio (ITA). All three ranked in the top five of the Championship when they arrived in Cremona, with Tomass Stolcermanis (LVA) up 13 places to ninth, Gabriel Gomez (ITA) 12th (up five places) ahead of Alex Powell (JAM), who has climbed 15 places. Qualifying poleman Louis Iglesias (FRA) dropped back to 16th, partly due to an accident that forced him to retire in his final heat.
OK Qualifying Heats standings
1- Rene Lammers (NLD) - 244 points
2- Enzo Tarnvanichkul (THA) - 235 points
3- Kean Nakamura-Berta (GBR) - 226 points
4- Fionn Mc Laughlin (IRL) - 215 points
5- Luigi Coluccio (ITA) - 213 points
Junior: Ramaekers maintains his lead
Belgian poleman Thibaut Ramaekers continued his winning form with three victories. He thus retains top spot ahead of his compatriot Dries van Langendonck, a two-time winner. Christian Costoya (ESP) moved up to third place thanks to a solid performance that included a victory, followed by Iacopo Martinese (ITA), twice a winner. Lewis Wherrell (GBR) moved up to fifth place ahead of Lewis Francis (AUS), who continues to surprise. Championship leader Oleksandr Bondarev (UKR) jumped 22 places to seventh, while Andy Consani (FRA) climbed 17 places to 13th. In terms of the Championship, Zac Drummond (GBR) was still a little way back in 20th place, as were Taym Saleh (DEU) in 23rd, Tiziano Monza (SGP) in 35th and Elliot Kaczynski (SWE) in 39th.
Junior Qualifying Heats standings
1- Thibaut Ramaekers (BEL) - 235 points
2- Dries van Langendonck (BEL) - 232 points
3- Christian Costoya (ESP) - 216 points
4- Iacopo Martinese (ITA) - 214 points
5- Lewis Wherell (GBR) - 208 points
Academy Trophy: Identical scores for Woda and Marti
Four of the six Qualifying Heats of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy took place at Cremona on Saturday. The top two finishers in Qualifying, Poland's Wojciech Woda and Spain's Hugo Marti, were level on Saturday evening with two wins apiece. Behind them, the hierarchy was shaken up as Markas Silkunas (LTU) took two second places to climb significantly up the rankings from his sixth place in Qualifying. Lisa Billard (FRA) made even more significant progress. After qualifying in 14th place, she finished third and fifth, putting her in the provisional top five ahead of Rocco Coronel (NLD). On the other hand, Max Walton (AUS), Marius Barry-Berg (NOR), Santino Panetta (ARG), Vasileios Apostolidis (GRC) and Arthur Broughan (NZL) had mixed fortunes. The last two heats will take place on Sunday morning.
The provisional program for the Cremona event
Sunday 30th July
08:30 - 09:55: Warm-up
10:05 - 10:40: Academy Qualifying Heats
10:45 - 12:20: OK and OK-Junior Super Heats
13:50 - 16:10: Finals