This weekend, the Kartódromo Internacional do Algarve witnessed the crowning of three FIA Champions following a fierce competition that saw a variety of track conditions.
Italian Giuseppe Palomba was the surprise winner of the Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship – KZ while his compatriot Cristian Bertuca dominated the FIA Karting World Cup - KZ2 from start to finish and Frenchman Anthony Abbasse won the FIA Karting International Super Cup - Masters.
The weather changed from rain on Friday to dry and increasingly fine on Sunday. On the 1,531m track of the Kartódromo Internacional do Algarve, the battles were constant, the front runners ever changing alongside the changing of the grip of the track with some major comebacks in the Finals, as well as some surprising twists and turns.
CIK-FIA President Akbar Ebrahim and his Vice-President John Ryan were able to appreciate the level of the competition in the company of Marek Nawarecki, Director of the FIA's Circuit Sport Department, and Vincent Caro, Head of Circuit Mass Participation, Disciplines and Activities at the FIA.
KZ: Palomba the surprise winner
A final duel between Pedro Hiltbrand Aguilar (ESP) and Senna Van Walstijn (NLD) was expected, but it was Giuseppe Palomba (ITA) who beat the two favourites on the line after taking advantage of their close battle. Van Walstijn had dominated the early part of the meeting, but a retirement in a heat allowed Hiltbrand to take the lead. Van Walstijn won the Super Heat on Sunday morning, but Hiltbrand was ahead of him on the grid for the Final. Van Walstijn jumped into the lead at lights out, but Hiltbrand never let him go. The Spaniard went on the attack halfway through the race. The Dutchman replied on the following lap, but his team-mate Palomba took advantage and moved into the lead. David Trefilov (DEU), who had joined the trio, also passed Hiltbrand, who dropped to 4th place. Hiltbrand was quick to react and quickly got back to the front of the race. His great rival was intimidated and held on to second place, while Palomba headed for the title. Trefilov secured fourth place ahead of Arthur Carbonnel (FRA), who put in a solid performance after Jérémy Iglesias (FRA) was eliminated. Jorge Pescador (ESP) moved up 12 places to sixth, Lorenzo Travisanutto (ITA) moved up 10 places to eighth ahead of Danilo Albanese (ITA) who moved up 13 places. It's a long-awaited success for the Sodikart team and a one-two finish.
Top 10 Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship - KZ
1- Giuseppe Palomba - ITA (Sodi/TM Kart/Dunlop)
2- Senna Van Walstijn - NLD (Sodi/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 1.698
3- Pedro Hiltbrand Aguilar - ESP (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 2.021
4- David Trefilov - DEU (Maranello/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 4.000
5- Arthur Carbonnel - FRA (CRG/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 4.423
6- Jorge Pescador - ESP (Kali'Kart/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 6.729
7- Stan Pex - NLD (KR/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 8.128
8- Lorenzo Travisanutto - ITA (Parolin/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 8.618
9- Danilo Albanese - ITA (KR/IAME/Dunlop) at 9.653
10- Paolo Ippolito - ITA (KR/IAME/Dunlop) at 9.722
Top three KZ teams
1- Sodikart - FRA - 398 points
2- CRG - ITA - 263 points
3- KR Motorsport - ITA - 254 points
KZ2: Bertuca wins well-deserved title
Cristian Bertuca (ITA) won everything this weekend in Portugal. He took pole position in Qualifying and went on to win all five of his Qualifying Heats and Super Heat A. He led the Final, but gradually gave up his advantage as Matheus Morgatto (BRA) came back to take second place, less than three-tenths behind him. The top three on the grid was maintained with Paavo Tonteri (FIN) in third place, eight-tenths back. The race was marked by the retirement at the first corner of one of the favourites, Daniel Vasile (ROU), and by the retirement on the last lap of a promising young driver, Timo Jüngling (DEU), who was ninth. At the age of 18, Bertuca scored a major success in his third season in the category with a team that is very involved in KZ competition.
Top 10 FIA Karting World Cup - KZ2
1- Cristian Bertuca - ITA (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop)
2- Matheus Morgatto - BRA (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 0.283
3- Paavo Tonteri - FIN (CRG/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 0.810
4- Artem Severiukhin (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 1.134
5- Dion Van Werven NLD - (Sodi/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 4.716
6- Jean Nomblot FRA - (Sodi/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 5.030
7- Maksim Orlov (Parolin/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 5.367
8- Genis Civico Espona - ESP (Tony Kart/Vortex/Dunlop) at 7.739
9- Anatoly Khavalkin (Parolin/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 9.876
10- Gianni Andrisani DEU - (KR/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 10.396
Top three KZ2 teams
1- Birel ART Racing - ITA - 389 points
2- CPB Sport - FRA - 387 points
3- Modena Kart ASD - ITA - 224 points
KZ2 Masters: Anticipated title for Abbasse
Anthony Abbasse (FRA) was undoubtedly one of the strongest drivers of the KZ2 Masters in Portugal. However, his dominance was challenged by Daniel Bray (NZL), who was hot on his heels throughout the weekend. Their battle lasted throughout the race and ended with Abbasse winning by less than 5 tenths ahead of Bray. Davide Foré (ITA) made his way up the field to pass Kristijan Habulin (HRV) for third place. Manuel Cozzaglio (ITA) moved up 13 places to fifth. Vincent Cossard (FRA), who started in third position, left the scene after five laps. Andre Nicastro (BRA) lost his fourth place due to a penalty. Abbasse, twice runner-up in the KZ World Championship, claimed his first FIA Karting title.
Top 10 FIA Karting International Super Cup - Masters
1- Anthony Abbasse FRA - (Sodi/TM Kart/Dunlop)
2- Daniel Bray - NZL (Parolin/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 0.489
3- Davide Foré ITA - (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 7.929
4- Kristijan Habulin - HRV (TB Kart/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 9.066
5- Manuel Cozzaglio - ITA (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 9.505
6- Rasmus Haugard - DNK (KR/IAME/Dunlop) at 9.879
7- Thomas Mich - FRA (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 10.696
8- Andre Ferreira Serafim - PRT (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 12.561
9- Roberto Profico - ITA (Tony Kart/Vortex/Dunlop) at 12.690
10- Riccardo Nalon - ITA (Parolin/TM Kart/Dunlop) at 12.987
Top three KZ2 Masters teams
1- Sodikart - FRA - 248 points
2- Birel ART Racing - ITA - 233 points
3- Tony Kart Racing Team - ITA - 217 points
Follow the evolution of the International Karting Ranking (IKR) after the Portuguese round.