Following Qualifying Heats held in variable grip conditions, Spain's Pedro Hiltbrand Aguilar took the lead in the intermediate standings of the Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship - KZ, Italy's Cristian Bertuca maintained his lead in the FIA Karting World Cup - KZ2 and France's Anthony Abbasse took the lead in the FIA Karting International Super Cup - Masters.
The weather changed during the Qualifying Heats. Rainy on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, the weather improved on Saturday afternoon before deteriorating again at the end of the day. In particular, the rankings changed on the dry track. The forecast for rain on Sunday looks uncertain. The races were hotly contested, both on wet and dry tracks, and there was no shortage of drama.
On Sunday morning, the competition will continue with the Super Heats before moving on to the Finals in the early afternoon.
KZ: Hiltbrand takes up the baton
Senna Van Walstijn (NLD) set out to dominate the KZ Qualifying Heats. After two brilliant victories on a wet track, he looked set to maintain his advantage with a second place in the last heat when his engine betrayed him. Pedro Hiltbrand Aguilar (ESP) made up ground and took the lead in Heat 3. The winner took command of the category from Jérémy Iglesias (FRA), who was competitive in all conditions. Van Walstijn was third. Giuseppe Palomba (ITA) and David Trefilov (DEU) climbed six places each to fourth and fifth, while Adrien Renaudin (FRA) lost ground on the dry track. Yohan Soguel (FRA) was very incisive in seventh position, gaining 18 places.
Top five after the heats of the Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship - KZ
1- Pedro Hiltbrand Aguilar - ESP (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) 130 points
2- Jérémy Iglesias - FRA (CRG/TM Kart/Dunlop) 126 points
3- Senna Van Walstijn - NLD (Sodi/TM Kart/Dunlop) 111 points
4- Giuseppe Palomba - ITA (Sodi/TM Kart/Dunlop) 104 points
5- David Trefilov - DEU (Maranello/TM Kart/Dunlop) 104 points
KZ2: A faultless run for Bertuca
KZ2 poleman Cristian Bertuca (ITA) took five wins from five heats in all conditions, while many of his rivals encountered problems. Only his team-mate Daniel Vasile (ROU), third in Qualifying, kept up the pace by finishing second with a victory in the last heat. Paavo Tonteri (FIN), 15th in Qualifying, won his first heat and climbed up to third place ahead of Matheus Morgatto (BRA), who moved up from 14th to fourth. Artem Severiukhin found himself at the back of the pack at the start of the D-E heat and lost the advantage of his two wins to take fifth place ahead of the consistent Genis Civico Espona (ESP). Gianni Andrisani (DEU) got off to a good start but was eliminated at the start of the D-F heat and was 8th, behind Dion Van Werven (NLD). Maksim Orlov moved up 20 places to ninth, ahead of Jean Nomblot (FRA), who moved up 16 places.
Top six after the heats of the FIA Karting World Cup - KZ
1- Cristian Bertuca - ITA (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) 250 points
2- Daniel Vasile - ROU (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) 217 points
3- Paavo Tonteri - FIN (CRG/TM Kart/Dunlop) 214 points
4- Matheus Morgatto - BRA (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) 206 points
5- Artem Severiukhin (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) 205 points
6- Genis Civico Espona - ESP (Tony Kart/Vortex/Dunlop) 201 points
KZ2 Masters: Full House for Abbasse
Second in KZ2 Masters Qualifying, Anthony Abbasse (FRA) scored three wins in three heats to take the lead of the intermediate classification ahead of Daniel Bray (NZL), twice winner and once runner-up. Poleman Andre Nicastro (BRA) managed to hold on to third place, while Kristijan Habulin (HRV) moved up from 12th to fourth, followed by Davide Foré (ITA). Despite a penalty in Heat C-D, Vincent Cossard (FRA) had also recovered five places to 6th position. Alessandro Manetti (ITA), who suffered a mechanical problem in Heat 2, remained in seventh place thanks to his victory in the last heat.
Top six after the heats of the FIA Karting International Super Cup - Masters
1- Anthony Abbasse FRA - (Sodi/TM Kart/Dunlop) 150 points
2- Daniel Bray - NZL (Parolin/TM Kart/Dunlop) 144 points
3- Andre Nicastro - BRA (Tony Kart/Vortex/Dunlop) 124 points
4- Kristijan Habulin - HRV (TB Kart/TM Kart/Dunlop) 117 points
5- Davide Foré ITA - (Birel ART/TM Kart/Dunlop) 113 points
6- Vincent Cossard FRA - (CRG/TM Kart/Dunlop) 110 points
Provisional schedule for the Portimão event
Sunday 13th October
08:30 - 09:40: Warm-up
10:05 - 12:05: Super Heats
13:05 - 16:00: Finals