Published on Sunday, September 5, 2021

Spectacular heats in Sweden

The second day of the FIA Karting event in Kristianstad was a high quality sporting spectacle throughout the 18 Qualifying Heats which came one after the other. There was no shortage of drama and the Qualifying hierarchy was largely changed by the intensity of the races. The three polemen were notably dethroned.

Matteo Vigano (ITA) is currently dominating the FIA Karting World Championship - KZ, David Trefilov (DEU) has taken a slight advantage in the FIA Karting International Super Cup - KZ2 while Dion Gowda (SGP) managed a clean sweep in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy. Six heats remain to be run on Sunday morning, one for each competitor, before the starting grids for the three Finals are revealed.

Although the temperature did not exceed 18°, the blue sky punctuated by scattered clouds made this Saturday 4th September a magnificent day of racing. The Åsum Ring saw very competitive racing in all three categories with a lot of overtaking and a growing intensity that suggests a great Sunday in Sweden. All the participants are on MG tyres. Please note that some results are still pending validation.

Vigano wins both KZ heats

The 2021 FIA Karting World Championship - KZ was to be full of surprises. Poleman Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA) has dropped back in the face of the experience of his rivals, but he is far from having lost contact with the leaders. All three team-mates, Lorenzo Camplese (ITA) and Simo Puhakka (FIN) made a good progression into the top five, while Noah Milell (SWE) kept his second position. But it was Matteo Vigano (ITA) who took the lead by winning both races of the day. Pedro Hiltbrand (ESP) was the first to cross the finish line in the first race before being disqualified. Paolo Ippolito was also among the drivers who took back several places, unlike Fabian Federer (ITA) and Adrien Renaudin (FRA). The comeback of Stan Pex (NLD) behind his brother Jorrit will deserve all the attention. After his disappointing Qualifying, the reaction of Marijn Kremers (NLD), Jérémy Iglesias (FRA) and Riccardo Longhi (ITA) is still to come.

KZ2: Trefilov and Travisanutto line up victories

The day did not start well for poleman Senna Van Walstijn (NLD) who saw his hopes vanish when he collided with one of his team-mates during his first race. Lorenzo Travisanutto (ITA) won three times, but David Trefilov (DEU) did the same and took a slight advantage with a 2nd place against a 3rd place for Travisanutto. Danilo Albanese (ITA) had a bad start in his last heat and finished the day just behind Samuel Luyet (CHE). Giuseppe Palomba (ITA) kept all his chances in the top five, while Giacomo Pollini (ITA) was delayed by a retirement. Paavo Tonteri (FIN), Thomas Imbourg (FRA), Viktor Öberg (FIN) and James Wharton (AUS) were among the drivers who managed to get into the provisional top 10, while Alessio Piccini (ITA) remained among the best.

Gowda takes the advantage in the Academy

The four Qualifying Heats of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy gave rise to some very interesting sporting clashes. Dion Gowda (SGP) is currently the best placed thanks to his two victories, while Oleksander Bondarev (UKR) and Maciej Gladysz (POL) are neck and neck behind him with the title in their sights. The other drivers well placed in the provisional ranking of the Trophy, Reno Francot (NLD), Yevan David (LKA) and Riccardo Ianniello (ITA) are currently outside the top 10. Poleman David Walther (DNK) has lost a few places, but is still in contention for a good place in the Final. Darius Babaiona (ROU) was noticed for the first time thanks to a good progression with a 5th and a 2nd place that he celebrated as much as a victory.