Champions of the Future puts Shifter categories in the spotlight
For four days, the Algarve International Karting Circuit in Portimao vibrated to the rhythm of the KZ, KZ2 and KZ Master karts at a meeting eagerly awaited by competitors. The drivers and teams were able to work in a variety of weather conditions, gathering a wealth of data and gaining a much better understanding of the Portimao track. Many of the drivers were taking part in a Champions of the Future event for the first time and appreciated the professionalism of the organisation put in place by RGMMC. On a warm and sunny day of southern Portugal, Frenchman Jérémy Iglesias won the KZ class, Romanian Daniel Vasile won the KZ2 class and Frenchman Anthony Abbasse dominated the KZ Master class.
KZ: Iglesias in control
In difficult grip conditions, Marijn Kremers (Tony Kart Racing Team) took pole position and confirmed his position in heat 1 on Thursday. But the following day, Jérémy Iglesias (CRG Racing Team) took control of the field in the other two heats and retained top spot on the grid for the Final, despite Pedro Hiltbrand's (Birel Art Racing) victory in the Super Heat. The Frenchman got off to a perfect start in the Final and took the lead ahead of Emilien Denner (CPB Sport). Denner was in the leader's wheeltracks for a long time, before Pedro Hiltbrand and Senna Van Walstijn (CPB Sport) came back. The Dutchman from Sodikart successively overtook Hiltbrand and Denner to set off in pursuit of Iglesias.
Hiltbrand in turn overtook Denner, but the two karts touched, causing the Frenchman to retire. Just behind them, Arthur Carbonnel (CRG Racing Team) and Danilo Albanese (KR Motorsport) moved up a place to 4th and 5th. In the closing laps, Van Walstijn was pressing hard, but Iglesias held on to win the first edition of this highly successful Champions of the Future Shifter. Hiltbrand completed the podium ahead of Carbonnel, while Albanese dropped back to 14th due to a double penalty. David Trefilov (Maranello SRP Factory Team) climbed from 18th to 5th ahead of Stan Pex (KR Motorsport). The 2024 European Champion Lorenzo Travisanutto (Parolin Motorsport) overtook Viktor Gustafsson (CRG Racing Team) at the end of the race for 7th place. Kremers retired due to a collision.
KZ2: A measured Final for Vasile
The 82 drivers in this category enjoyed an impeccable welcome and atmosphere from promoter RGMMC. Artem Severiukhin (Birel Art Racing) was top of the order after qualifying on wet tyres. Severiukhin went on to win five of the five Qualifying Heats, with the others going to Daniel Vasile (Birel Art Racing) with four wins, Dion Van Werven (CPB Sport) with two, Markus Kajak (Maranello SRP Factory Team), Mattéo Spirgel (CPB Sport), Cristian Bertuca (Birel Art Racing) and Nikolas Roos (CPB Sport). Severiukhin and Vasile shared the two Super Heats. In the Final, it was all to play for from the start between the two drivers. Severiukhin lost several places after the lights went out, while Vasile took the lead and nobody was able to dislodge him.
Initially in 2nd place, Spirgel was overtaken by Kajak at the end of the straight. This move benefited Bertuca, Corentin Rousseau (CL Racing Team) and Severiukhin. Severiukhin continued his good form and moved up to 3rd behind Vasile, the winner, and Kajak. Corentin Rousseau was rewarded for his efforts with 4th place after putting in his best performance at the international level. Spirgel overtook Bertuca to finish 5th. Juho Valtanen (Dorr Motorsport) made a remarkable comeback, finishing 10th behind Roos, Van Werven and Paavo Tonteri (CRG Racing Team).
KZ Master: Another victory for Abbasse
Anthony Abbasse (Renda Motorsport) felt at home in Portimao: pole position, wins in all three heats and in the Super Heat, then leader from start to finish with the fastest lap in the race. However, Abbasse never got a break, as Andre Nicastro (Tony Kart Racing Team) constantly put pressure on the Frenchman, always within a second of the leader. His team-mate Davide Fore, who had not started as well as Portugal's Andre Ferreira Serafim (Birel Art Racing), snatched 4th place from him, but was never able to catch up with New Zealander Daniel Bray (Modena Kart Racing Team), who joined Abbasse and Nicastro on the podium.
Recent leaders of the European Championship, Alessio La Martina (KR Martina) and Riccardo Nalon finished 5th and 6th respectively ahead of Ferreira Serafim. Penalised, Roberto Profico (Tony Kart Racing Team) and Alessandro Manetti (KR Motorsport) lost their places in the top 10, which included three Frenchmen: Julien Gueant and Vincent Cossard, both of the CRG Racing Team, and Ludovic Badey.