Published on Saturday, August 14, 2021

Adria competition keeps the suspense alive

After a hot day of intense Qualifying Heats, the outcome of the Adria event is still very much in doubt. However, it seems certain that some new names will appear on the podium in the Finals on Sunday afternoon. But before that, the final heats will complete the selection on Sunday morning. The only certainty at the moment is that the competition will be highly entertaining.

In terms of spectacle, the FIA Karting Academy Trophy races are unbeatable, with constant clashes at all levels and the fight for victory lasting right up to the last corner. The battle is also extremely close in the other two categories, but there is less overtaking. The partial results, not yet definitive, give the advantage to the Ukrainian Oleksander Bondarev, while the Italian Matteo Vigano has taken the initiative in the FIA Karting European Championship - KZ and the Italians Danilo Albanese and Giuseppe Palomba are neck and neck in the European Championship - KZ2.

Six heats will be run on Sunday morning, one for each driver, before the starting grids for the three afternoon Finals are known. A lot can still happen in this last qualifying phase. The information given below could change with the publication of the definitive results.

Academy: Bondarev ahead of Gladysz

Ranked sixth in Qualifying, Ukrainian Oleksander Bondarev topped the FIA Karting Academy Trophy heats thanks to his two hard-fought victories. Poland's Maciej Gladysz won once and remained a worthy opponent, while Portugal's Noah Monteiro seized his chance for a win. However, the fight is so close that Oscar Wurz (MCO) and Nikolas Roos (ZAF) have not had their last word. As far as the positions at the top of the Trophy are concerned, Salim Hanna (COL) and Dion Gowda (SGP) are in a favourable position for the moment, as is David Yevan (LKA) who is making strong progress. The situation is more delicate for the leader of the provisional ranking Reno Francot (NLD) and for Caleb Gafrarar (USA) who have been relegated out of the top 10, while Bart Harrison (GBR) was around 30th.

KZ2: Albanese and Palomba take four wins each

Italians Danilo Albanese and Giuseppe Palomba were undoubtedly the strongest of the day in the FIA Karting European Championship - KZ2, taking four wins each. The conquest of the title remains for them a very optimistic objective especially as the two drivers who dominate the provisional ranking, Senna Van Walstijn (NLD) and Giacomo Pollini (ITA) are in a good position in the top four ahead of Paavo Tonteri (FIN) who ends the day on a par with Hubert Petit (FRA). Not far from Samuel Luyet (CHE) in the top 10, Kajus Siksnelis (LTU) and Laurens Van Hoepen (NLD) have made good progress, as has David Liwinski (POL). Despite their very good performance, Jamie Day (ARE), Leonardo Marseglia (ITA) and Juho Valtanen (FIN) have dropped down the rankings due to various incidents in the heats.

KZ: two important victories for Vigano

Italy's Matteo Vigano made a strong impression by winning the two Qualifying Heats of the FIA Karting European Championship - KZ today. His compatriot Paolo Ippolito was second each time and always stayed in touch. Disadvantaged by his lack of experience at the start, the young poleman Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA) nevertheless managed to come back to third place in both races with remarkable brilliance. Among the top five in the provisional Championship standings, Stan Pex (NLD) was the best placed thanks to his good comebacks in the top five, while Emilien Denner (FRA) took two seventh places. Pedro Hiltbrand (ESP) was in the top 10. The Italians Riccardo Longhi and Alex Irlando had managed to make up ground since the Qualifying session, but their positions were still far from the front.