2nd October 2013

CIK-FIA World KF Junior Championship Round 1 - Preview From the CIK-FIA

The CIK-FIA World KF Junior Championship arrives in Italy.

The Napoli International Circuit of Sarno (I) hosts the CIK-FIA World KFJ Championship and the CIK-FIA International KF Super Cup from 3rd to 6th October

Engines shut off two weeks ago in Varennes after the World KZ and KZ2 Championships, but the CIK-FIA karting circus is ready for the next race. This time the venue of the event is in Italy: the Napoli International circuit in Sarno will host the first round of the World CIK FIA KF Junior Championship and the event on a single round CIK FIA International Super Cup KF. All the top drivers of the categories without gearbox will race on the 1,699 metres of the Italian racetrack from 3^rd to 6^th October. The 2013 CIK-FIA World KF Championship has two rounds on schedule, as well as the KF Junior. The opening event for KF took place in Brandon (UK) at the beginning of September. After the race in Sarno, both the categories will move to Sakhir, in Barhain, for the last and decisive round hosted by the  Viva Karting Track, from 19^th to 23^rd November. The two remaining 2013 World Titles will be awarded on that occasion.

First world round for KF Junior.
KFJ drivers last met for the CIK-FIA International Super Cup in Brandon (UK), won by Lando Norris (FA Kart-Vortex-Le Cont). The Londoner had previously won also the European Championship scoring the same points scored by the English Daniel Ticktum (FA Kart-Vortex-Le Cont) and the Dutch Martijn van Leeuwen (Zanardi-TM-Le Cont). The title was awarded to Norris driver because of his overall better performance. The final standings of the European Championship had the top 6 drivers separated by very narrow gaps. After the first three positions we find the Russian Robert Shwartzman (Tony Kart-TM), the Belgian Matteo Raspatelli (Tony Kart-Parilla) and the Italian Leonardo Pulcini (Tony Kart-Vortex). On the other hand, in the CIK-FIA International Super Cup, the Indian Jehan Daruvala (FA Kart-Vortex-Le Cont) and the German Mick Betsch (Tony Kart-Vortex-Le Cont) were next to Norris on the podium. Other drivers who stand a good chance in Sarno are the Italian Alessio Lorandi (Tony Kart-Parilla), who placed sixth in Super Cup behind the English Dean MacDonald (Kosmic-Vortex), and Ross Martin (SRWD-TM). But there might be some more drivers aiming at victory on the track at the feet of Mount Vesuvius.

All is possible in KF.
The battle between the KF drivers is going to be very interesting. While waiting for the decisive round in Sakhir, they will be able to challenge each other  in this event which is not part of a championship but, anyway, is going to be an important meeting for drivers and teams. The French Dorian Boccolacci (Energy-TM-Vega) has just won the race of Varennes and stands a very good chance to win another CIK-FIA International Super Cup after the one he won in France in KZ2. The battle for the leadership is going to be tough. Apart from Boccolacci, the list of possible winners is long: the Danish Nicklas Nielsen (Kosmic-Vortex-Vega), the Czech Libor Toman (Birel-TM-Vega), the Canadian Lance Stroll (Zanardi-TM-Vega), the Italian Matteo Viganò (Top Kart-Parilla-Vega), the Polish Karol Basz (Tony Kart-Vortex-Vega) and the Venezuelan Diego Borrelli (Art GP-Vega), all racing for their official works teams.