There is nothing you can be sure of in motorsport, especially in karting: the CIK-FIA European Championship, tomorrow, will award the KZ and KZ2 titles, but here in Genk (B) the race has already been so eventful that all fans have been feeling shivers going down their spines! Tomorrow, the schedule of Prefinal and Finals is tight in both the categories: those aiming at the European title have to work really hard if they want to succeed. There are all the ingredients for a great show, which can be followed live in streaming on www.cikfiachampionship.com and www.cikfia.tv. WSK Promotion is ready to send on air all these thrills, starting at 10.50am with the drivers’ presentation until the end of the programme. A great racing day which can be experienced also thanks to the delayed on Rai Sport 2 on Tuesday 2nd July at 21.00h, with all the Finals in both the categories. More highlights on Friday 5th July, always on Rai Sport 2, with the final TV report of the race.
Jordan Lennox-Lamb (Pic: Press.net Images)
Lennox-Lamb takes the leadership in KZ.
It was a real surprise the starting grid of tomorrow’s Prefinal in KZ: Max Verstappen (CRG-TM-Bridgestone) was nearly sure of occupying the first slots on the grid after winning the first heat in the morning. The start of the second heat, this afternoon, was unfortunately fatal for the Dutch driver. He got involved in a series of crashes after the firt bend: there were no serious consequences but Verstappen’s retirement, after he went off the track. Verstappen saw his teammate, Jordon Lennox-Lamb (CRG-Parilla-Bridgestone) crossing the finishing line first: the English driver, in the initial laps, passed the Dutch Jorrit Pex (CRG-TM-Bridgestone) and kept the lead until the end. This success rocketed him in pole position, also thanks to his previous fifth place achieved in the first heat. Next to him, in the front row, Pex; in second row the Italian Marco Ardigò (Tony Kart-Vortex-Bridgestone) and Charles Leclerc (ArtGP-TM-Bridgestone) from Monaco, thanks to their consistent performance. In this qualifying session, the two leaders were dogged by bad luck: Verstappen’s retirement in the second heat relegated him in fifth row; Vertappen’s pursuer, the Dutch Bas Lammers (Intrepid-TM-Bridgestone), dropped back to tenth row after being ruled out of the standings at scrutineering at the end of the second heat.
Emil Antonsen (Pic: Press.net Images)
Antonsen and Midrla are the polemen in KZ2.
In KZ2, the Italian Riccardo Negro (DR-TM-Bridgestone) is aiming at victory. He is the leader of the championship, closely pursued by the other Italian Marco Zanchetta (Maranello-TM). Anyway, tomorrow the race can count on other important protagonists, ready to join the battle for victory. Among them, Emil Antonsen (DR-TM-Bridgestone), who won three heats today and, together with other drivers, he achieved the best result of the pack. The Norwegian driver will occupy the first slot of the starting grid in the Prefinal 1; beside him Zanchetta, while Negro will start from the third row. In Prefinal 2, the Czech Jan Midrla (Birel-TM-Bridgestone) is the poleman. Next to him, the Dutch Jules Szymkowiak (Zanardi-TM-Bridgestone). These two races will establish the starting grid of the Final: for the two leaders of the championship, the battle is going to be tough, given that Antonsen’s gap is not so wide – he is fourth at the moment -. The same can be said for the Swedish Joel Johansson (Energy-TM-Bridgestone), third in the championship and who will start from the second row of Prefinal 2.
Berkay Besler (press.net Images)
Besler is the best in the Academy.
Also the 32 young drivers of the CIK-FIA Academy Trophy, all behind the wheel of a Parolin-Fim-Vega kart, are ready to challenge each other to achieve the victory in this first out of three rounds on schedule. The Turkish Berkay Besler was the best in an always uncertain qualifying session. He clinched the pole ahead of the Belgian Gilles Magnus. Behind them, in second row, the Estonian Ralf Aron and the Spanish Arturo Melgar.
