CIK-FIA at Adria for the first time

On 3rd to 5th June Adria (ITA) will host the the second Competition of the CIK-FIA European Championship for OK-Junior, OK and KZ2. Very different from the two tracks that opened the rivalries, Essay (FRA) for KZ2, and Zuera (ESP) for OK and OK-Junior, Adria could mark a turning point in the quest for the European titles in 2016 on a breeding ground for close struggles.

This is a first for the Adria Karting Raceway. Located 70km southeast of Venice, on the site of the Adria Raceway, the 1302m long kart track was opened in late 2014 and features ultramodern facilities and a fully concreted paddock. Although it has never before organised a CIK-FIA Competition, the fast and rolling circuit is not too unfamiliar to many of the Teams and Drivers. 177 have entered for the occasion with strong ambitions for consolidation or revenge in the provisional rankings. Temperatures should be very fine, but the risk of precipitation is not ruled out.

The 61 drivers entered for KZ2 at Adria will play an important card in Italy after their debut in the cold in April at Essay and before the conclusion of their European Championship in late July at Genk (BEL). The Italian Luca Corberi (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) leads the standings with 49 points against the Frenchman Paolo Besancenez (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega), with 40 points, but the Dutchman Stan Pex (CRG / Vortex / Vega) and the Italians Leonardo Lorandi (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega), an expert at Adria, and Fabian Federer (CRG / Modena Engines / Vega) are not far behind. There are many outsiders in the category and the track conditions will probably be different from those of the first Competition which could help to change the hierarchy.

In OK, the strong man of the moment is none other than the reigning World Champion, the Pole Karol Basz (Kosmic / Vortex / Vega) who arrives at Adria on the momentum of his recent victories. Winner of the 2015 CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, the young Spaniard Marta Garcia Lopez (Evokart / Parilla / Vega), however, may be a formidable opponent in view of her recent performance, particularly her great speed. She will face the Dutchman Bent Viscaal (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) and the Dane Christian Lundgaard (Ricciardo / Parilla / Vega), the 2015 Junior European Champion. Ranked 5th at the moment, the Briton Tom Joyner (Zanardi / Parilla / Vega) has a revenge to take, as does the American Logan Sargeant (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega) in 6th position among many other talented drivers ready to fight for victory.

The Dane Noah Watt (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) dominated the Finals of OK-Junior at Zuera, but one cannot help thinking that the premature withdrawal of the Moroccan Sami Taoufik (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega) made his task easier. Currently 2nd, the Brazilian Caio Jotta Collet (BirelART / Parilla / Vega) looks to be on the rise, level on points with Sweden’s Isac Blomqvist (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) and not far from the Briton Finlay Kenneally (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega) and then the Frenchman Timothy Peisselon (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega). The younger generation does not lack talent, such as the German Esteban Muth (CRG / Parilla / Vega) and the Norwegian Dennis Hauger (CRG / Parilla / Vega).

Before the outcome of their European Championship at Genk, the OK and OK-Junior Drivers will compete in a third Competition in Portugal, at the Kartodromo Portimao on 24th to 26th June.