Thonon renews his KZ1 World Cup title

This weekend the French circuit of Varennes-sur-Allier hosted the Karting World Cup for KZ1 (the top category of gearbox karts) and the European KZ2 (second division of gearbox karts) and KF3 (Juniors) Championship finals. In an unexpected sunshine and before several thousand spectators, the Belgian Jonathan Thonon (CRG-Maxter) renewed his world KZ1 title while the Frenchman Tony Lavanant (Energy-TM) in KZ2 and the young Finn Aaro Vainio (Maranello-Maxter) in KF3 won their first European crown.

The many spectators around the Circuit International Jean Brun expected to see a duel of giants in the World Cup for KZ1 (the upper crust of gearbox karts). They were not disappointed! Slipping through all the pitfalls from the beginning of the weekend, the Italian Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex) started from pole position the pre-final (the race which determines the starting grid of the final) and quickly cleared off… before Jonathan Thonon (CRG-Maxter), only 13th on the starting grid because of various problems in the qualifying heats, zeroed in on him. Thonon even overtook Ardigo, thus treating himself to pole position for the final.

So the pair who had dominated the 2007 edition of this World Cup found themselves once again face to face before the final. However, after having taken again the best start in this decisive race, Marco Ardigo rapidly had to give in to Jonathan Thonon’s onslaught. Although he constantly remained in his immediate wake, with a gap that was constantly less than a second, the Italian could not do anything to prevent the Belgian from adding a second consecutive World Cup to his list of results.

Behind the two leaders, the public also kept an eye on the fight for the 3rd step of the podium, which brought together Italy’s Davide Foré (Maranello-Maxter) and France’s Arnaud Kozlinski (CRG-Maxter); they finished in this order, ahead of the Frenchman Thomas Mich (Monza-TM), the Italian Sauro Cesetti (Birel-TM), the Belgian Rick Dreezen (CRG-Maxter), the Finn Matias Laine (Tony Kart-Vortex) and the Frenchmen Yannick Savard (CRG-Maxter) and Armand Convers (PCR-TM). Among the unfortunate drivers of the day, a special mention for the young Italian Nicola Nolé (CRG-TM) who started the pre-final from the first row but was betrayed twice by his equipment.

Info CIK / © Photos KSP