European KF2 & KF3 : The 162 finalists are known !

The verdict of the busiest weekend in the year for the CIK-FIA has been announced. Simultaneously held in Belgium (Genk), France (Angerville) and the Czech Republic (Sosnova), the regional qualification events for the European Championships of the KF2 and KF3 categories have designated the drivers authorised to take part in the finals, to be organised at Zuera (Spain) on 9-12 July 2009 for KF3 Juniors and at Essay (France) on 1-3 August for KF2.

With 400 entered drivers for only 162 available places (81 per category), needless to say that there were fierce fights for stepping up to the final.

The clearest domination was recorded in KF2 in the “Western” Region Qualification, at Sosnova, where the Italian Felipe Tiene (Kosmic-Vortex) was head and shoulders above the others, landing on the trot pole-position in practice, all his qualifying heats and Races 1 & 2 of the final phase! An identical feat was achieved in KF3 in the “Western” Region Qualification by the Spaniard Carlos Sainz Jr (Tony Kart-Vortex).

On his home ground, the Czech Martin Doubek (Tony Kart-Vortex) ended up winning the “Central” Region Qualification in KF3, ahead of the German Marvin Kirchhofer (Gillard-Maxter) and of the Italian Riccardo Agostini (Birel-Parilla). In KF2, behind the inaccessible Tiene, the top five was completed by Italy’s Aniello Smarrazzo (Tony Kart-Vortex) and Antonio Giovinazzi (Top Kart-Parilla), as well as Germany’s Mario Farnbacher (Tony Kart-Vortex) and Andre Hauke (Birel-Parilla).

In the “Northern” Region Qualification, the Dutchman Nick de Vries (Zanardi-Parilla) was within a hair’s breadth of topping the bill in each appearance on the track: he was fastest in qualifying practice, won all his heats, landed Race 2 and topped the added general classification. And it was only a 2-second penalty that deprived him of victory in Race 1, which he had to leave to the Finn Mikko Pakari (Maranello-Maxter). In KF2, the fight was more open and finally saw the Dane Kevin Munkholm (Birel-Parilla) come out in the lead of the general classification ahead of Belgium’s Kenny Vermeylen (Tecno-Parilla) and Finland’s Joni Wiman (Maranello-Maxter). It is worth noting that 11 different chassis makes were used by the first 13 classified drivers (Alpha, Birel, CRG, DR, Energy, FA Kart, Mach 1, Maddox, Maranello, Tecno and Tony)!

Angerville hosted the so-called “Western” Region drivers. Sainz Jr was accompanied on the KF3 podium by the British driver Jake Dennis (Top Kart-Parilla) and the Frenchman Mathieu Jaminet (Intrepid-TM). In KF2, there was a win for the Brit Ben Cooper (Tony Kart-Vortex), ahead of the Portuguese David Da Luz (Zanardi-Parilla) and the Spaniard Jorge Pescador (Tony Kart-Vortex).

Info CIK / © Photo KSP