First World Cup for Niceta

KF3  Niceto profits from the bad luck of De Vries

Seldom will a driver have dominated an event as Nyck De Vries (Zanardi-Parilla) has done during this World Cup for KF3 (Juniors 13 – 15 years old), the first to be organised since the victory of the esteemed Fernando Alonso in 1996 when it was still called “The 5 Continents Cup”.  Fastest in qualifying practice, dominant in all his qualifying races, well in front of his opponents during the pre-final, the Dutchman however wasn’t able to win the final, the only race that mattered!  “My team made an error in getting the transmission ratio wrong” the little Dutch lad sighed with tears evident in the corner of his eyes.  “I lost out by more than 10 km/h of my top speed and my opponents just raced passed me on the straights.  I fought as hard as I could but I could not manage any better than 5th.  This is a terrible disappointment but I cannot wish for a better team or mechanic.  They also wanted to win.  That’s racing….” 

The problem encountered by Nyck De Vries at least had the merit of opening up the race completely.  At the end of an enthralling final with many changes of position it was finally the Italian Giuliano Maria Niceta (Tony Kart-Vortex) who had the last word.  “That had been a difficult race” explained the 13 year old Sicilian in his first year in KF3.  “In the pre-final I had been penalised for jumping the start.  I started in 14th place on the grid for the final and I had to take on all my opponents to get the better of them.  I had been given the chance when Nyck De Vries had his problem because he really seemed a cut above all the rest.  But there you are, I am very happy to have won this title.”

Behind Niceta there were two other very promising young drivers.  Assisted by the “Racing Step Foundation”, which seeks to support talented drivers but with limited funds, the British driver Jake Dennis (Top Kart-Parilla) thanked his benefactors for the confidence placed in him by securing 2nd place.  As for the Frenchman Pierre Gasly (Sodi-Parilla), supported by his national federation, he was also very happy to climb onto the podium.  Danish driver Sebastian Hansen (Intrepid-TM) then finished in front of the unlucky Nyck De Vries, Max Klinkby-Silver (Tony Kart-Vortex), Loris Spinelli (Tony Kart-Vortex), Stepan Karasev (Tony Karat-Vortex), Peter Hoevenaars (Zanardi-Maxter) and Joey Elkerbout (Zanardi-Maxter).

In two weeks time the KF2 hopefuls will contest their World Cup on the Spanish circuit of Alcaniz before the final fireworks, the Championship of the World for Super-KF (the principal category of karts without gearbox) which will be held in Macao from the 8th to the 11th October.  

Info CIK / © Photo KSP