Return to the European scene for Salbris

The Salbris International Circuit will be hosting the first of three CIK-FIA events scheduled for this year at the French Kart Grand Prix from 4th to 6th May. For its return to international competition, Salbris is preparing to launch the CIK-FIA European KZ and KZ2 Championships as well as the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy. 46 nations from five continents are represented among the 153 participants of the event.

The programme for this milestone event of the 2018 season is eclectic as it brings together the well-known and highly experienced professionals of the KZ category as well as the young talents from around the world who compete in the Academy, along with the amateurs and semi-pros in KZ2. On home soil, France is the best-represented nation with 29 registered drivers.

At the highest level, the CIK-FIA European KZ Championship is counting on the presence of four former World Champions: Marco Ardigo (ITA), Jorrit Pex (NLD), Paolo De Conto (ITA) and Pedro Hiltbrand (ESP), not to mention a winning driver, Bas Lammers (NLD). The succession will be present with rising stars like Alex Irlando (ITA), Stan Pex (NLD) and Marijn Kremers (NLD). Of the French, Anthony Abbasse and Jérémy Iglesias have the best chance to shine, along with Kevin Breysse, Yohan Soguel and Damien Vallar.

With 78 entrants, KZ2 will provide the biggest field of the meeting with favourites like Paolo Ippolito (ITA), Matteo Vigano (ITA), Rokas Bacisuka (LTU), Riccardo Longhi (ITA), Alessio Piccini (ITA), Benjamin Persson (SWE), Fabian Federer (ITA) and Alexander Schmitz (DEU). Among the 22 Frenchmen in the running, Tom Leuillet and Adrien Renaudin have a great chance, as do Pierre Loubère and Emilien Denner. Only entered for this event, Paul David, Emilien Grosso and Johan Renaux could also be visible.

France will, as usual, line up two drivers in the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy, a one-make formula featuring great sportsmanship. Members of the FFSA France Espoirs Karting Team, they will approach this first competition differently. Sami Meguetounif will benefit from his knowledge of the Trophy, in which he finished 5th in 2017, to aim for victory. The outgoing French Cadet Champion Craig Tanic will learn about this competition in the light of the three races he has just contested in the French Junior Championship, a concept implemented by the FFSA Academy on the model of the CIK-FIA Trophy.

Schedule

Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd May
Unofficial free practice

Friday 4th May
09:00 – 16:25: free official practice 3×15 ‘in KZ and KZ2, 3×20’ in Academy
16:40 – 18:00: qualifying practice (8 ‘)
18:30 – 19:00: press conference

Saturday 5th May
09:00 – 10:25: warm-up (10 ‘)
10:30 – 17:25: qualifying heats
17:45 – 18:15 pm: press conference

Sunday, 6th May
08:25 – 09:50: warm-up
09:55 – 11:50: qualifying heats
13:25 – 16:00: finals
16:15: press conference

Live-timing and results to follow on the CIK-FIA website.

Info FFSA / © Photo KSP