Te Braak and Manetti on Pole Position tomorrow

The young Dutchman Jack Te Braak in KF1 and Italy’s European Champion Alessandro Manetti in KZ1 will start on Pole position in tomorrow’s first race of karting’s European Championship, which is taking place this weekend in Angerville, France.

Traditionally, Saturday is a competitive and demanding test at any European Championship event. During the qualifying Heats, drivers were competing for one of the 34 places in the final phase ie the two races on Sunday, and a good position on the starting grid.

Setting the best time in KF1, karting’s premier class, Frenchman Armand Convers (PCR-TM) ‘won’ the first race before finding himself penalised for a jump start. As a result, he will now start tomorrow down in 6th place on the grid. The big surprise came from young Jack Te Braak (Zanardi-Parilla). He is only just 16 years old but gained a win and a 3rd place in his two Heats. That performance gives him Pole position in front of the experienced Frenchman Arnaud Kozlinski (CRG-Maxter) and two other young drivers, 17 year old Belgian Yannick de Brabander (Intrepid TM) and the Finnish driver, Matias Laine (Tony Kart-Vortex), 18 years old.

World and European number 2, Gary Catt (Tony Kart-Vortex) qualified 5th in front of Armand Convers and world champion Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex). Ardigo faces a big challenge to gain a 4th consecutive European crown. Britain’s Jason Parrott (Birel-Parilla) was excluded from Friday’s results when his motor was found not to conform to technical specification. He recovered today from 43rd place to 13th place.

As with the KF1 drivers, the competitors in KZ1 (the premier division in gearbox karting) concluded their qualifying Heats. These were all dominated by the CRG-Maxter factory team of Alessandro Manetti and Jonathan Thonon.

Taking advantage of a missed start by Thonon, it was the Italian European Champion who secured Pole position. Dutchman Bas Lammers (Top Kart-TM) had two superb Heats when taking 3rd place in front of the Intrepid-TM of Manuel Cozzaglio and Roberto Toninelli. Making his debut in this class, 15 year old Norman Nato (Intrepid TM) created a sensation when coming 6th and being the first French driver home in front of local hero Thomas Mich (Birel TM).

The highest number of drivers are in KZ2 class, the second tier of gearbox karts, and so the qualifying Heats are that much more competitive, and will continue on Sunday morning. After 9 of 15 Heats, Britain’s Jack Hawksworth (Gillard-TM) led the interim standings in front of France’s Tony Lavanant (Energy-TM) and Joffrey Demanse (PCR-TM) who both dominated this morning’s session.

Challenging the men in form is a young Czech lady, Lucie Panackova (CRG-Maxter), currently in 8th place. After tomorrow’s last 6 Heats, we shall know which drivers will contest the 2 Finals of all 3 classes. Only the top 34 in each category qualify. It’s sure to be an exciting spectacle in Angerville this Sunday.

Info CIK / © Photo KSP