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Fore and Manetti winning the lottery

Belgium is famous for its chocolates, its beer, its chips, and…. its climate, often variable! The drivers in the European Championship had reason to reflect on that variable climate during the qualifying practice sessions this afternoon on the Karting des Fagnes circuit at Mariembourg. After a day of Free Practice in yesterday’s sunshine, the competitors […]

International Event FIA Karting

After a day of Free Practice in yesterday’s sunshine, the competitors discovered new track conditions today. A sudden downpour shortly before the start of qualifying practice in categories KF1 and KZ1 changed everything. Consequently, it was on a wet track that the drivers set out for their battle against the stop watch. Fastest in the first series in KZ1, co-leader of the championship, Jonathan Thonon (CRG-Maxter) then watched all the following sessions set improved times. Fastest in the second series, Alessandro Manetti (CRG-Maxter) secured pole position after a good battle with the young Belgian Rick Dreezen (CRG-Maxter), the European vice champion in KZ2. The young Frenchman Norman Nato (Intrepid-TM) confirmed that despite his youthful age of just 15 years, he was continuing his excellent early season form by securing the 3rd fastest time ahead of Dutchman Arjan Kievitsbosch (CRG-TM) and Frenchman Thomas Mich (Birel-TM) currently in third place in the championship. So having dropped down to 8th place in the standings, Jonathan Thonon is at least ahead of his rival Bas Lammers (Top Kart-TM). The Dutchman will really have to roll up his sleeves tomorrow to improve on his lowly 18th place.

In direct contrast to the KZ1 category, it was better in the earlier stages of KF1 qualifying for those drivers who avoided another downpour. Recent winner of the World Cup in Suzuka, Davide Fore (Maranello-Maxter) benefitted from an early session to secure a splendid pole position heading by more than a tenth of a second, the Frenchman Armand Convers (PCR-TM), the Italian Alessandro Bressan (Kosmic-Vortex), the young Dutch hope Jack Te Braak (Zanardi-Parilla) and triple European Champion, Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex). These 4 drivers were covered by just 0.01 (one hundredth) of a second! In 6th place , the Belgian Yannick de Brabander (Intrepid-TM) led the group hunting down Arnaud Kozlinski (CRG-Maxter), winner of a race in France, in eighth place. For some championship contenders, the weekend started rather badly. The current championship leader, Britain’s Gary Catt (Tony Kart-Vortex) is only 24th. Despite his best time in the second series, Sauro Cesetti finished in 14th place and he and other drivers were left to reflect on a qualifying session that had ruined their set up and become a lottery which left a lot to chance.
Tomorrow morning the KZ2 category will contest their qualifying practice sessions. Then, the drivers will begin their qualifying races, which will make it possible to determine the 34 drivers who will qualify for Sunday’s final stages. In short, it’s a long way to the Final. And if the rain continues to play hide and seek, then without a doubt the racing will be full of surprise.