Two World Cups to grasp at Sarno

Within the space of six weeks, the CIK-FIA is about to hold three events of world dimensions, with successively the World Cups for the KZ1 and KF3 categories, then the World Cup for KF2 scheduled in Spain (20 September) and, finally, the World Championship, to be organised at Macau (11 October).

The Sarno circuit, close to Naples in Italy, will be the first of these three meetings. On 4, 5 and 6 September, they will be 154 drivers, divided into two categories, to fight for the CIK-FIA World Cups.

The up-and-coming generation of 13 to 15 years old Juniors will again be treated with a World Cup. The last one (then called the “5 Continents Cup”) was held in 1996 and saw the victory of a certain Fernando Alonso. Over the last few years, for lack of a world-status event, Juniors have continued to express themselves via CIK-FIA continental championships (Europe, Asia-Pacific, Viking Trophy in Northern Europe and Panamerican Championship). As a matter of fact, it is mainly these very continental championships which have allowed the selection of the drivers eligible for this new World Cup. Under these circumstances, the favourites should therefore be the drivers who played the leading parts in these “qualifying” events, to begin with the 2009 European Champion Nick De Vries (NL), Danil Kvyat (RUS), Raffaele Marciello (I), Jake Dennis (GB), Martin Doubek (CZ), Andreas Hansen (DK) and the Spaniards Carlos Sainz Jr (son of the double World Rally Champion), Victor Colome, Adrian Del Rio, Gerard Barrabeig and Pedro Hiltbrand.

The other World Cup to take at Sarno will concern the drivers of KZ1, which is the top category of 125cc gearbox karts. This year, the Cup will gather 76 drivers, i.e. 50% more than in 2007 and 2008. Among these 76 participants, there will be one current Formula One driver, who will take up the ambitious challenge to come back to the loves of his youth within the framework of the most competitive event of the season: Spain’s Jaime Alguersuari. Although he had entered, the Pole Robert Kubica will not participate in the event after all, for personal reasons.

Armed with a valuable Motor Sport experience (GP2 and World Series by Renault), Ben Hanley will also be participating. This will make the event even more prestigious as the current upper crust of Karting drivers is also entered, either professionals or promising talents. Regarding seasoned drivers, the seeded competitors are called Jonathan Thonon (winner of this same World Cup in 2007 and 2008), Marco Ardigo, Davide Fore, Bas Lammers, Arnaud Kozlinski, Jérémy Iglésias, Manuel Renaudie, Francesco Laudato, Gary Carlton or Roberto Toninelli.

As regards youngsters, the most conspicuous ones should be Norman Nato, Angelo Lombardo, Jack Hawksworth, Patrik Hajek and the Pex brothers, as well as two real beginners attracted by a first experience in KZ1 after a good European season at the wheel of “traditional” karts: Oliver Rowland (a driver who is supported by McLaren-Mercedes) and Aaro Vainio (2009 European Super KF Champion). The latter, who is only 15 years and 11 months old, will be the event’s cadet and will have among his fellow competitors a certain Alessandro Piccini, quadruple World Champion and…  30 years older than him!

Info CIK / © Photo KSP