Three Men for One Title

As usual, the CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship comprises three events. The first two rounds took place in France (at Magny-Cours) and in the Czech Republic (at Most). The traditional “Rizla Racing Days” held on the Assen’s TT-Circuit, in the Netherlands, will have the privilege on 5, 6 and 7 August of bringing the 2011 European tour to an end and will have the distinctive honour of designating the Champion from among the three Drivers still in with a chance of being crowned: the Frenchman Emmanuel Vinualès, the Briton Gavin Bennett and the German Daniel Hentschel.

Often dominated by Drivers over 40 years old and even in their fifties, the discipline has seen over the last few years more and more youngsters get involved in the category and little by little threaten the current hierarchy. Britain’s Gavin Bennett (32 years old) was amongst the first “youths” who led the fight against the so-called experienced Drivers. Although he is not yet a seasoned campaigner, the man who has already won three European titles (2007, 2009 and 2010) is himself threatened by some competitors who are even younger than him: if he wants to land a fourth European crown he will have to come to terms with France’s Emmanuel Vinualès (26 years old) and Germany’s Daniel Hentschel (26 years old).

Being the son of a former Superkart Driver (ex-French Champion and winner of a European Championship race in 2002, Emmanuel Vinualès is reaching this season a level which, for some time, one had sensed he could achieve. Tremendously quick right from his first races (2004), the young Frenchman is now more mature, more constant and disposes of equipment which can place him at the top of the ranking. Well advised by his father, François, he ideally begun the 2011 European Championship by finishing second in Race 1 at Magny-Cours in the wake of the reigning Champion Bennett, and then winning Race 2. And as Bennett was hampered by carburettor problems in Race 2, Vinualès left the first event with a good lead. Although it was partly reduced after the second event, on the Czech circuit of Most, it is still sufficient for Vinualès to arrive here at Assen as leader for the final round.

In the Czech Republic, the duel between the Frenchman and the outgoing Champion Bennett was marked by a few powerful moments: in Race 1 they were neck and neck, passing each other time and again before Vinualès loosened his grip because of his tyres; in Race 2, there was so much tension that they both spun.

The Championship regulations stipulate that only the best 5 results out of 6 possible ones are counted. Under these circumstances, Bennett’s current runner-up place is not as penalising as it seems, and the Englishman, in addition to having the psychological advantage of having won two races compared to Vinualès’ single victory, is in a more comfortable situation, even if he knows that he can no longer afford to make any mistake.

The German Daniel Hentschel lies in ambush. Although he has not won any races, he has distinguished himself with fine regularity, namely 3 podiums in 4 races. One must note that Vinualès, Bennett and Hentschel have their Anderson chassis and DEA engines in common.

The previous races have demonstrated that other Drivers could claim victory, even though they may still not be in a position to aim at the title. A former Formula 3 Driver and European Superkart Champion (2008), Germany’s Peter Elkmann took time to fine-tune his new equipment (MS Kart – DEA) but he eventually managed to win Race 2 in the Czech Republic. Boosted by his recent win in the British Superkart Grand Prix at Cadwell Park, Carl Hulme (Anderson-FPE) is confident and, having climbed on several European podiums, will seek to conquer his maiden victory at the current highest level of Superkart.

The other good surprise has come from the Dutchman Marcel Maasmann: now integrated to Team Redspeed, he plays a leading part as he has come back from Most with a 2nd and a 4th places under his belt! Galvanised by his public, will he get an even better result at Assen? Holland’s Priscilla Speelman – the only lady Driver of the field – has so far been less successful in the European Championship (two 11th places at Magny-Cours), but Assen will be an ideal opportunity for finishing with a flourish, hopefully in the Top 10s.

In Assen the Superkarts will share the bill with several categories of motorbikes, touring cars and GTs in an event usually attended by over 50,000 spectators. They will run in their first qualifying practice session on Friday afternoon and in their second one the following day, their two Races taking place on Sunday 7 August (at 10h15 and 15h05). The results can be consulted in real time on www.cikfia.com.
 

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