Competition

World KF: surprise victory for Joyner

International World Karting Championship

The KF Final was off as soon as the lights went out with Tom Joyner (Zanardi / TM) incisive in Max Verstappen’s (CRG / TM) wheeltracks. Nicklas Nielsen (Kosmic / Vortex) tried his hand at the end of the first lap, but lost time to the benefit of Jordon Lennox-Lamb (CRG / TM). Karol Basz (Tony Kart / Vortex) was fifth, Ben Hanley (ART GP / TM) 6th. Dorian Boccolacci (Energy / TM) dropped to 15th on lap 2. Paolo Besancenez (Tony Kart / TM) crashed immediately after the start. Joyner kept pushing the leader, Nielsen returned to 3rd. Armand Convers (Kosmic / Vortex) was 9th after gaining 12 positions from the start. After six laps, the trio was very compact and Joyner took the first lead and was in control of Verstappen and Nielsen.

Nielsen and Verstappen crashed at the end of lap 8. The Danish driver retired but the Dutchman managed to stay on track in 13th position. Joyner, the leader, was now followed by Basz then Lennox-Lamb. At this time, Joyner was leading the standings. Convers moved up to fourth ahead of Andrea Russo (Kosmic / Vortex), Ben Hanley (ART GP / TM), and Tuomas Tujula (ART GP / TM) up from 24th place. Boccolacci was back in the top 10, and was ranked 8th at halfway.

Joyner was more than a second ahead of Basz and was widening the gap each time, and Convers got the better of Lennox-Lamb for 3rd place. Verstappen tried hard to continue the race, he regularly lost places. Lap 17: Hanley passed Lennox-Lamb for 4th place and with Joyner was now at the top of the Championship. The suspense for the title exceeded that of the race itself. Joyner won the race by more than two seconds ahead of Basz, Convers took the 3rd step of the podium, a great reward for his ascent of 14 places. Hanley finished 4th, the amazing Tujula 5th, Russo 6th, Boccolacci 7th, Kuusiniemi 8th Hansen 9th with the fastest time and Stroll 10th.

Hanley and Joyner are tied on points, but the world title should go to Joyner thanks to his victory. Verstappen was third.