Compétition

2015 CIK-FIA Best-Of : Spain dominates the Academy Trophy with Marta Garcia Lopez

The 6th edition of the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy has confirmed its success with 51 entries from five continents and 36 nations including newcomers like South Korea, Mozambique and the Dominican Republic. At the wheel of randomly selected identical equipment, Parolin chassis and FIM engine, equipped with Bridgestone tyres, the contenders competed on equal terms in three Competitions in Spain, Belgium and France, in the presence of the KZ and KZ2 Drivers. The penalties imposed for unsporting contact, detected by a front spoiler fixing, calmed the overenthusiastic less experienced Drivers and ensured the smooth running of the Trophy. The leader from the first race on, the young Spanish Driver Marta Garcia Lopez, supported by the FIA “Women in Motor Sport” Commission, never gave up control while her compatriots Xavier Lloveras Brunet and Alejandro Lopez Lahoz finished in the top three. Spain was definitely unbeatable in 2015!

Marta, how do you explain your dominance in the Trophy this year?
– The experience from last year has been very helpful. I knew the equipment better and the way the chassis and the engine had to be approached. I also think I have made significant progress this season and am managing my races more effectively. I am often fast, but I learned to adapt my risk-taking, particularly when overtaking, to be ultimately more effective.

Was it a real advantage to start with the Zuera circuit?
– I know the Zuera track, but it was not decisive for the Trophy. I showed that I could win on a very different circuit like the one at Genk. The important thing is to stay focused so as to achieve results as consistently as possible, whatever the circumstances. At Le Mans, I was delighted to have been able to finish on the podium after improving my chassis set-up.

What do you think of the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy?
– It is a very good formula to learn and to become well-known without spending much money. With frequent engine swaps, equipment is not decisive for the outcome of the season. We need to approach this Competition in a different way to the other categories, this is what I learned this year. In the end I think it’s a very good education.