Compétition

CIK-FIA Best-Of 2015: The irresistible rise of Christian Lundgaard

Like the KF category which was on the same calendar, the CIK-FIA European KF-Junior Championship has had three different winners in three Competitions. The Belgian Kenny Roosens opened the scoring in Portugal and the Indonesian Presley Martono won the Final in Britain. But the Dane Christian Lundgaard decided it by winning brilliantly in Sweden, […]

FIA Karting Best Of

CIK-FIA Best-Of 2015: The irresistible rise of Christian Lundgaard

Roosens stuns at Portimao (PRT)
The implementation of the new front fairing fasteners to limit unsportsmanlike conduct proved effective, while disrupting the habits of some drivers. Kenny Roosens (Kosmic-Parilla-LeCont) was hardly worried at the Kartodromo do Algarve where he won everything while the favourites were sometimes out of contention. Only Sami Worship (FA Kart-Vortex-LeCont) was able to rob him of pole position. Christian Lundgaard (Tony Kart-Vortex-LeCont) returned to 2nd after the Qualifying Heats, but was then surpassed by the surprising Putra Perdana Minang (Tony Kart-Vortex-LeCont) in the Prefinal and the Brazilian rookie Caio Collet (Kosmic-Vortex -Lecont) in the Final.

Surprise victory for Martono against Quinn at PFI (GBR)
The hierarchy was again very different in England, Konsta Lappalainen (Tony Kart-Vortex-LeCont) beginning with the fastest time in Qualifying Practice. Rasmus Lindh (Ricciardo Kart-Parilla-LeCont) regained the advantage at the end of the Qualifying Heats, Clement Novalak (Tony Kart-Vortex-LeCont) took 2nd position ahead of Presley Martono (Tony Kart-Vortex-LeCont). The latter then took control of the Prefinal as well as the Final, followed by Alex Quinn (CRG-Parilla-LeCont). The early race leader, Ulysses De Pauw (BirelART-LeCont-Parilla) was finally distanced and Novalak completed the podium.

Lundgaard the winner and champion at Kristianstad (SWE)
The last Competition was different again in Sweden. Fastest in Qualifying Practice, Roosens was on track to win the title, but a long series of setbacks even deprived him of a place in Final. Sun Yue Yang (FA Kart-Vortex-LeCont) took the lead during the Qualifying Heats ahead of Christian Lundgaard who took control first by winning Prefinal 1, then the Final with unquestionable ease, while Felipe Drugovich (Kosmic -Vortex-LeCont and Marta Garcia (FA Kart-TM-LeCont Racing) took the places of honour.
Christian Lundgaard was crowned with 53 points, Presley Martono finished 2nd with 45 points and Kenny Roosens 3rd with 44 points.

After his first stroke of brilliance in international Competition at the final European Championship round of 2014 at Kristianstad, where he led the Final until the penultimate lap, the young Dane Christian Lundgaard had a very strong 2015 season in KF-Junior. He took several international wins, including the Winter Cup at Lonato, before being crowned European Champion just days after his 14th birthday.

How do you explain your strong growth in 2015?
– It was my second international season in KF-Junior. I immediately felt more confident and I had learned from my mistakes of the previous season. I made progress in the Ward Racing Team at the European Championships, which allowed me to race on high-performance equipment and learn a lot about driving.

How did the Championship go?
While some favourites were a long way ahead at the first race at Portimao, I managed to finish 4th. But then I had problems in the Final at PFI. The title had to be decided at Kristianstad and I absolutely had to win. I love the Swedish circuit, even though I had not driven it since last year. I placed well by winning Prefinal 1 and then I led the Final throughout. It was wonderful to be crowned in this manner. I dedicate this title to my parents who play a major role in the development of my career.

What are your plans now?
My goal is to go to cars as soon as possible, but I’m too young for that. I think I will continue in Karting next year in the higher category, with the new OK engines. I do not intend to race in KZ, because it will not help me in cars. F4 will probably be the next step from 2017. Nothing has been decided yet.