Compétition

Martins triumphs in the Junior Final at Portimao

Behind Victor Martins (Kosmic / Parilla) who made a good start from pole position, the situation evolved on the first lap of the OK-Junior Final. Oscar Piastri (FA Kart / Vortex) lost 12 places and Kiern Jewiss (Exprit / Vortex) went 2nd ahead of Dennis Hauger (CRG / Parilla), while Teddy Wilson (CRG / Parilla) returned to 4th. The battle was raging in the chasing pack. Wilson and Jewiss plummeted after a crash, so Sami Taoufik (FA Kart / Vortex) took 3rd ahead of Bin Abdul Gafar Mizzuddin Musyaffa (DR / TM) and Noah Watt (Tony Kart / Vortex). Still the fastest on the track Martins pulled away in the lead of the race.

Meanwhile, Adam Eteki (Tony Kart / Vortex) held on to 13th position, Gillian Henrion (Kosmic / Vortex) made up some of the positions lost at the start and Pierre-Louis Chovet (CRG / Parilla) had retired. Martins was unreachable, while Taoufik progressively closed on Hauger. Caio Collet (Birel ART / Parilla) moved up to 6th position ahead of Fin Kenneally (FA Kart / Vortex) and Hampus Eriksson (Tony Kart / Vortex). There was big progress for Davide Vidales (Tony Kart / Vortex) from 27th to 13th position.

Martins did not drop the pace and steadily increased his lead as Taoufik, Collet and Mizzuddin fought over 3rd place behind Hauger. All five drivers were fevered on the final laps and finally Collet took 2nd in front of Mizzudin, with Hauger finishing 4th and Taoufik 5th. And yes, don’t forget the victory of the Frenchman Victor Martins, with a lead of over 7” and the fastest lap, no less. He is one who will not complain about the Vega tyres.