Four European titles decided in the Finals at Genk

The exceptional programme for the conclusion of the four CIK-FIA European Championships at the Genk (BEL) Competition largely kept its promises. After many twists, the suspense lasted until the end of the Finals with a breathtaking show. Pedro Hiltbrand in OK, Finlay Kenneally in OK-Junior, Marco Ardigo in KZ and Fabian Federer in KZ2 are the new 2016 European Champions.

The Belgian Horensbergdam circuit beloved by the Lemmens family provided a perfect setting for the conclusion of the European Competition at Genk on the last weekend of July. Sometimes threatening, the weather did not really disrupt the four titles at stake which is the sporting aspect that unites the various contenders. After several dramatic events, some favourites were phased out of the battle while outsiders were able to reach the highest step. Therefore Pedro Hiltbrand won the title in the new OK category against Tom Joyner, while Karol Basz had retired on the last lap of his Prefinal. In OK-Junior Caio Collet Jotta completely missed his Qualifying and Noah Watt was delayed in his last Qualifying Heat and in the Final while Finlay Kenneally was there all the way. Shoulder to shoulder with Patrik Hajek for the KZ title, Marco Ardigo took a decisive advantage at the end of the Final. Finally, Fabian Federer was crowned despite his non-qualification for the Final in KZ2. The large crowd gathered on the main stand as well as all around the circuit, with vibrant enthusiasm for this sporting spectacle of rare intensity in the Finals as the showers forecast spared almost all day on Sunday.

OK: victory for Novalak, title to Hiltbrand
The hierarchy of the OK category came together only in the final stages of the Competition at Genk. Firstly Hannes Janker (CRG / Parilla / Vega) dominated the Qualifying Practice, against Marta Garcia Lopez (Evokart / Parilla / Vega) and Logan Sargeant (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega) and the Qualifying Heats ahead of Clement Novalak (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) and Pedro Hiltbrand (CRG / Parilla / Vega). Hiltbrand won Prefinal 1 with a comfortable lead while Novalak won the Prefinal 2. Karol Basz (Kosmic / Vortex / Vega) retired after a mechanical problem on the final lap of Prefinal 1 when he was in 3rd place and still holding the head of the Championship. Novalak took control of the Final on the 15th lap against Hiltbrand who knew his 2nd place secured him the title of European Champion. Indeed he was ahead of his main rival Tom Joyner (Zanardi / Parilla / Vega) on the track and in the points, with Basz taking 3rd place in the final standings.

The rookies in control in OK-Junior
Already a winner at Portimao, Victor Martins (Kosmic / Parilla / Vega) confirmed his arrival among the best by achieving a perfect score at Genk, constantly in 1st place from the beginning to the end of the Competition, which allowed him to take 3rd place in the Championship. The fight for the title proved uncertain until the end. Caio Jotta Collet (BirelART / Parilla / Vega) missed his Qualifying Practice after an incident at the first corner where he couldn’t set off again. A strong leader since the first Competition of the season, Noah Watt (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) was penalised in his last Qualifying Heat for a torn airbox after contact. He nevertheless went up to 4th in Prefinal 1, but then lost ground in the Final where he finished 14th. Another contender, Isac Blomqvist (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) completely missed out in the Genk Competition which ended with an exclusion after a black flag in Prefinal 2. Meanwhile, Finlay Kenneally (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega) was on the second row of the Qualifying Heats and climbed six places in the Final to finish 2nd behind Martins. 3rd in the Qualifying Heats and the Prefinals, Dennis Hauger (CRG / Parilla / Vega) was less comfortable in the Final and could not challenge for the title with his 6th position. Kenneally won the CIK-FIA European Junior Championship in 2016 with a total of 112 points ahead of Watt (110 pts) and Martins (109 pts). Moreover, Genk saw the first participation at this level of the engine from Rexon Motors with Cameron Boedler who posted some interesting performances before giving up in his Prefinal.

Fifth European crown for Ardigo
Winning the KZ title was more tumultuous than expected. The leader since the opening of the Championship at Essay, Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) showed his superiority with the fastest time in Qualifying Practice then winning both the Qualifying Heats. Anthony Abbasse (Sodi / TM Racing / Vega) however was ahead in Prefinal and Patrik Hajek (Kosmic / Vortex / Vega), 3rd, was still at that time a possible contender for the European title. Ardigo then took the lead again from Abbasse in the Final and Hajek could not do better than 7th. Simo Puhakka (CRG / TM Racing / Vega) joined the leader at the end of the race, but Ardigo controlled the situation. He won the race and the title of European KZ Champion, Hajek finishing 2nd in the ranking and Jérémy Iglesias (Sodi / TM Racing / Vega) 3rd.

Vigano finally victorious in KZ2, new title for Federer
Although Pierre Loubère (Sodi / Parilla / Vega) was fastest in Qualifying Practice, Alexander Schmitz (BirelART / Vortex / Vega) dominated the Qualifying Heats ahead of Alessandro Irlando (Energy / TM Racing / Vega), Fabian Federer (CRG / Modena Engines / Vega), Luca Corberi (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) and Stan Pex (CRG / Vortex / Vega), the latter four being in contention for the title. Leonardo Lorandi (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) won Prefinal 1 against John Norris (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega), while Federer gave up, with a damaged spark plug. Matteo Viganò (Top Kart / Parilla / Vega) won Prefinal 2 from Andre Matisic (BirelART / TM Racing / Vega) and Corberi. The Final promised to be complex in view of the Championship. Lorandi and Vigano fought for the lead, while Corberi had already given up. Vigano took a major victory after several difficult seasons, followed on the podium by Norris. Paolo Besancenez (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) moved up beautifully for 15 places to finish 3rd ahead of Pex and Matisic. Irlando didn’t have the means to defend his chances for the title. Fabian Federer won the CIK-FIA European KZ2 Championship thanks to a lead acquired previously, without participating in the last Final. Stan Pex took 2nd position and Matteo Vigano 3rd.

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