2016 CIK-FIABest-of: Bradshaw wins the seventh season full of novelties

In 2016, the CIK-FIA Karting Academy Trophy added several interesting innovations to its programme. The new technical partner OTK Kart Group won the tender for Exprit chassis and Vortex engines of the OK-Junior type, while Vega provided the tyres. For the first time, important prizes were offered to the top drivers. The winner was invited to participate for free in the CIK-FIA World Junior Championship in Bahrain within one of the factory teams of the OTK Kart Group. The CIK-FIA has also assured the top five overall in the Academy Trophy in 2016 of free of entry to the 2017 CIK-FIA Championship of their choice.

Applications were numerous and the Trophy was full of participants with 51 Drivers entered from 39 nations from five continents. The 2016 season was structured around three Competitions, integrated with the most prestigious Karting Championships. The balance sheet was revealed to be very positive with excellent sporting fairness, guaranteed notably by frequent engine swaps between the drivers in each Competition.

The Briton Callum Bradshaw took the Trophy lead in the first Competition in France and held on until the conclusion in Sweden. Behind him the battle for the places of honour was tight before the Alfred Nilsson Swede won 2nd place at home ahead of the Dutchman Kas Haverkort, followed by the Belgians Xavier Handsaeme and Elie Goldstein in the top five.

Bradshaw already the leader at Essay (FRA)
Callum Bradshaw (GBR) could hardly have achieved a better score. With 2nd in Qualifying Practice, he then monopolised the lead until the Final. Alfred Nilsson (SWE) gave him some opposition in the Qualifying Heats, but Mads Eielso Hansen (DNK) finished 2nd in the Final ahead of Thomas Mialane (FRA), Oliver Clarke (GBR) took 4th place ahead of the very quick Jagger Jones (USA), who made the best gains.

Handsaeme animates the Trophy at Portimao (PRT)
Xavier Handsaeme (BEL) was soon at the front in Qualifying Practice and continued his momentum in the Qualifying Heats. But Bradshaw confirmed he was back with his victory in the Prefinal, with Rubén Sabater Saura (ESP) taking 3rd place behind Handsaeme. Kasparas Vaskelis (LTU) sprang ahead of the Final while Bradshaw was relegated to 7th and Handsaeme returned to the lead from 4th position. The leader before halfway, Handsaeme continued to widen the gap to cross the finish line 3.2 seconds ahead, which prevented him from losing the victory because of the penalty of 3” imposed because of his start. Bradshaw climbed to 2nd position at the finish from Vaskelis.

Kristianstad (SWE): victory for Haverkort, the Trophy for Bradshaw
Nilsson clearly dominated the Qualifying Phases and his home Prefinal ahead of Kas Haverkort (NLD) and Elie Goldstein (BEL) managed to outperform him in the Final. Starting a distant 16th after Qualifying, Bradshaw fought to the end to clinch 4th position, although the Trophy itself could not escape him. Only Handsaeme could possibly upset the triumphal march of the Briton, but he was behind in the heats and had to go through the Repechage to reach the Final at the back of the pack.

Info CIK-FIA / © Photo KSP