2018 FIA Karting Best-Of: FIA Karting World Championship – OK Kristianstad – The crown for Travisanutto

Organised in southern Sweden from 21st to 23rd September on the Åsum Ring near Kristianstad, the FIA Karting World Championship – OK saw a record-breaking entry with 102 participants. For its third year, the OK category demonstrated its attractiveness at the top of the direct-drive kart ladder. Factory and private teams clashed on the technical front, while on the track, young drivers of 14 years and older confronted the very experienced seniors.

The 1221m long Swedish track, which has attracted competitors for some years, and the warm and friendly welcome of the Kristianstad Kart Klubb, provided a quality framework for this World Championship. After Qualifying Practice in the dry, showers complicated the Competition during the Qualifying Heats, causing many changes of grip. The weather improved and the track was dry for the Final. The Kart Republic (KR) chassis, the new brand launched by Dino Chiesa at the beginning of the year, showed a formidable effectiveness with their IAME engines.

Lorenzo Travisanutto (ITA – KR / Parilla / B’stone) was already fastest in Qualifying Practice ahead of Dexter Patterson (GBR – KR / Parilla / B’stone) and Luigi Coluccio (ITA – Birel ART / TM Racing / B’stone). At the end of the 21 Qualifying Heats, Travisanutto was still the leader of the 34 finalists against David Vidales Ajenjo (ESP – Tony Kart / Vortex / B’stone), improving from 16th in Qualifying, and the reigning European Champion Hannes Janker (DEU – KR / Parilla / B’stone), who was a strong contender.

Beautiful Final strategy for Travisanutto

In the colours of Nico Rosberg’s team, Travisanutto delivered an intelligent duel with Janker. He took the lead before mid-race and looked good to win. But Travisanutto calmly waited for his moment to narrow the gap and go on the attack. During an unstoppable pass with two laps to the finish the Italian took the initiative. Winner with a lead of less than half a second on Janker, Travisanutto finally felt the joy of becoming the 2018 FIA Karting World Champion – OK. Behind the two protagonists, Luigi Coluccio (ITA – Birel ART / TM Racing / B’stone) on the 3rd step of the podium confirmed his excellent progress in OK. World Junior Champion last year, Dexter Patterson (GBR – Exprit / TM Racing / B’stone) could be proud of his 4th place in the top category ahead of Noah Milell (SWE – Tony Kart / Vortex / B’stone), 5th in his home race.

Info CIK-FIA / © Photo KSP