2018 FIA Karting Best-Of: FIA Karting World Championship – KZ World crown for Hajek

The FIA ??Karting World Championship – KZ took place in Belgium on the Genk circuit from 6th to 9th September at a particularly well-organised sporting event which attracted a large number of spectators. Most of the leaders of the discipline were present, but the Italian Marco Ardigo had to give up for family reasons before the start of the Competition.

Fabian Federer (ITA – CRG / TM Racing / LeCont) started by taking the pole position in Qualifying Practice followed by Marijn Kremers (NLD – Birel ART / TM Racing / LeCont) and Patrik Hajek (CZE – Kosmic / Vortex / LeCont). The Czech then took the lead during the Qualifying Heats with three successive victories. Kremers continued to keep pace, but Rick Dreezen (BEL – KR / Parilla / LeCont) came back with his new equipment. Various hazards on the track and mechanical mishaps did not allow a true hierarchy to develop among the other contenders.

Lone victory for Hajek

Hajek drove a perfect Final from start to finish, while his opponents fought hard battles. Simo Puhakka (FIN – Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) and Marijn Kremers crashed, Anthony Abbasse (FRA – Sodi / TM Racing / LeCont) retired at the same time as Jonathan Thonon (BEL – Birel ART / TM Racing / LeCont), then Pedro Hiltbrand (ESP – CRG / TM Racing / LeCont) a little later. Dreezen settled solidly in 2nd position after a complicated first lap with Federer a few tenths behind. The positions of the top three remained stable from the first to the last lap of the Race. For a long time 4th, Jorrit Pex (NLD – CRG / TM Racing / LeCont) was caught by Alex Irlando (ITA – Sodi / TM Racing / LeCont), then by Paolo De Conto (ITA – CRG / TM Racing / LeCont) who formed the top five of the Final. The undisputed winner, Patrik Hajek became the first Czech Driver to win a World Karting Championship.

Info CIK-FIA / © Photo KSP