Rotax International Trophy: Gazeau takes pole position at Le Mans

After nine Free Practice sessions during the day, the 91 drivers entered in Senior in the Rotax Max Challenge International Trophy started their Qualifying Practice at the end of the day on Wednesday, divided into three separate sessions. The weather was warm in the Le Mans region with temperatures still exceeding 25° at 18:00.

In the first group, Lachlan Robinson (ARE – OTK) was closest to the 52” with a best lap of 53”185. Topi Toikka (FIN – Tony Kart) and Antony Billout (FRA – Tony Kart) finished less than one tenth ahead of Ray Yu Wang (TWN – Kosmic) and Oakley Pryer (GBR – Tony Kart). Behind Daniel Vasile (ROU – DR), Charles Tesnière (FRA – Kosmic) posted the 7th fastest time and Marc Cammarata (FRA – Sodi) the 8th.

Valentin Gil (FRA – Tony Kart) went on the attack in the second group, followed by Vincent France (NLD – Exprit) who then took the lead with a lap of 53”198, only 13 thousandths from the fastest time set by Robinson in the previous session. Gil followed by 43 thousandths, then Guillaume Treillard de Quinemont (FRA – Kosmic) at 68 thousandths. Near the end of the session, Teddy Clinton (GBR – FA Kart) came back to 4th position ahead of Romain Leroux (FRA – Tony Kart).

Things accelerated in the third round with Matilda Olsson (SWE – Tony Kart) improving the provisional pole, then César Gazeau (FRA – FA Kart) went under the 53” barrier. Five drivers quickly returned to the top 5 overall. Gazeau took pole position with 52”932, Illian Bruynseels (BEL – Tony Kart) took 2nd place by 63 thousandths. 0.125” further back, Oscar Pellemele (FRA – Sodi), in 3rd, was ahead of Matilda Olsson and then Dylan Léger (FRA – OTK) and Guilherme De Oliveira (PRT – Kosmic), the top six overall.

Lachlan Robinson was in 7th place ahead of Maksim Turiev (RUS – Tony Kart), then Vincent France in 9th and Ben Donkin (GBR – Redspeed) 10th.

Info Kartcom / © Photo KSP