OK: Lindblad heroic in gruelling conditions in Genk

It was not easy to know what to do in the Qualifying Heats of the FIA European Karting Championship – OK on Saturday in Genk. Rain or no rain, wet or dry track, slick or treaded tyres? These questions were never definitively answered. The task was as complicated for the drivers as it was for the mechanics, but it has to be said that there was no lack of spectacle.

Arvid Lindblad (KR/Iame) never wavered and was the logical leader on Saturday evening with three wins. Juho Valtanen (KR/TM) came back from 11th to 2nd provisional position, but Rafael Camara (KR/Iame) who follows him in the ranking has already completed his four heats as opposed to the two drivers ahead of him. Two Qualifying Heats will remain on Sunday morning for part of the field. The performances of Ariel Elkin (KR/Iame) and Beau Heijmans (Parolin/Iame) were remarkable. James Wharton (Parolin/TM) was able to climb into the top 10 ahead of Edoardo Villa (Exprit/Vortex) who came back from his 49th in Qualifying.

Evan Giltaire (KR/Iame) and Hugo Besson (KR/Iame) made significant progress from the timed sessions, while Marlon Hernandez (KR/Iame) did well to keep his chances of making the Final. Joe Turney (Tony Kart/Vortex) was disappointed after his missed pole position the day before. Tuuka Taponen (Tony Kart/Vortex), Andrea Kimi Antonelli (KR/Iame) and Brando Badoer (KR/Iame) were all in around 30th place after various misfortunes.

Info Kartcom / Photo © KSP