KZ2 Super Heats: Puhakka and Ippolito win the Winter Series

There was sun and blue sky for the KZ2 Super Heats of the Winter Series in Franciacorta but the thermometer did not reach 10°.

Jean Luyet (Tony Kart/Vortex) got off to a good start ahead of Simo Puhakka (Tony Kart/Vortex) in Super Heat 1. David Liwinski (Birel ART/TM) and Giuseppe Palomba (Birel ART/TM) were on the attack in the top four while Alessio Piccini (Birel ART/TM) came back to 5th. Puhakka took over the lead and escaped as the battle for 2nd place raged on. Liwinski was pushing hard to get ahead of Palomba and Luyet. There was also a lot of fighting behind Piccini. Led by Liwinski and Palomba, the chasing group reduced the gap to Puhakka at mid-race, who had hardly more than a second advantage. Palomba attacked Liwinski for 2nd place and set several fastest times in his chase for the leader. He caught Puhakka with two laps to go, but the Finn defended his position until the end and won by a narrow margin against the Italian. Liwinski finished 3rd, Luyet 4th, Piccini 5th and Samuel Luyet (Tony Kart/Vortex) 6th with a gain of nine places.

As he had announced, Andrea Kimi Antonelli (KR/Iame) did not take part in the day’s races due to a long-planned commitment.

Danilo Albanese (KR/Iame) started very quickly (too quickly?) ahead of Noah Milell (Tony Kart/Vortex), the reigning World Champion, at the start of the Super Heat 2. Paolo Ippolito (KR/Iame) was ahead of Tom Leuillet (Birel ART/TM) and Adrien Renaudin (Tony Kart/Vortex). The battle raged between Albanese and Milell for 1st place with Ippolito in ambush. Milell managed to regain the lead, while Leuillet had passed Renaudin, who replied. The fight between the two KR Motorsport drivers caused a regrouping for 2nd place. Renaudin moved up to 3rd and set a fastest time. Milell suddenly retired with a technical problem with four laps to go. The final battle was between Ippolito, Renaudin and Laurens van Hoepen (Birel ART/TM) and Albanese. Ippolito defended himself very well and won against Renaudin. Van Hoepen finished 3rd, Albanese was 13th after an early start penalty and Robert Kindervater (Birel ART/TM) 5th ahead of Leuillet.

Info Kartcom with Kartlink / Photo © KSP