OK-Junior: Gladysz wins the Final

The weather was still cool, 11°, but very nice in Franciacorta for the OK-Junior Final of the Winter Series / Champions of the Future by RGMMC. Looking at the starting grid, we were expecting a good sporting duel between the Russian Anatoly Khavalkin (Parolin/TM) and Ukrainian Oleksandr Bondarev (LN/Vortex).

Kirill Kutskov (Birel ART/TM), Nathan Tye (Sodi/TM), Lucas Fluxa Cross (KR/Iame) and Abdres Cardenas (Energy/TM) followed in the wake of the leader Khavalkin, while Bondarev was in 7th place. Jules Caranta (KR/Iame) had already retired in an incident that also involved Alfie Slater (LN/Vortex). Khavalkin and Kutskov were soon ahead of Cardenas and Fluxa. Bondarev was back in 5th ahead of Tye. Kutskov was waiting for his time behind Khavalkin, but Cardenas was closing in quickly. At the halfway point Maxens Verbrugge (Exprit/TM) was back in 13th place. Kutskov took the lead on the ninth lap, but Khavalkin took over the lead shortly after. The manoeuvre was repeated on the 13th lap under the eyes of Cardenas. Meanwhile, Maciej Gladysz (LN/Vortex) and Bondarev were fighting for 4th place, a second behind the leading trio. The two RFM drivers made common cause to join the final battle. Khavalkin was the first victim in a tussle with Kutskov, with whom he made contact. Cardenas took his chance to move into the lead. Bondarev went off the track after a touch with Kutskov then Gladysz snuck in a few metres before the finish line and won against Cardenas. Kutskov finished 3rd and Khavalkin 4th. Fluxa completed the top five, followed by Jan Przyrowski (Tony Kart/Vortex) and Tye.

Verbrugge finished 17 places up in 12th position. Andy Consani (Sodi/TM) reached 16th place with a gain of 11 places, ahead of Arthur Dorison (Tony Kart/Vortex) +8 places. Jimmy Helias (Tony Kart/Vortex) finished 24th after several setbacks.

Waiting for the publication of the definitive results.

Info Kartcom with Kartlink / Photos © KSP