Martinese sets the top OK-Junior time before the rain

Qualifying Practice for the FIA Karting European Championship – OK-Junior took place on Friday afternoon at the Val d’Argenton circuit with 87 participants in a temperature of 15° with partly cloudy skies and a dry track.

Session 1: Martinese – 50”916
Three drivers set off as scouts ahead of the main field, which waited until mid-session to take to the track. Bosco Arias (KR/Iame) took advantage of this to take the lead, but Jarrett Clark (Exprit/TM) regained the advantage ahead of Dries van Langendonck (Exprit/TM) and Jack Illife (Exprit/TM). Iacopo Martinese (KR/Iame) was fastest on the third lap in 50’916. Roman Kamyab (LN/TM) followed in 2nd place at 0.112”, then Jarrett 3rd, van Langendonck 4th and Borys Lyzen (Sodi/TM) 5th at 2 tenths. Luka Scelles (Sodi/TM) finished 17th in his first event, and Aloïs Girardet (Energy/TM) 18th.

Session 2: Kelleher – 51”539
The start was delayed by 10 minutes because of the threat of rain, despite the sunshine. Most of the drivers started a little earlier, with around five minutes to go. By the second lap, the pace was improving reasonably well, with Daniel Kelleher (KR/Iame) setting a time of 51’539. The rain then made its appearance, causing panic between slicks and rain tyres. The performances remained unchanged. Paul Andriotis (LN/TM) was 2nd, 0.247″ behind Kelleher, Vladimir Ivannikov (Energy/TM) 3rd, Sebastian Minns (LN/TM) 4th and Rocco Coronel (KR/Iame) 5th ahead of Filippo Sala (LN/TM). Théo Battisti (Sodi/TM) finished 28th.

Session 3: Costoya – 1’02”918
The track remained wet with rain for the final sesson. No one wasted any time waiting on the pre-grid. Christian Costoya (Parolin/TM) started with a time of 1’03”873. He then improved his time against Noah Baglin (KR/Iame) and Kenzo Craigie (KR/Iame). Louis Cochet (KR/Iame) was 4th, Thomas Pradier (KR/Iame) then took 3rd. Costoya finished in the lead with a fourth-lap time of 1’02”918. Baglin was 2nd by more than 4 tenths, with Dean Hoogendoorn (KR/Iame) 3rd ahead of Pradier and Mats van Rooijen (CRG/Iame). Cochet was 6th ahead of Sebstian Lehtimaki (Tony Kart/TM). Matéo Rivals (Sodi/TM) finished 19th.

Info Kartcom with Kartlink / Photo © KSP – Arthur Saulnier-Bruneau