Academy: Gasparovic wins a thrilling Final

The Val d’Argenton track was dry and partly overcast with a temperature of 17° on Sunday afternoon for the Final of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy #1. The risk of rain was low, but not zero. 20 laps awaited the 36 finalists.

Although the conditions were not quite perfect, Dan Allemann (CHE) took the lead ahead of Lyuboslav Ruykov (BGR) and Jakub Gasparovic (SVK) +9 places. Wian Boshoff (ZAF) was 4th (+11 places) ahead of Aleix Pinera Rusinol (ESP). The race was decapitated at Turn 1: Nikolaos Karagiannis (GRC), Lilian Soares (FRA), Sacha van’t Pad Bosch (NLD) and Erik Poulsen (SWE) were among the drivers trapped by worse-than-expected grip. Gilles Herman (BEL) climbed back up to 10th after a difficult start. Andrea Marsella (ITA) was back in the top five (+8 places). Ruykov caught up with leader Allemann, who needed to pick up the pace. Simba Motoda (JPN) retired. Ruykov attacked on lap 9 and took control, while Gasparovic closed in on 3rd place. Allemann found some speed in Ruykov’s wake. Meanwhile, Fausto Arnaudo (ARG) was contesting P5 with Marsella. Allemann regained the lead on the 16th lap, while Ruykov was under threat from Gasparovic. Ruykov attempted a risky attack on the final lap, Allemann was slowed and Gasparovic seized the opportunity to move into the lead and take victory a few dozen metres before the finish line. Allemann saved P2 ahead of Ruykov. Later, Allemann received a 5″ penalty for causing a collision and Ruykov was disqualified from the competition for attempting to replace his front fairing after the finish. Allemann was 3rd ahead of Marsella and Pinera, while Herman was 11th (front fairing unhooked).

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