Calleja on Junior Pole for Champions of the Future in Slovakia

Qualifying for Champions of the Future Euro Series #3 got underway late on Friday morning on a Slovakia Ring track that was still showing signs of dampness before being hit by rain. The 92 OK-Junior drivers were split into three groups, alternating with the OK drivers. The results varied according to the changing grip conditions.

Group 1: Mackie – 54‘’480
All the drivers used slick tyres, as the track was still drying out at the start, but the rain soon arrived. Scott Marsh (Tony Kart/Vortex) was leading on the second lap, under a minute ahead of Enzo Craigie (KR/Iame). Harrison Mackie (KR/Iame) took the lead on the third lap and confirmed his position with the fastest time – 54‘’480 – on his fifth lap; Théo Battisti (Sodi/TM) followed him at 0.161‘’, a tenth faster than Alfie Slater (LN/TM). Sun Anzhe (Parolin/TM) was 4th, more than 5 tenths behind Mackie, and Roman Kamyab (LN/TM) finished 5th, more than 8 tenths behind. Matéo Rivals (Sodi/TM) was 14th, Dries van Langendonck (Exprit/TM) 17th and Bogdan Cosma Cristofor (KR/Iame) 20th.

Group 2: Sala – 52‘’427
The track had dried out well for this second session and the drivers waited at least 2’30 to start. Christian Costoya (Parolin/TM) was leading on the second lap, followed by Mariano Lopez (Parolin/TM) and Jack Illife (Exprit/TM). A few drops of rain began to fall towards the end of the session. Filippo Sala (LN/TM) finished on 52‘’427, a tenth quicker than Costoya. Sebastian Minns (LN/TM) was 3rd, a tenth quicker. Juste Mulder (KR/Iame) took 4th place ahead of Andrea Manni (Exprit/TM), 4 tenths off the best time. Niklas Schaufler (KR/Iame) was 14th, Louis Cochet (KR/Iame) 21st, Thomas Pradier (Tony Kart/Vortex) 23rd and Iacopo Martinese (KR/Iame) 26th.

Group 3: Calleja – 52‘’244
There was little action on the track before the halfway point of the 6-minute time limit. Noah Baglin (KR/Iame) was fastest on lap 2 ahead of William Calleja (Parolin/TM) and Vladimir Ivannikov (Energy/TM). Luke Kornder (Exprit/TM) led on lap 3, but Calleja took pole position in 52’244 on lap 4. Arjen Kräling (KR/Iame) followed at 58 thousandths, with Kornder 3rd ahead of Asher Ochstein (CRG/Iame) and Oliver Kinmark (Tony Kart/TM). Rocco Coronel (KR/Iame) was 7th, Ivannikov 9th, Bosco Arias (KR/Iame) 12th and Dean Hoogendoorn (KR/Iame) 14th.

Info Kartcom with Kartlink / Photo © KSP