Comte and Altis chassis on the podium

ALPHA Karting started the FFSA Grand Prix series with a greater presence than in previous years. The results were there too: Aurélien Comte made it onto the Elite podium (Formula A) in Angerville.

Freshly approved by the International Federation, the latest addition to the ALPHA Karting range made quite an entrance. The product of intense development by ALPHA technicians throughout the 2005 season, the Altis has proved competitive from the start and, above all, extremely easy to set up, as Thierry Maillard, the ALPHA-Maillard Racing Team manager confirms. “Given the difficult weather conditions we have experienced this winter, we haven’t raced as much as we would have liked. Add to that the fact that in the French championship trials don’t start before the Friday we had to act quickly to ensure the right set-up. Fortunately, the Altis proved a sound choice, with quick reaction to any modification. By the end of the first day we were amongst the fastest”. The Winter Cup had already raised hopes among the ALPHA Karting clan after Aurélien Comte finished a heat in 3rd position just behind Cesetti and Foré, before missing out during the final stage. In Angerville, it was a different story…

Comte at the top
Aurélien Comte confirmed his ambitions in the time trials by scoring his 3rd best time of the series. A missed heat however put the Frenchman in 21st place on the pre-final grid. That was when Aurélien pulled out all the stops, moving up to 5th place, with his best heat yet. “16 places up, it’s more than I could have hoped for, he commented. The Maillard Racing team’s strategy of replacing tyres at the start of the final stage was undoubtedly the best course of action”. Having matched his best performance in the Elite category, Comte was keen to improve on his performance in the finals. Getting off to a brilliant start, the ALPHA driver quickly joined race leaders, behind Jules Bianchi and Armand Convers. Behind him, other big names, some of which had also opted for new tyres for the final.
No matter, Aurélien’s determination kept drivers like Nicholas Risitano, the Europe Junior 2003 champion, Jon Lancaster, departing World vice champion, and Bas Lammers, former Formula A European champion, at bay. “The chassis remained constant during the race’s 21 laps which kept me safe from attack by my competitors”, explained Aurélien, who also benefited from the superior performance of Vega tyres and Parilla engines from Iame’s factory.
Discovered with ALPHA in 2005, the latest winner of the KART mag Trophy is already aiming at 3rd place in the most revered championship in France. Thierry Maillard, his team manager, was in seventh heaven. “I’m hoping that Aurélien will set the standard for other ALPHA drivers who, for the most part, lack experience at this competitive level. For example, Alban Authié (ICA), who has only raced one season in Formula kart racing and who has constantly improved his time with every round”.
In 2006, a Finnish ICA driver, the young Mikko Virtanen, opted to race with an ALPHA. “He is more than capable of going fast, continued Thierry Maillard, but he has the added disadvantage of not knowing the Angerville circuit. And besides, he has been involved in too many collisions”. Signed as a Junior, Damien Delafosse also had a chance to show off the Altis’ qualities. Everything started out well for him with 7th place and a time in the same tenth as the three winners. Alas, after missing out in a heat he fell to 24th place after the qualifiers. The eight positions he climbed back during the final stage will allow him to remain hopeful for the outcome of the April championship in Varennes sur Allier where the ALPHA-Maillard Racing team will meet Emily Dejuniat in the Elite.