Essay: Ready for Europe!

The Normandy track is looking forward with great anticipation to the KF2 and KF3 European qualifiers next July. Claude Gripon and his team continue to organise everything with a potent mix of good humour and efficiency.

Things are starting to look a little clearer after this first round of the 2007 French Championships. At last the throaty, quieter sound of the new KF engine has made itself heard out on a French competition track. Over a third of the 138 drivers in the event came from abroad, with 14 different countries represented, including a strong contingent from Belgium, making up a very respectable field.
Despite all the hard work the teams have put in, it’s clear that the KF engine has not yet been fully tamed, as some drivers were to find to their cost.

Elite KF1 – Santamato, a leader amongst the Elite!
As expected, the top category was no walkover. Reigning champion and race favourite Armand Convers (PCR/Windfire) was bedevilled with mechanical problems which prevented him from showing his class. In the end he had to make do with 5th place. It was young Arno Santamato, driving a Birel, who won top place on the podium after what proved to be an eventful first outing in the Elite class. His TM engine might not have been a front runner at the start of the season but his race preparers, GKP, managed to turn things round. Two Britons, Kazeem Manzur and Ollie Millroy, driving for Zanardi/Iame, completed the podium trio. Belgian Benjamin Bailly (Kosmic/Vortex), a star performer in the competition, made sure his name was not forgotten. He managed to stay in touch with the leaders to take 6th place despite getting baulked during the race.
Another Belgian bullet, Glen Keyaert (CRG/Parilla), swept into 4th place despite blowing up two engines!

Espoir KF2 – Lacaze, imperious in the melee.
Charles Lacaze (Tonykart/Vortex) dominated both the prefinal and final races. Only Belgian driver Sami Luka (CRG/Iame) might have challenged him for victory. William Benedetti (PCR/Windfire) took second spot after starting back in 9th place on the starting grid. Briton Harry Tincknell (Zanardi/Iame) put in a similarly spirited performance to come home 3rd. Other drivers who were on form during the week-end included Julien Deschamps (Tonykart/Vortex), who made it to the front row on the prefinal race grid, Kevin Bole-Besançon and Loïc Réguillon (Sodikart/Iame), who were as dependable and well-placed as ever, and Alban Authié (Sodikart/Iame) who climbed impressively through the field from 17th to 7th place in the final.

Junior KF3 – Bailly on top, Fourquemin in view.
Three drivers starred in the weekend’s racing. Brandon Maïsano (Intrepid/Windfire) and Belgian Sébastien Bailly (Kosmic/Vortex) were as fast as they were unlucky and they almost let Paul Fourquemin (Intrepid/XTR) from Normandy, lapping swiftly and consistently, slip past them. But the young Belgian sneaked victory nevertheless although Brandon had to drop out due to what turned out to be a minor technical problem. Kevin Rambeau (Zanardi/XTR) from Portugal took full advantage to pick up a well-deserved 3rd place. Kevin Mourey (Birel/TM), who comes from the Paris region, drove well to finish in 5th position.

125 KZ2 – Lavanant, full of energy.
Tony Lavanant is feeling good racing for his new team Energy Corse and it shows. Everything worked like a charm in Essay for this likeable and talented driver as he topped the field in all the races he drove in – heats, prefinal and final! Dutchman Danny Bleek and Frenchman Mathias Galleppe joined Tony on the podium to make it a clean sweep for Energy Corse/TM.

Phew, it was hot in the pack! Thomas Letailleur (Sodikart/SGM) and Benoît Pécasse were ever present in the top 5. Thomas Mich (Birel/TM), was often fastest out on the track but bad luck meant he finished 9th, just pipping regional recruit Pierre Krypciak (Alpha/TM), who put up a fine show considering this was his first outing at N125 level.

ESSAY: RESULTS

ELITE KF1 :
1. Santamato (F)
2. Manzur (GB)
3. Millroy (GB)

ESPOIR KF2 :
1. Lacaze (F)
2. Benedetti (F)
3. Tincknell (GB)

JUNIOR KF3 :
1. Bailly (B)
2. Fourquemin (F)
3. Rambeau (P)

125 KZ2 :
1. Lavanant (F)
2. Bleek (NL)
3. Galleppe (F)