European Superkarts return to Donington Park

Donington (GBR) will host the second Competition of the 2016 CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship on 4th and 5th June, returning to a circuit that hosted it last year, for a very focused karting weekend. Indeed, the CIK-FIA Competition will share the spotlight with the British Superkart GP Race, which will be run for single cylinder and national categories which will fill the schedule. A highlight is that some drivers will try their luck in several categories simultaneously.

The number of entries is similar to that of 2015, with a few defections usually occurring or expected producing about 25 Drivers, including seven single-cylinders to race in the Cup. Six British and five Dutch Drivers make up the most numerous countries entered. It is likely that the battles started at Lédenon will continue in Britain.

The favourites are among the Drivers who dominated the first Competition. Obviously there are the usual two rivals, the Czech Adam Kout (MS Kart / DEA), the defending champion, and the German Peter Elkmann (MS Kart / VM), both winners of a race last year on this circuit. A third man has interfered in their duel, the Belgian rookie Yannick De Brabander (MS Kart / VM). His arrival is not by chance as it was with some determination that he repeatedly tried to take the lead during the first Competition. His two opponents have now recognised the need to reckon with him, despite his lack of experience at Donington. However these three leaders are not the only the podium prospects. Indeed we cannot ignore the potential of Liam Morley (Anderson / DEA) at his home race. The Briton, 3rd in the last European Championship and on the podium at Le Mans and Assen in 2015, has been very quick in the national competitions this season and will probably achieve a result at European level at home.

Among the outsiders, Marcel Maasmann (Anderson / VM), well positioned at each of his races this year, must do well to preserve his chances in the standings before the Final at Assen, his favourite circuit. To lead the pack, he will need to keep one eye on Jason Dredge (Anderson / PVP) after his performance last year at Donington, or Stefan Malm (PVP / PVP) who enjoys all the attention of Poul V. Petersen, as well as on the Team Redspeed drivers on Anderson / VMs namely Vesa Lehtinen and Dan Clark, a regular on the track who has joined the ranks of Division1.

In single-cylinder, we can expect the continuation of the duel between Gavin Bennett (Anderson / DEA) and Paul Platt (MS Kart / Gas Gas), with Carl Hulme in the role of the referee.