OK and OK-Junior enter the scene at Zuera

From 13th to 15th May 2016, the international circuit of Zuera (ESP) will host the first CIK-FIA European Championship Competition for the new OK and OK-Junior categories, in parallel with the second Competition of the CIK-FIA European KZ Championship. 145 Drivers are preparing to compete on one of the longest circuits on the calendar.

Representatives of 34 countries will compete in Spain. France is the top nation with 19 representatives, followed by Italy (17), Sweden (12) and Spain (11). Note that Italy is very much present in KZ with seven pro or semi-pro Drivers. Germany and Russia have increased significantly with 10 Drivers each.

Well appreciated by the Drivers, the Spanish circuit of Zuera has already hosted numerous international Competitions and every time produces an exciting sporting spectacle. The specialists in the powerful KZ category will find a framework to stretch their skills for the second of three Competitions of their European calendar in Aragon. Diametrically opposed to Essay (FRA) where they have just started their European campaign, the Zuera circuit and its 1700 metre length is likely to play a major role in deciding the 2016 title, especially as some teams are ready to take their revenge. Remember that Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) leads the provisional standings ahead of Jérémy Iglesias (Sodi / TM Racing / Vega) and Flavio Camponeschi (CRG / Parilla / Vega. One of the questions of the Competition will be the ability of the tyres to withstand the conditions of the track.

With 82 Drivers and only seven wild cards expected in Spain, the OK-Junior category proves its dynamism by registering a net increase (+19) over KF-Junior in 2015 and has returned to the level of 2013. The favourites come from among the protagonists from the beginning of the season, starting with the Moroccan Sami Taoufik (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega) and the Dane Noah Watt (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega), and also Spain’s David Vidales Arenjo (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega), the Belgian Ulysse De Pauw (BirelART / Parilla / Vega), the Russian Ivan Shvetsov (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) and the Swedish Isac Blomqvist (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega). The outsiders will surely include the Frenchmen Charles Milesi (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega) and Timothy Peisselon (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega), the Briton Finlay Kenneally (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega) and the Norwegian Dennis Hauger (CRG / Parilla / Vega), among other talents. The OK-Junior category is still very open and pleasant surprises are not unlikely.

Although the OK class has had the opportunity to demonstrate the merits of its new technical specification in terms of performance and reliability, the number of entries has not yet taken off. Time will be needed for the private teams to get ready to compete with teams from factories or established teams in international racing. The sporting battle will nevertheless be interesting to follow in Spain with an anticipated showdown between the most experienced and the younger generation. In the camp of the “old”, we can count on the determination of the 2015 European Champion Ben Hanley (Croc Promotions / TM Racing / Vega), and the World Champion Karol Basz (Kosmic / Vortex / Vega) in addition to Tom Joyner (Zanardi / Parilla / Vega), Felice Tiene (CRG / Parilla / Vega) and Martijn Van Leeuwen (BirelART / Parilla / Vega). At his home race, Pedro Hiltbrand (CRG / Parilla / Vega) will also be a contender for the victory against the younger generation embodied by Logan Sargeant (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega), Clement Novalak (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega), Christian Lundgaard (Ricciardo / Parilla / Vega) and Marta Garcia Lopez (Evokart / Parilla / Vega).