Sodikart wins GP1 and SO 24 KMD wins GP2 at the 24 Hours Karting 2019

The 34th edition of the 24 Hours Karting was a real physical challenge for the drivers of the 27 teams in the running. In addition to effective driving and deploying an ideal strategy, the drivers had to contend with a long dry run, then rain on Sunday morning. Team No. 1 – Sodikart won after 1446 laps, winning the FIA Karting Endurance Championship for the second year in a row. Team No. 72 SO 24 KMD won the GP2 class after a tough battle. The show continued at Le Mans throughout the weekend, especially as the 24 Hours Trucks was simultaneously taking place on the Bugatti circuit, adjacent to the international karting circuit, generating real variety for the public.

27 teams, six in GP1 with OK engines and MG Tires, 20 in GP2 and a GP-Junior with LeCont tyres, were lined up on the grid on Saturday 28th September under the orders of the starter, Felipe Massa, the President of the CIK-FIA. After a Le Mans start and two formation laps, the race started in the sun for two times round the clock. The pole position holder after Qualifying, 24-Wintec quickly gave way to 1-Sodikart who was then scheduled to stop early in the pits. After a difficult Qualifying, the 73-MSA Racing recovered a position more in line with their potential. 50-K50 Kart Mag took control before being overtaken by 55-Rouen Espace Karting. Sodikart reduced their delay and fought for 1st place a long time with Rouen Espace Karting. In the evening, Wintec experienced a series of problems that left them in the pits for an extended period. Sodikart ensured their leading position in the night by regularly increasing the lead. The situation changed little in the rain that started on Sunday morning. Sodikart took the finish as a strong winner 13 laps ahead of Rouen Espace Karting, with K50 Kart Mag finishing 3rd, three laps behind.

Holder of the fastest lap in the race despite their recurring problems, Wintec and the driver Evann Mallet received the Anthoine Hubert Trophy, awarded to the fastest driver of the 24 Hours Karting. This trophy, created by the ACO in tribute to the young French driver, was presented in the presence of his family.

1- Sodikart (Sodi / TM Racing) Anthony Abbasse (FRA) – Bas Lammers (NLD) – Adrien Renaudin (FRA) – Jean Nomblot (FRA) – 1446 laps altogether
2- Rouen Espace Karting (Sodi / Iame) Gauthier Becq (FRA) – Maxime Bidard (FRA) – Charles Fiault (FRA) – Kevin Petit (FRA) – 13 laps
3- K50 Kart Mag – Tony Kart / Vortex / MG Tires – Kilian Belhaire (FRA) – Tom Uzan (FRA) – Hugo Arnaud (FRA) – Thomas Imbourg (FRA) – 16 laps
4- MSA Racing – Kosmic / Vortex / MG Tires – Nicolas Markiewicz (FRA) – Camille Prouteau (FRA) – Como Paris-Piel (FRA) – Gwenael Loison (FRA) – 36 laps

SO 24 KMD an excellent GP2 winner
The battle for the GP2 final standings stretched throughout the 24 hours with many twists and turns.

96-Rouen Espace Karting 2 took the lead from the first hour against 10-Red Racing SWS and 44-Malevaut Sport. The amazing 9-RMC Germany then joined the leading group along with 76-Circuit Europe 76. Nearly ten GP2 teams fought within the same lap. Malevaut Sport, Circuit of Europe 76, and Red Racing SWS took turns in the lead during the night. Circuit Europe 76 even challenged the 4th position of the GP1 MSA Racing. Meanwhile, 72-SO 24 KMD returned to the top of the standings and settled in 1st place three hours from the finish, to consolidate its lead over the laps. Malevaut Sport was delayed at the end by a mechanical problem. Circuit Europe recovered 2nd position while 36-Cormeilles MD was in 3rd position.

The Sarthe Objectif 24 team, also involved in LMP2 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, won the 24 Hours Karting 2019 in GP2 with the No. 72 SO 24 KMD (Sodi / Rotax) kart driven by Leo Payen, Marc Cammarata, ACO Volant Mathys Poulet, Mickaël Dauphin and Emilien Carde, 5th in the general classification, three laps in front of the No. 76 – Circuit of Europe 76 (Sodi / Rotax) by Eric Le Moine, Charles Collignon, Fabien Mihoub and Franck Chateauneuf, 1st in the Master classification. The Cormeilles MD (Sodi / Rotax) of Julien Lesidanner, Morgan Riche, Frederic Usureau, Bastien Borget and Franck Lavergne finally finished 3rd in front of the No. 44 – Malevaut Sport (Tony Kart / Rotax) of Anthony Billout, Axel Dapp, Alexandre Nicogossian and Charles Seguin and the No. 10 Red Racing SWS (Sodi / Rotax) of Marco Zipoli, Michele Santolini, Edgard Kanah and Guillaume Treillard de Quinemont.

The GP-Junior Team of No. 54 GK Kart 53 (Sodi / Rotax) with Lucca Brizzi (FRA), Maxime Marion (FRA), Maximilien Menu (FRA) and Maxence Godinho (FRA) finished 23rd overall. Finally the No. 12 team Scuderia Bella Vita was rewarded for its fair play.