The Offensive Continues

Maranello shows no intention of leaving the head of the timesheets! After a pole position in KF1, Davide Forè proved to be the fastest in the very much coveted timed qualifying and then showed an excellent performance in the final phase. The Maranello chassis was just as fast in KZ1, as demonstrated by Alessandro Piccini’s constant presence in the top 5 of the category.

After Fore’s victory at the Word Cup KF1 at Suzuka and Piccini’s WSK podium in KZ1, the two Italian pilots confirmed the competence and professionalism of the Maranello Team in the second round of the European Championship at Mariembourg, on the last weekend of June. On the difficult Belgian circuit, where technical teams always find it hard to find the right set-up for chassis, the Maranello RS7 model was totally up to expectations and allowed Maranello pilots to fight for leadership.

“We did a good job in free practice and I could reach the pole position, Davide Fore commented. Unfortunately there were times during the heats when I had problems with my engine, so I ended up 7th in the starting grid, in Race 1. I finished in 5th position, but I am sure that my Maranello-Maxter kart had the potential to reach the top 3, had I started from a better position”. Forced to withdraw in Race 2, the Maranello pilot did no have a chance to improve that result.

In KZ1, Alessandro Piccini’s performance did not go unnoticed, after his disappointment in official qualifying. “Timed practice was disrupted by rain”, the Italian pilot pointed out. “Unfortunately I ended up in the worst group and I had to content myself with the 22nd time!”. However Alessandro does not demoralize easily, so he took advantage of the speed of his Maranello-TM to relentlessly climb the ranking in two days. 11th at the end of timed qualifying, he overtook several pilots in Race 1 and then crossed the finishing line in 5th position after a series of very fast laps. 4th in Race 2, he finished his European Champion with an excellent 5th place.

Maranello’s Belgian weekend was also marked by the recovery staged by Austrian pilot Patrick Fontner in KF1 in the first final, as well as by the two top 10 conquered by Dutch Bart Kramer in KZ2.

Comments by Armando Filini, in charge of Maranello Team
“Alessandro Piccini has made an excellent European Championship and his very high level of performance makes us confident about next World Cup KZ1, where Davide Fore will also race. In KF1, Davide has done his best to exploit the full potential of his kart. His pole position demonstrates that the whole team has worked very well. It’s a pity he had a few technical problems, because he could have improved his 5th position conquered in the first final”.

Maranello Wins at Viking Trophy
Russian Maxim Zimin triumphed in Finland at the famous Viking Trophy, at the wheel of his Maranello-XTR. Representing the Italian brand on the Kimi circuit at Lappeenranta, the Redstep Team also reached 5th place with Ville Mäntylä and 7th place with Teemu Suninen. Fourth upon arrival, Henri Rajala fell to 9th place owing to a 10-second penalty, but adding Edvard Frolenkov and Joni Wiman, there were as many as six Maranello chassis in the top 12. Congratulations also to Miki Weckström, who ranked 5th in KF2.