The Sodi chassis proves its worth

The competitiveness of the machines produced by Sodi was underscored in the European KF1 and KF2 championship finals, when a number of drivers at the wheel of a Sodi chassis reached the top level. Alban Varutti just missed out on a KF1 podium place after some bad luck, and the four Sodi drivers racing in KF2 all booked a place in the final race, with special kudos to Clément Bluy, who reached the top-10.

Alban Varutti was already on top form in Varennes last June and he was up there again amongst the leaders when he raced on the famous international circuit in Salbris during the August 4-5 weekend. “That makes two races running that Alban could have been on the podium in the top kart category”, commented Franck Le Beller, Sodi’s technical manager. “A better result would have been well-deserved given how competitive both he and his kart were, but that’s racing for you. He came tenth in the first final race and continued to improve in the second. For much of the race, his was the best-placed Parilla-powered kart, ahead of the likes of Davide Fore, Sauro Cesetti and Michaël Christensen. Alas, on the last lap he found himself neck and neck with Arnaud Kozlinski going into a bend, and as they fought their karts touched, sending Alban off the track. It’s gutting!” The driver himself remained upbeat. “The 1500-metre track in Salbris is technically difficult, with fast corners that provide a severe test for the chassis, which stood up to the test well. With just seven weeks to go until the World Championships I’m pretty pleased with the level of performance we have achieved. It’s encouraging”.
What with Anthony Abbasse’s sixth place during the first round of the European championships in Italy, and the same driver’s French KF1 title, Sodi’s name was already firmly on the radar, despite the fact that Anthony was unable to race in Salbris.

Bluy was the best-placed Frenchman in KF2
It was rough and tough getting to the final stages of the European KF2 championships in Salbris, so stiff was the competition. Out of nine French entrants in Salbris, only six made the cut for the final decider that took place on the Sunday afternoon, and of those six, four were racing Sodis:- Clément Bluy and Loïc Reguillon (Braun Racing), Kevin Bole Besançon (Eurokarting) and Norman Nato. “We are always thrilled to see people doing well with one of our chasses, it doesn’t matter who they are racing for”, said the French make’s team manager. “In Salbris, Norman Nato clocked the fastest French lap during timed practice, and then we had the enormous pleasure of seeing Clément Bluy come from nowhere to take eighth place in the final. I don’t think many people thought he was capable of doing that”. Despite picking up a few knocks in the main group, Nato drove a faultless race to finish in a promising 13th place . You have to remember that the young man from the south of France was punching above his weight in KF2, his tender years meant that initially he was expected to stay another season in the Junior/KF3 category. Loïc Reguillon and Kevin Bole Besançon might not have shone in the final but their achievements during qualifying were enough to take them to the upcoming KF2 World Cup in Mariembourg (Belgium), where they will join Bluy and, of course, Nato.