Under the glorious Portuguese sunshine, this weekend the Braga Kart track hosts the third and final round of the European KF1 championship as well as the final of the KF2 championship. As soon as the qualifying practice sessions commenced, the tension and suspense began in both classes.
The KF1 championship of Europe is the most important championship after the World Championship in the principal class of Karting. No matter what happens tomorrow, Sunday, the 2008 championship will have gone right down to the wire.
Championship leader Gary Catt (Tony Kart-Vortex) certainly did not have his best day of the year. Only 19th in timed practice, the Briton rose up to 12th place at the end of the heats. On the basis of a 6th row start, Gary’s nerve will be tested. The more so because his biggest rivals had a good day.
Currently 3rd in the championship, Frenchman Arnaud Kozlinski (CRG-Maxter) will start on the front row alongside poleman David Fore (Maranello-Maxter). Setting the best time in qualifying, then victorious in his two heats races, the Italian made a strong impression and hopes to go out in a blaze of glory to close a difficult campaign – his 13th championship.
Another contender for the title, currently in 2nd place, Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex) also has a great chance. The three times champion will start in 4th place tomorrow alongside Jean-Philippe Guignet (CRG-Maxter) who should be an invaluable ally for Arnaud Kozlinski.
To add spice to this Ardigo-Kozlinski duel, the young hopefuls of karting will also have a say. On the third row is Czech driver Libor Toman (Birel-Parilla) and the Belgian Yannick de Brabander (Intrepid-TM). 4TH and 6TH respectively in the championship, these two young men will see themselves as having an opportunity to rise further in the karting hierarchy. Another young person hoping to show his teeth, the Finn Matias Laine (Tony Kart-Vortex) will start in 8th place behind Sauro Cesetti (Birel-TM), with the clear intention of improving his provisional 5th place
KF2 : Best start for Camponeschi
Within the programme of the third and final round of the KF1 European Championship, ‘Kartodromo Internacional de Braga’ also accommodates the final of the KF2 Championship of Europe, the division two of international karting which attracts many young hopefuls.
After the regional qualifying rounds held at Göteborg (S), Alcaniz (E) and Val Vibrata (I), 71 drivers dreamt of landing the European crown on Sunday evening. Unlike the KF1 class, not all of the qualifying heats are yet completed and so it is not yet known which 34 drivers will qualify for the final stages comprising a pre final and then the Final challenge to determine who will be champion.
However several drivers have already made a strong impression. Quickest in qualifying practice Italian Flavio Camponeschi (Tony Kart-Vortex) won his 3 heats and established his dominance but Oliver Rowland (Tony Kart-Vortex), Robert Foster-Jones (FA Kart-Vortex) and Aniello Smarrazzo (FA Kart-Vortex) also won a race each.
Tomorrow three qualifying heats remain to be raced during the morning. Then we shall know who goes forward to the final stages for the two classes which will begin at 13:15. The suspense will be total!
Info CIK / © Photo KSP