An excellent spectacle in Lonato for the European Championship
The closing round of the European Championship, race that awarded the KZ title to Jorrit Pex (CRG) and KZ2’s to Adrien Renaudin (Sodi), enjoyed a great organization at the South Garda Karting. The Italian Federico Albanese claimed the victory in Academy Trophy.
Lonato del Garda (Brescia, Italy). The European KZ and KZ2 Championship ended with a great success both in terms of spectacle and organization at South Garda Karting in Lonato, during the event that welcomed the comeback of a CIK-FIA International competition to the Italian circuit, 21 years from the last.
The strongest drivers of International karting made it to the track for the closing round of the European KZ and KZ2 Championships that awarded the continental titles in both categories. The youngsters of Academy Trophy selected by the National Federations to represent 37 different countries were also on track to run the second of three rounds.
This has been a particularly important race for the circuit of Lonato, as it marked the comeback of the South Garda Karting to the circus of CIK-FIA International events. The target set ahead has been perfectly reached with this European Championship that enjoyed a stunning organization.
The two CIK-FIA titles awarded in Lonato went to the Dutch driver of CRG Holland Jorrit Pex on CRG-Tm (KZ) and to the French Adrien Renaudin of CBP Sport on Sodi-Tm (KZ2).
Jorrit Pex won the KZ title after the final winner, 2017 European and World Champion Paolo De Conto of CRG Racing Team, was handed a 10s time penalty following a contact with Francesco Celenta on Praga-Tm, while the two were fighting for the top. Celenta had to retire shortly afterwards due to an engine failure, while De Conto, who got the lead, crossed the finish line on top leading 2012 European Champion Fabian Federer on CRG run by team SRP, the Dutch Marijn Kremers on BirelArt-Tm and Benjamin Hanley on Croc-Tm. These three secured the trophies up for grabs, as the 10s handed to Paolo De Conto pushed him down to P11. Jorrit Pex clinched the European title thanks to the fifth place in the final. The previous leader, Jeremy Iglesias from France on Formula K-Tm, classified only 14th and ended the championship in second place, leading Federer and Marco Ardigò (Tony Kart-Vortex). De Conto ended fifth overall.
The KZ2 victory went to the French Emilien Denner, who dominated the weekend of Lonato on Kalì-Kart-Tm. He won the final leading Giuseppe Palomba (Intrepid-Tm) and Riccardo Longhi (BirelArt-Tm), the latter completed a good comeback race from the starting P9. The Championship went to the French Adrien Renaudin (Sodi-Tm) though, thanks to the victory he claimed in the first round held in Salbris (France) and the ninth place taken in Lonato. The second place in the Championship went to the Italian Giacomo Pollini (Formula K-Tm), who was fifth in Lonato’s Final, while Denner ended third in the final classification.
In the Academy Trophy, Exprit-Vortex single make, the Italian Federico Albanese claimed the victory leading the Brazilian Thiago Brito De Figueiredo and Morocco’s Adil Zanfari. The classification lead has been taken by the Spaniard Jose Maria Navalon Boya, who is now followed by previous leader from France Sami Meguetounif and Albanese in the order. The Trophy will reach its conclusion at Genk (Belgium) next September 9th in occasion of the KZ-KZ2 World Championship.