The second electric meeting of the SWS e-Sprint International Final took place in Switzerland at the Payerne Karting Club in excellent sporting spirits, in a celebratory and relaxed atmosphere. The participants shared the pleasure of a common passion in an exceptional setting throughout the two days of pure competition. Portuguese driver Filipe Vieira came out on top after some intense racing, which brought memorable satisfaction to many drivers.
In addition to the quality of the site, the organisation and the Sodi RSX 2 electric karts, the changes made to the basic concept by the SWS team contributed to the overall success of the event. The new race format, with points awarded for each phase and victory awarded to the competitor with the best overall score, ensured that each competitor remained motivated right to the end of the confrontation. The new physical ballast system was much appreciated for its effectiveness and ease of use.
84 drivers aged 15 and over, selected on the basis of their results in the 2023 SWS season and from over 15 nations, gathered in Switzerland for the 2024 SWS e-Sprint International Final. The increase in participation figures reflects a strong global trend in favour of electric propulsion, a trend that Sodi has been supporting for a long time. Female participation is also on the increase in this field, where drivers seem determined to make the most of their room for improvement. There was also a higher proportion of competitors alternating between petrol and electric karts in the SWS.
Two very different days
On the first day, the 1050m long Payerne outdoor circuit was used as planned, while enjoying the beauty of the mountain scenery. A short downpour necessitated a brief interruption to ensure everyone's safety, but the rest of the day benefited from fine weather. Baptiste Vanderbeke (BEL - Experience Factory Eupen by Prokarting) performed particularly well on this twisty track, which was not short of pace. After taking pole position, he went on to score a series of victories that put him at the top of the day's standings. Loïc Martin (CHE- Karting Payerne), like a number of other Payerne drivers, also put in a fine display on a track he knows well.
The second day took place on the 950m indoor circuit. Even more technical than the outdoor circuit, this one was less forgiving of minor errors due to the proximity of the track protection. 38th on Day 1, Emrik Törnqvist (SWE - Gokartcentralen Kungälv) took pole position, before Filipe Vieira (PRT - Karting Payerne) took over in the heats and Final. 2nd on day 1, he took 1st place on day 2 and won the overall classification.
Laura Kroes (FRA - Khub Arras Karting) was the first of the female drivers in 43rd place. Like the other female drivers, Maeline Brossard (FRA - Fast and Green) was delighted with her first experience of an international Final. Aware of the lack of preparation in Payerne prior to the event, she says she is already highly motivated to try to return to the Final next year and prove her worth by arriving better prepared.
An ideal closing ceremony
After two days of competition, Saturday evening was the perfect way to round off an extremely convivial event. The winner of the SWS 2023 electric season, Yann Flambard (FRA - Ardennes Karting), was rewarded, as was the Slovakian track Motokáry MAX 60 in 1st place. As 1st female, Laura Kroes won a helmet cover from Mak Design. Filipe Vieira, Baptiste Vanderbeke and Horion Van Waes (BEL - Experience Factory Eupen by Prokarting) were honoured on the final podium of the event.
The SWS organising team would like to thank the partners who contributed to the success of the event: Cambox, Mak Design, ITAKAshop and DEMT. Once the lessons learnt from the 2024 SWS e-Sprint International Final have been analysed in-depth, Sodi will begin to think about the 2025 edition, based on an undoubtedly similar model in which everyone found satisfaction.