After 33 Qualifying Heats run from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening, uncertainty still reigns at the Franciacorta International Circuit. Only the weather conditions seem stable under the Lombardy sun, while the sporting hierarchy has regularly changed during the exciting races. In terms of the top spot, Italy's Angelo Lombardo has taken over from his compatriot Davide Fore at the top of the FIA Karting International Super Cup - KZ2 Masters intermediate standings. On the other hand, Germany's David Trefilov managed to retain his lead in the Mondokart.com FIA Karting World Championship - KZ, as did Maksim Orlov in the FIA Karting World Cup - KZ2.
KZ: Clash of the titans!
Beaten in the first Qualifying Heats by Lorenzo Travisanutto (ITA), David Trefilov (GER) quickly reacted by winning twice to remain leader ahead of the two Super Heats on Sunday morning. With one victory and two third places, Senna Van Walstijn (NED) will have the opportunity to start from pole position in Super Heat B. He is one of the drivers who has moved back to the front of the field with Travisanutto, who has moved up seven places from his 10th place in Qualifying. Riccardo Longhi (ITA) also won once, but fell to fifth in another race and finds himself fourth in the intermediate standings ahead of Emilien Denner (FRA), who has been as fast as he has been consistent at Franciacorta.
Two drivers were demoted in the overall standings after the three Qualifying Heats for having been involved in a collision on Saturday: Giuseppe Palomba (ITA), who made up for it by winning at the end of the day, and Alessio Lorandi (ITA), who was able to set the fastest lap three times. Pedro Hiltbrand (ESP), Mattéo Spirgel (FRA), Danilo Albanese (ITA) and Viktor Gustafsson (SWE) remain in contention, with a competitiveness that is every bit as good as their rivals ahead of them.
Top 12 in the Qualifying Heats – KZ
1- Trefilov, David (GER) IPK / TM Kart / LeCont
2- Van Walstijn, Senna (NED) Sodi / TM Kart / LeCont
3- Travisanutto, Lorenzo (ITA) Parolin / TM Kart / LeCont
4- Longhi, Riccardo (ITA) Birelart / TM Kart / LeCont
5- Denner, Emilien (FRA) IPK / TM Kart / LeCont
6- Hiltbrand, Pedro (ESP) Birelart / TM Kart / LeCont
7- Spirgel, Matteo (FRA) Sodi / TM Kart / LeCont
8- Albanese, Danilo (ITA) KR / IAME / LeCont
9- Gustafsson, Viktor (SWE) CRG / TM Kart / LeCont
10- Lorandi, Alessio (ITA) Sodi / TM Kart / LeCont
11- Pex, Stan (NED) KR / TM Kart / LeCont
12- Palomba, Giuseppe (ITA) Maranello / TM Kart / LeCont
KZ2: Orlov, Schleimer and Jüngling rack up the wins
Six Qualifying Heats were won by Maksim Orlov, five by Maximilian Schleimer (GER) and four by Timo Jüngling (GBR). These three drivers have racked up a total of 15 wins out of 21 races. They will go into the Final day with a huge confidence boost. However, the gaps have remained very small since the first heat and, at this stage, it would be presumptuous to think that the title will be decided between these three drivers. Noah Wolfe (GBR) and Marek Skrivan (CZE) have won twice, with the other two wins going to Simon Rechenmacher (GER) and Matheus Morgatto (BRA) before he withdrew from the competition.
The Qualifying Heats also serve to fine-tune the final settings and position oneself before the Final day, while maintaining consistency. Luis Laurin Speck (GER) is a perfect example of this, as he was 19th in Qualifying and then sixth in the overall standings. Several other drivers are in the same situation, which promises an exciting end to the competition.
Top 12 in the Qualifying Heats - KZ2
1- Orlov, Maksim Sodi / TM Racing / LeCont - 44.860
2- Schleimer, Maximilian (GER) Sodi / TM Kart / LeCont
3- Jüngling, Timo (GBR) Sodi / TM Racing / LeCont
4- Skrivan, Marek (CZE) IPK / TM Kart / LeCont
5- Wolfe, Noah (GBR) Birelart / TM Kart / LeCont
6- Speck, Luis Laurin (GER) Birelart / TM Kart / LeCont
7- Rechenmacher, Simon (GER) KR / IAME / LeCont
8- Civico Espona, Genis (ESP) Birelart / TM Kart / LeCont
9- Urwin, Jay (NZL) Birelart / TM Kart / LeCont
10- Lehouck, Arthur (FRA) KR / IAME / LeCont
11- Thien, Jayden (NED) Sodi / TM Kart / LeCont
12- Andreasson, Norton (SWE) Sodi / TM Kart / LeCont
KZ2 Masters: Angelo Lombardo steps up a gear
The clash between Groups A and C was one of the most closely watched, with the expected battle between pole sitter Davide Fore (ITA) and Angelo Lombardo (ITA), both drivers having won two heats previously. Lombardo got the better of his opponent right from the start. The two Italians will both start in pole position in their respective Super Heats, and we will have to wait until Sunday afternoon's Final to see them face to face. With a victory and a second place, as well as two fastest laps, Andrea Spagni (ITA) also made a strong impression. However, a retirement in his first heat cost him dearly, as he dropped from 4th to 14th place in the overall standings.
The 2024 competition winner, Anthony Abbasse (FRA), came back from 11th to fourth place behind the solid Riccardo Nalon (ITA). Another interesting progression was that of reigning FIA Karting European Champion Antonio Piccioni (ITA), 15th in Qualifying and seventh in the intermediate classification behind two podium contenders: Kristijan Habulin (CRO) and Manuel Cozzaglio (ITA).
Top 12 in the Qualifying Heats - KZ2 Masters
1- Lombardo, Angelo (ITA - Maranello / TM Kart / LeCont
2- Fore, Davide (ITA) IPK / TM Kart / LeCont
3- Nalon, Riccardo (ITA) Parolin / TM Kart / LeCont
4- Abbasse, Anthony (FRA) Sodi / TM Racing / LeCont
5- Habulin, Kristijan (CRO) TB Kart / TM Kart / LeCont
6- Cozzaglio, Manuel (ITA) Birelart / TM Kart / LeCont
7- Piccioni, Antonio (ITA) TK / TM Kart / LeCont
8- Medeghini, Luciano (ITA) Magik / TM Kart / LeCont
9- Guéant, Julien (FRA) CRG / TM Kart / LeCont
10- Cavina, Alessandro (ITA) Intrepid / TM Kart / LeCont
11- Simonetti, Emanuele (ITA) Parolin / TM Kart / LeCont
12- La Martina, Alessio (ITA) KR / IAME / LeCont
Continuation of the provisional programme for the Franciacorta event
Sunday 12 October
08:30 - 09:33 Warm-up
09:45 - 12:10 Super Heats
13:10 - 13:30 Presentation of drivers
13:30 - 16:30 Finals and podiums