The weather remained sunny in the Valencia region, with temperatures rising for the day's Qualifying Heats. Drivers and machines were put through their paces in Saturday's 13 races, which produced a large number of passes and twists and turns. In the Mondokart.com FIA Karting European Championship, Spaniard Pedro Hiltbrand in KZ and Maksim Orlov in KZ2 retained the leads they had gained in Qualifying. They will need to consolidate their positions in the Super Heats on Sunday morning, followed by the Finals, if they are to continue their winning run. In the Academy Trophy - Junior, Ecuador's Julian Rivera Salas took over from Mexico's Luis Fer Nunez at the top of the intermediate standings.
KZ: Pedro Hiltbrand maintains his lead
Three heats and three best starts for Jean Nomblot! The Frenchman surprised poleman Pedro Hiltbrand (ESP) each time. However, the race was never decided at that point. In Heat 1, Hiltbrand only emerged from the opening lap in fourth position, but he found the resources to reclaim first place, while setting the fastest lap of the race. Nomblot finished hot on the Spaniard's heels ahead of David Trefilov (DEU), whose rise to prominence continued in Heat 2 with a win and the fastest lap. Hiltbrand was back in second place ahead of three French drivers: Mattéo Spirgel, Emilien Denner and Jean Nomblot, who had a little more difficulty in this second race. Hiltbrand consolidated his lead by winning Heat 3 ahead of Jean Nomblot, the fastest driver on track, and Mattéo Spirgel. This time, it was Trefilov who proved less competitive, while Senna Van Walstijn (NED) demonstrated his ambitions in fourth position.
Results after the qualifying heats
1- Hiltbrand, Pedro (ESP - Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
2- Nomblot, Jean (FRA - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop)
3- Trefilov, David (GER - IPK / TM Kart / Dunlop)
4- Spirgel, Matteo (FRA - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop)
5- Palomba, Giuseppe (ITA - Maranello / TM Kart / Dunlop)
6- Bertuca, Cristian (ITA - Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
7- Gustafsson, Viktor (SWE - CRG / TM Kart / Dunlop)
8- Vasile, Daniel (ROU - Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
9- Van Walstijn Senna (NED - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop)
10- Denner, Emilien (FRA - IPK / TM Kart / Dunlop)
KZ2: Orlov wins three out of three
Maksim Orlov made a dominant start from pole position every time he took to the track, and was always able to extend his lead over his rivals to win all three Qualifying Heats by a fairly clear margin. It's an ideal strategy for taking it easy on his kart and tyres! The man to beat is clearly identified. Three other drivers also showed their ability to win a heat, Kasper Schormans (NED), Elie Goldstein (BEL) and Juho Valtanen (FIN). At every level of the field, the positions never stopped changing. It was important to be consistent and both Paavo Tonteri (FIN) and Tigran Bunatyan were able to do just that. As a result, they are well placed ahead of the Super Heats. The best-placed drivers weren't always the fastest over a lap. Corentin Rousseau (FRA), Noah Wolfe (GBR), Anatoly Khavalkin, Kimi Tani (FIN) and Markus Kajak (EST) impressed with their competitiveness on Saturday. With two second places to his name, Timo Jüngling (GBR) remains a driver to watch, as does Jayden Thien (NED).
Results After The Qualifying Heats
1- Orlov, Maksim (Sodi / TM Racing / Dunlop)
2- Schormans, Kasper (NED - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop)
3- Valtanen, Juho (FIN - Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
4- Bunatyan, Tigran (IPK / TM Kart / Dunlop)
5- Tonteri, Paavo (FIN - CRG / TM Kart / Dunlop)
6- Goldstein, Elie (BEL - TB Kart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
7- Thien, Jayden (NED - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop)
8- Schleimer, Maximilian (GER - Sodi / TM Kart / Dunlop)
9- Rousseau, Corentin (FRA - Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
10 Civico Espona, Genis (ESP - Birelart / TM Kart / Dunlop)
Academy Trophy - Junior: Ecuador's Rivera Salas takes a clean sweep
Four of the six heats, i.e. two per driver, have already taken place and we'll have to wait until Sunday morning to find out the definitive grid for the Final, when the last two races will have decided the verdict. As a result, the positions are still only provisional, but an initial assessment highlighted the excellence of Julian Rivera Salas (ECU), who won his two Qualifying Heats. Tudor Ioan Jercan (ROU) and Hernan Rodriguez Fuente (ESP) won the other two. However, Rodriguez Fuente retired in one heat, which could cost him dearly when all the points are added up. Erik Poulsen (SWE) went from strength to strength, while poleman Luis Fer Nunez came up against some tough opposition, but managed to hold on to his place in the leading pack. In all, no fewer than 10 different drivers managed to finish in the top three during the four heats, without necessarily being the one to set the fastest lap in the race. This clearly shows that there are many contenders for victory in the Junior Academy Trophy.
Results of the qualifying heats
Groups A/D : 1- Rodriguez Fuente, Hernan (ESP), 2- Stasionis, Nojus (LTU), 3- Zachos, Athanasios (GRE)
Groups B/C : 1- Rivera Salas, Julian (ECU), 2- Poulsen, Erik (SWE), 3- Cichoracki, Tomasz (POL)
Groups A/B : 1- Rivera Salas, Julian (ECU), 2- Nunez, Luis Fer (MEX), 3- Panetta, Bautista (ARG)
Groups C/D: 1- Jercan, Tudor Ioan (ROU), 2- Bernd, Emilio (GER), 3- Poulsen, Erik (SWE)
Equipment: Exprit / Vortex / LeCont
Sunday programme for the Valencia event
Sunday 18th May
08:30 - 09:40: Warm-up
09:50 - 10:25: End of Qualifying Heats, Academy Trophy Junior
10:30 - 11:55: Super Heats, KZ & KZ2
13:30 - 16:30: Finals and podiums
The Valencia event can be followed on www.fiakarting.com