Robert Foster-Jones scored a surprise but thoroughly-deserved last gasp Super KF victory in the final round of the European Kart Championship yesterday (2 August), at Essay in northern France. After three blown engines had earlier compounded his woes and did much to sum up his season’s fortunes, the Ricky Flynn Motorsport driver lined up on the grid for the final race of the European Championship, almost in last place. But despite his mathematical chances of winning the overall title being over, Rob dug deep to produce, possibly, the performance of his career. “I had nothing left to race for, other than my pride,” he said modestly afterwards. Starting from nineteenth position he passed seven karts in the first corner. He then deposed two further drivers to complete the opening in lap in ninth place. Foster-Jones climbed steadily up the order to eventually find himself in second place and catching the leader, ‘Flying Finn’ Aaro Vainio. On the last lap, the pair was nose to tail. Vainio, going for the race win and the overall championship victory tried to defend from the advancing Englishman. Arguably the best driver in the world using the front brakes, Robert waited until the penultimate corner to out-brake his rival. Knowing that a crash could cost him the title, Vainio defended his line but made sure that should an attack come, he wouldn’t risk a collision. Seeing his chance, Robert needed no further asking and scythed down the inside to snatch the lead. Vainio tried to re-pass but Foster-Jones held his line and nerve to score a deserved and sensational victory.

“Fantastic!” was how he described the race and his return to the international podium. “I got what I deserved. I’ve had a lot of bad luck all year with engine failures and other issues that have been beyond my control. Every time something like that happens you just have to pick yourself up, move on and try harder. I and the team have done that all season and we’ve earned this victory. To win from pretty much last place is just fantastic.” His team boss, Ricky Flynn was quick to praise his talented young star, saying “He drove exceptionally well. He delivered the drive of his life. From the start all the way to the chequered flag, he didn’t put a foot wrong. Everyone knows he’s good and this [result] proves it.” Robert’s triumph saw him finish in fifth place overall in the European Championship standings and he and his RFM team believe it will be the spur to go on and compete for the British Super 1 and World Championship titles.

“We’ve turned a corner. Robert has trained harder and is now physically stronger and mentally tougher than at any time in his career before. We’ve also changed things to help him and we’re back to winning ways. We’re back on victory road,” Flynn said with notable conviction. As his prize for winning the Bridgestone Cup in Italy last October, Rob is flying out to the Hockenheim circuit in Germany to test a Formula BMW racing car later this week.

With two races scheduled in the hot Spanish sun at Zuera, the second round of the European Super KF Championship looked exciting. Manuel Renaudie and Aaro Vainio both won a race (four winners in as many races) and the young Finn, aged 15, has caused a sensation by taking control of the championship. In the Junior category, KF3, the Dutchman Nyck De Vries dominated the final ahead of Carlos Sainz Jr, son of the double World Rally Champion.

Even though Manuel Renaudie (Gillard-Parilla) took command after the heats and qualifying, it was felt that the competition was not complete at the second round of the European Super KF Championship which took place this weekend at Zuera, Spain. Therefore, from the first few metres of Race 1, the French driver found himself under direct threat from Yannick De Brabander (Intrepid-TM), who ended up finding an opening. But the Belgian was unable to escape and at halfway, he ceded to an attack by Renaudie, and this time he made it stick to take the victory. “The weekend had started well and it’s great to be able to confirm a victory,” said Manu at the foot of the podium. “Especially, since after all these years, this is my first success at European level. I am very happy!”

Behind the French driver, Yannick de Brabander was gradually losing ground. First it was the young Finn Aaro Vainio (Maranello-Maxter) that passed him first. But then as he was trying to retain a place on the podium, the Belgian was overtaken on the line by Oliver Rowland (LH-Maxter). By 18 thousandths of a second, the McLaren protegee finished on the podium. In fifth, but quite a distance from the lead, the British driver Jason Parrott limited the damage to his championship hopes and finished ahead of the Belgian-American Mardin Benjamin (Kosmic-Vortex), the Finn Daniel Lindholm (Zanardi-Maxter), the Czech Zdenek Groman (Maranello-Parilla), the Briton Richard Bradley (Maddox-Maxter) and the Finn Miika Kunranta (Birel-Parilla).

The second race began with a man to man battle between Manuel Renaudie, Jason Parrott, Oliver Rowland, Yannick De Brabander and Aaro Vainio. On several occasions , these five drivers exchanged their positions in a beautiful and sporting fight. The first to drop out was Manuel Renaudie. “A stub axle bearing was seized,” he explained after the finish. “At this point, I just thought to finish to score”. The French driver finally finished in 8th place.

Behind that, Oliver Rowland and Aaro Vainio had built a small gap on Yannick De Brabander when the Belgian was let down by his engine. But it wasn’t until the last lap that Vainio beat his rival. A year after taking the European Junior (KF3) crown, the young 15 year old Finn won his first race in the top class of international karting. Aaro is also now the co-leader of the championship. “Last year, everything hung on a single race,” he said during the press conference. “This time, there are three meetings and you must be fast and consistent. It is obvious that I will do everything to win the title in three weeks at Essay.”

Behind the ‘rookies’ of the category, Vainio and Rowland (who won the KF2 World Cup last year), there were two winners at the first meeting at Muro Leccese. Going on to the podium, Jason Parrott took enough points to leave Spain with the same points as Vainio. As for Simo Puhakka (PCR-TM), his fourth place was almost unexpected because he suffered over the weekend. As a result, the Finn droped to 4th in the championship behind Vainio and Parrott and Manuel Renaudie.

In addition to the European Super-KF Championship, the Zuera track hosted the final of the European KF3 Championship for the Juniors’ category of 13 to 15 year-olds. And although Spanish supporters only had eyes for Carlos Sainz Jr (Tony Kart-Vortex), they however had to bow to the evidence. The young matador met his match during the weekend. Impressive throughout the event, Nyck De Vries (Zanardi-Parilla) dominated in the final and landed a well-deserved European crown. Presented as one of the favourites, the young Dutchman did not collapse under the pressure. “It is true that I did not sleep very well last night”, he stated after the finish. “But I think that all the favourites had a certain pressure on their shoulders. Everything went perfectly this weekend and this win makes me so happy! It is a dream come true…”

So while he put up a creditable performance, Carlos Sainz Jr nonetheless had to be content with the silver medal, and he exhibited mixed feelings. “Second is a good result”, he explained. “But I was obviously hoping to win, especially here in Spain. I must however admit that Nyck was somewhat faster in the final.” The podium was completed by the Russian who competes with an Italian licence, Danil Kvyat (Tony Kart-Vortex), namely the third (young) man whom the followers had tipped as one of the potential winners. In view of the podium, one might as well say that the three great favourites showed that they were equal to the situation! Among those who could have surprised the onlookers, we noted the disillusion of the Champion of Spain, Gerard Barrabeig (Intrepid-TM). Having been fastest in the timed practice, he won three out of his four qualifying heats and seemed to be the fastest competitor. Unfortunately, a collision in the first lap of the pre-final put paid to all his hopes. Starting 33rd in the final, he brilliantly recovered to the 9th position but had grounds for being disappointed.

The Italian Rafaelle Marciello (Intrepid-TM), the only competitor who could keep up the pace of the leading threesome in the final, ended up at the foot of the podium ahead of the Spaniard Colome (Tony Kart-Vortex), Britain’s Jake Dennis (who had only managed to get the 63rd lap time in practice at the wheel of his Top Kart-Parilla) and Guilherme Silva (Tony Kart-Vortex), Spain’s Adrian Del Rio (PCR-TM) and Gerard Barrabeig (Intrepid-TM), and the Finn Juuso-Matti Pajuranta (PCR-VKR). American Gustavo Menezes ran inside the top-10 throughout the weekend, starting fifth in the Prefinal however fell back to 13th at the end of the main event.

By CIK

The “Grand Ouest” circuit of Essay (France) will host the finals of the CIK-FIA European Championships of the Super KF/KF1 and KF2 categories on 1st and 2nd August 2009.

Three drivers will land in Normandy separated by a mere three points in the provisional classification of the European Championship of the top category of direct-drive karts, i.e. Super KF. European Junior Champion in 2008, the young (15 years old) Finn Aaro Vainio (Maranello-Maxter) has quickly made a name for himself among the elite without ever letting himself be intimidated by his experienced elders. Having won a race in Spain, he calls the tune in the Championship ahead of the Briton Jason Parrott (Birel-Parilla), with equal points, and the Frenchman Manuel Renaudie (Gillard-Parilla), who only has three points less than the cadet of the competition. It would come as a major surprise if the 2009 European Champion title did not go to one of these three drivers, even if the Finn Simo Puhakka (PCR-TM), the Brit Oliver Rowland (LH-Maxter) and Belgium’s Yannick De Brabander (Intrepid-TM) still mathematically have a chance of being crowned.

Only representative of the fair sex in the first two rounds of the Championship, held in Italy and in Spain, the Czech Tereza Gromanova (Maranello-Parilla) will be joined at Essay by another lady, Britain’s Laura Tillett (Gillard-Parilla).

As well as carrying out the organisation of the final round of the European Super KF Championship, Essay will also be the framework of the European Championship of the KF2 category, the title of which will be awarded after a straight final. KF2, which can be assimilated to the category of “Hopes”, will gather 80 drivers, who were selected on the basis of their results in the regional pre-qualifications organised at the first weekend of May in three different locations. Dominating the so-called “Central” region qualification event (Italy, Germany and Eastern European countries), the Italian Felipe Tiene is tipped as the favourite, more especially as he also gave a further demonstration of his great form a few weeks ago when he won in Japan the CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific Championship. The list of favourites is however very large and includes the Dane Kevin Munkholm, the Portuguese David Da Luz, the Swede Joel Johansson, Britain’s Ben Cooper and Chris Lock, Belgium’s Kenny Vermeylen and Sébastien Bailly, the Russian from Siberia Maxim Zimin, the Finns Joni Wiman and Juha Mäki-Jouppi, not forgetting Frenchmen, with whom – historically – the “Hopes” category has always agreed. The locals will be six, with Clément Bluy, Vincent Fraisse, Paul Loup Chatin, Guillaume Barbarin, Wilfried Martins and the region’s driver Loïc Reguillon.

The first practice session is scheduled for Thursday 30 July, and the event will get to the heart of the matter in the afternoon of Friday 31st July with qualifying practice. The day of Saturday 1st August will be dedicated to the (ten) qualifying heats. Three extra heats will be held in the morning of Sunday 2nd August, to be followed in the afternoon from 13h30 by the four final phase races.

By CIK

The European Championships in the KZ1 and KZ2 classes raced this weekend on the Raceland Prokart Circuit at Wackersdorf in Germany produced two fine Champions. In winning the Final the Dutchman Bas Lammers claimed victory in the principle class of gearbox karts (KZ1) whilst the Italian Angelo Lombardo dominated the second division (KZ2).

With the European KZ1 Championship contested over only one weekend (and therefore with only one decisive final) the suspense was maintained at an intense level this Sunday afternoon. All of the weekends work could bear fruit or be destroyed in just one race of 25 laps over 30 kms.

Leading at the end of the qualifying races, Bas Lammers (Intrepid-TM) had dropped down to 5th place by the pre-final, primarily because of a tyre problem. But the 23 year old Dutchman drove a perfect race in the final. Already 3rd at the first turn, he successfully passed the best in the shape of Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex) and his team member Jeremy Iglesias (Intrepid-TM) to collect his second European Title following that in Formula A (100cc direct drive) in 2003.

“Considering what happened in the pre-final I didn’t think I could lift the title” he acknowledged all smiles afterwards. “But I got a good start in the final and I was immediately into my rhythm by the time I took 2nd place. When I saw Jeremy make a very small error which enabled me to renew my challenge, I said to myself I must give it my all. I found an opening 5 laps from the end. But the last 3 laps have been the longest of my career!”

With the French Spaniard Jeremy Iglesias coming second, the Intrepid factory achieved a fantastic double, combined with the best time being set in qualifying practice by Norman Nato. The revelation of the competition, the 16 year old Frenchman finished the final in 8th place.

Behind the two Intrepid drivers, the podium was completed by Jonathan Thonon (CRG-Maxter). The European Champion and twice World Cup Winner refused to be downcast. “We missed just a little something to be able to achieve victory”, he suggested. “But I am very happy to be on the podium. It proves that we are always in contention and the next World Cup cannot come soon enough.”

Despite all his misfortunes the Italian Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex) whilst failing to make the podium finished 4th in front of his compatriot Davide Fore (CRG-Maxter), Dutchman Thomas Knopper (PCR-TM), the always green Alessandro Piccini (Intrepid-TM), Norman Nato (Intrepid-TM), the Dutchman Arjan Kievitsbosch (CRG-TM) and the Belgian Rick Dreezen (CRG-Maxter), who completed the top 10.

Unlike the KZ1 class, the European Championship in KZ2 (the second division of gearbox karting) was contested over two events. After the opening event at Muro Leccese in Italy, it was here in Germany that the title was determined. Driving a cautious race the Czech Patrik Hajek (Tony Kart-Vortex), double winner in Italy, lost all hope late in race one when he was struck by British driver Jack Hawksworth (Energy-TM) when he occupied 3rd place.

These two contenders for the title being eliminated, it was the third man the Italian Angelo Lombardo (Tony Kart-Vortex) who benefited. Starting from pole position after dominated the qualifying heats the 19 year old Sicilian was initially headed by Jack Hawksworth. But when he took command of the situation midway that was the signal to claim Race 1 in front of his compatriot Devid De Luchi (Intrepid-TM) and the Dutchman Jorrit Pex who had benefitted from the clash between Hawksworth and Hajek.

Before Race 2 Angelo Lombardo knew that he had every chance of taking the title in the event of another victory. Resisting the pressure perfectly the Italian drove a masterful race. Jorrit Pex and Devid De Luchi swapping places to once more join him on the podium.

“I am really very happy”, the young Sicilian said timidly. “I lost so many points in Italy, in particular following mechanical problems, and I didn’t think I would be able to win the title here. From now on I shall be thinking of the KZ1 World Cup which I will contest next September at Sarno in Italy when I shall face all the top drivers”.

With the Championship Angelo Lombardo finally finished in front of the unhappy Patrik Hajek, the Italian Ricardo Piccoli (CKR-TM), Devid De Luchi and the two Dutch Pex brothers with Jorrit the junior in front of the older Yard (both on CRG-TM).

By PaddockTalk

After yesterdays qualifying practice, the drivers in the Super KF European Championship of Karting competed in their qualifying races this Saturday at Muro Leccese, in the south of Italy. During these three Heats which determine the starting grid for the first of the two races, it was a case of being at the same time both fast and consistent; an exercise which the British driver Jason Parrott delivered perfectly, and who will thus start in pole position for the first race this Sunday. But there are plenty of other potential winners and the races will obviously be fiercely contested!

The karting competition has to be maintained over the whole weekend. After the qualifying practice, the driver must again shine during the qualifying races to secure a good position on the starting grid of the first of the two races on Sunday, the only ones which allot points to the championship.

Even though he did not win any of the qualifying races (he had two 3rd places and one 2nd), Jason Parrott (Birel-Parilla) heads the intermediate classification and he will thus take pole position for the first race. The Briton precedes the Frenchman Manuel Renaudie (Gillard-Parilla), also consistent (he finished 2nd once and was twice 5th), and the Belgian Yannick de Brabander (Intrepid-TM), who would have taken pole if he had not been penalised in the first race following too heavy a contact with an opponent. Each the winners of one race, the Finns Simo Puhakka (PCR-TM), Aaro Vainio (Maranello-Maxter) and Miika Kunranta (Birel-Parilla) all experienced a mishap in one of the other races. Consequently they are placed respectively 4th, 7th and 11th. No success today for Robert Foster-Jones (FA Kart-Vortex), who had set the fastest time yesterday.

The British driver was let down by his mechanics during the first race and has to be satisfied with 6th place in the intermediate classification, behind the Czech driver Zdenek Groman (Maranello-Parilla). Still notable by her presence in the top 10 is the Czech lady driver Tereza Gromanova (Maranello-Parilla), in eighth place, and also in the top ten are Franco-Italian Floriano Alfano (Maddox-Maxter) and the Finn Miki Weckstrom (Birel-Parilla). Tomorrow, the start of the first race will be at 14.10 and that of the second at 16.15

The other category which begins its Championship of Europe at Muro Leccese is the KZ2, the second division of gearbox karts. In this class twelve of the fifteen qualifying races in the programme took place this Saturday. It was the Italian Angelo Lombardo (Tony Kart-Vortex) who made the greatest impression since he won his four qualifying races. But Riccardo Piccoli (CKR-TM) also won three races, the pole sitter from the qualifying practice Leonardo Fuoco (CRG-TM) dominated two races and Luca Tilloca (CRG-Maxter) took a race.

With four second places the Czech driver Patrick Hajek (Tony Kart-Vortex) also showed that he would be a force to be reckoned with! On the other hand if he shone in two races, Paolo De Conto (Energy-TM) encountered misfortune in the two others. For all drivers a qualifying race (making three races in total) remains to be settled tomorrow morning. In the afternoon, the finalists in KZ2, as in Super KF, will have two finals to contest and these are the ones that allot points for the championship.

By PaddockTalk