2008 CIK-FIA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP –KF1 –KZ1 –KZ2 ANGERVILLE (F), MAY 4, 2008

THE FRENCHMAN MICH ON THE PODIUM IN THE KZ1

A POSITIVE RACE ALSO FOR LIBOR, KUNRANTA, CESETTI AND PARROT IN THE KF1, WHILE HAJEK CAME CLOSE TO THE PODIUM IN BOTH OF THE KZ2 FINALS

The first run of the European Karting Championships in the KF1, KZ1 and KZ2 championships were held this weekend in Angerville, France. The verdict from the track retraced what has already been seen in the first International races of the season, or to be more precise, a great balance between the top teams in all categories. On this subject, we only need to consider that the six Finals in the program had six different winners. The top category, the KF1, saw the Frenchman Arnaud Kozlinski win in Race-1 and the Englishman, Gary Catt, in Race-2. In the KZ1, the first division of karts with gearboxes, the Belgian, Jonathan Thonon outraced the Hollander, Bas Lammers. In Race-2 it was Lammers who won while Thonon reached second place. In the KZ2, the second division of karts with gearboxes, the Frenchman Tony Lavanant won Race-1 after a 10 second penalty was inflicted on the Englishman, Jack Hawksworth. On the other hand, in Race-2 it was the Frenchman Joffrey Demanse who outraced Hawksworth. Positive results were achieved in the KF1 for all Birel drivers. Toman Libor reached 5th place in the first Final and 4th in the 2nd trial winning a total of 24 points towards the championship while Cesetti, despite his start in 18th place in Race-1, reached 7th place, having run an excellent race. Unfortunately a mechanical problem then altered his chances in the 2nd Final where he had to accept 14th place. Kunranta also had a positive race, 6th in Race-1 and 11th in the 2nd Race. Michael Ryall ended in 14th place in Race-1 due to some technical problems, while in Race-2 he was involved in an accident at the start. Parrott was also unlucky, out of the race due to a contact in the 1st Final and subsequently able to regain ground from last to 12th place in Race-2. But, speaking of misfortune, the most penalized was again Francesco Laudato (KZ1): in the races he totalled 29 penalties due to a contact and a technical problem. Forced to “recover” he then finished Race-1 in 17th place while in Race-2, once again he was unable to finish in the point zone due to a set-up problem. Meanwhile, the Frenchman Mich had a positive race: 6th in Race-1 (after having had only 10 penalties in the races) and on the podium in Race-2 with an excellent 3rd place. Finally, in the KZ2, Hajek was well-noticed in Race-1 (6th place), along with the Frenchman Zefirini who won 8th place. In Race–2 Hajek made himself noticed, taking 5th place, as well as the Italian Diamantini (13°). The Continental Championship will move to Mariembourg for the 2nd round, when the KZ1 will crown its own victor (title assigned after 4 finals).