1ST CHAMPIONS CUP - 100 ICA/JUNIOR – 100 FORMULA A - ROME (EUR), NOVEMBER 1, 2004

GREAT KARTING SUCCESS ON THE STREETS OF ROME

THE 1st EDITION OF THECHAMPIONS CUP WAS A MARKED SUCCESS. CRUGNOLA WON IN THE JUNIOR CATEGORY AND ANTONUCCI IN THE FA, BUT SAURO CESETTI (2nd in FA) WAS AMONG THE TOP LEADERS OF THE EVENT. MANY VIPs WERE ALSO PRESENT.

Over 5000 spectators watched the stunts performed by international karting drivers on the streets of the Eur neighbourhood. The best Formula A and Ica Junior category drivers entered this first edition of the Champions Cup. Among them, names such as the 2003 Champion, Davide Forè (Tony Kart), Sims (Crg), Hanley (Maranello) and Lammers (Swiss Hutles ) stood out. Sauro Cesetti and Jon Lancaster in Formula A on the other hand represented Birel colours, while the 2004 European Champion, Coletti and the Russian, Kouzkin did so in the Junior category. The Rome event was strongly desired and supported by the most important manufacturers in an effort to best promote Karting. Bringing some of the most prestigious drivers of this fascinating sport to the crowds provided the venture with a strong impact. To top up the excellent outcome of the event, effective media coverage and a beautiful layout design ensured highly spectacular races. But the Champions Cup was a true all-round Karting show and not simply a sports event. An expo village was set up for all manufacturers to exhibit their product ranges and distribute gadgets and for many famous people to take part in entertaining performances on motorised Rok karts. The Italian Rete 4 television network presenter Elisa Alloro, Max Gazzè and Emanuele Pirro all entered the arena with Birel outfitted karts. The Roman singer/songwriter and the official Audi driver offered a top-notch performance on the rtrack by racing an entire session at record-breaking laps with tremendously spectacular stunts.

RACES REPORT

FORMULA A
Sauro Cesetti arrived at the startline of the Final after much-laboured preliminaries. During trial runs, a contact with Mortara sent him straight to the Infirmary with a swollen right hand, while in the Pre-Final, a problem in the first laps did not permit him to move on passed 4th place. Marco Ardigò, winner of the Pre-final and Bas Lammers sprinted from the first row of the Final. Behind them, together with Cesetti, were Antonucci, the new champion, Forè, Sims and Mortara. Instead, Jon Lancaster and Ben Hanley only started off in the last row. Both the very young Birel driver, at his debut race in Formula A, and the pole position leader of the Maranello team, lagged behind at the rear of the group after being sidelined in the Pre-final. At the race start signal, Lammers overtook Ardigò, while Cesetti was 3rd right from the 1st lap. But during the 2nd lap, after Riccardo Cinti was forced out of the track, the Race Management Committee had to stop the race. At the new start signal, Ardigò made sure he was not overtaken, while Lammers was sidelined at the second turn and returned to the race in last place. At the 1st lap, Ardigò was in front of Cesetti, who had started off extremely well, of Antonucci, Forè, Mortara, Sims and Convers. At the 2nd lap, Lancaster witnessed the end of his unfortunate Roman weekend against the guardrails. The young driver wearing CRG Waldschmidt colours was also forced to withdraw because of a problem. At the 5th lap, Cesetti attacked Ardigò at the last bend, but Antonucci making the most of this manoeuvre, took the lead. Ardigò was able to maintain his 2nd placing, while Cesetti had to let Forè go by and was left in 4th. At the 7th lap, Cesetti returned to 3rd, overtaking Forè once again, who in turn has to surrender his position to Hanley. At the 11th lap, Cesetti moved right behind Ardigò and overtook him to pursue Antonucci. 5 laps from the end the Birel driver was right behind the leader and continued to press his opponent up to the finishing line. But the Tony Kart driver was able to defend his position until the checkered flag, winning the 1st edition of this prestigious Roman Race. Cesetti finished in 2nd after exciting the audience with his overtakes and his spirit, which were awarded with the fastest lap in the race. Ardigò finished 3rd in front of the excellent Hanley, who was able to make it up from last place, and of the current world champion, Forè.

ICA/JUNIOR
Following qualifications and the pre-final, Maranello’s strongmen were Crugnola and Chilton taking up the 1st row. Behind them sprinted Zipoli, the Frenchman, Bianchi and the current Monegasque European champion, Coletti, - a low-key participant of the pre-final. At the startline, Chilton took the lead in front of Crugnola, Zipoli, Bianchi, Coletti, Di Gangi and Kouzkin. At the 6th lap, Bianchi attacked Zipoli, making things easy for Coletti, who with a perfect manoeuvre was able to overtake both opponents and place himself at 3rd. At the 7th lap, Crugnola took the lead overtaking his teammates, while Coletti tried to take advantage of the fight between the two leaders to get even closer. But 5 laps from the end, the Monegasque’s determination brought him to touch the guardrail and he had to give up his 3rd place to Bianchi. At the finishing line, Crugnola was in front of the Englishman, Chilton and Bianchi, while Coletti ended up 5th after loosing his placing to Zipoli. The very young Russian Birel driver, Kouzkin, finished his first international race at an excellent 7th.

Results: F.A Gara 2 | Results: J.ICA Gara 2