2005 FORMULA A -WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP - BRAGA (PORTUGAL) –23RD/24TH/25TH OF SEPTEMBER

THE FINAL: LANCASTER IS WORLD VICE CHAMPION

The drivers of the Tony kart team held the lead for just few laps. Englishman Litchfield of the Birel –Pf International Team was soon at the head of the race with Oakes in his slipstream. Also Lancaster caught up quickly with the leaders and overtook both Mortara and Forè. Ardigò, on the other hand, was stopped by an engine failure. Litchfield, unfortunately, shared the same fate; while running close behind Oakes and ready to take his chances for the title in a final photo-finish rush, he was stopped by his failing engine. The driver of the Gillard team had therefore victory only too easily within his reach. Lancaster, in fact, forced to close the gap reported at the start, managed to get as close as 2” from the leader but not to attack him. For the Birel Motorsport driver, this is still an exceptional result. If we consider his young age and the fact that this is his first season in Formula A, the results he achieved prove his great talent. In 2006, this Birel driver will definitely be among the main protagonists, ready to climb that last and decisive step on the podium. A podium that could have also been within the reach of Christodoulou. The driver of the Team Mgm Birel, nonetheless, was slowed down by his engine, which eventually forced him to withdraw during the very last laps. Third came Forè, before Bianchi and Iglesias. After a superb start, Cesetti reported problems to the carburettor that finally prejudiced his whole weekend. Another unlucky chapter for the Marches-born driver; but he will be able to make up for it soon together with his technical staff. The potential expressed by the Birel drivers was, in fact, consistent all through the weekend. Unfortunately, a one-race competition as the World Cup is always a particular one: everything has to work perfectly in the right direction. There is no doubt that Litchfield had great chances to win, as did Christodoulou. And at the same time, Lancaster’s performance was almost perfect, as was that of his Birel kart. These results are very comforting for the team, also in view of the oncoming chassis homologations: after the certainty that the 125 class has an exceptional chassis to count on, the materials developed for the 100 class proved to have the same very high potential.

THE QUALIFIERS | THE HEATS | THE PRE-FINAL | THE FINAL