We had the Winter Cup two weeks ago which marked the start of the European season in freezing conditions (hence Winter Cup). Birel dominated the Super KF final with Libor Toman first and Sauro Cesetti second (De Brabander was 3rd, Ardigo 4th and Kozlinski 5th).
Intrepid won the other 2 finals (Michael Heche in KF2 and Egor Orudzhev in KF3). Gerard Barrabeig (Birel) was 2nd in KF2 and Max Verstappen (CRG) second in KF3.
But here we are with the Opening of the WSK Euro Series at La Conca this weekend. And for his second Super KF race Nyck De Vries has already left his mark in the time trials...
TANART SATHIENTIRAKUL MAKES IT TO THE KF2 PRE FINAL/FINAL!!!
ARDIGO WINS THE SUPER KF FINAL WITH DE VRIES ON HIS TAIL, LAMMERS BEATS THONON BY A HAIR'S BREADTH (+0.150) IN KZ1
D'AGOSTO WINS ALL IN KF2, VERSTAPPEN WINS ALL IN KF3
The Winter Cup was a warm up for him. Second meeting in Super KF and Nyck De Vries signs the best lap in the qualifying session. Nyck is as impressive in 2010 as he was in 2009... in KF3. Last month McLaren have signed the Dutch karting star to their young driver development programme... not surprising. By the way Nyck turned 15 one month ago.
In the Super Pole session Gary Catt managed to clinch... the pole ahead of... Nyck De Vries!
Tony Kart seems to be ready. Super Pole,3rd,4th best times in Super KF and pole in KZ1, KF2 and KF3. Not a bad start!
QUALIFYING HEATS
SUPER KF
A retirement in the formation lap of the 3rd heat ruined the day for Nyck De Vries who had otherwise won the first heat and finished 2nd in the second one. He will start the pre final in 12th position, which should not necessarily prevent him to reach the podium, judging from past experience. Convers and Catt will start on the front row. Ardigo and Camponeschi had to retire in the last heat (10th and 14th on the PF grid). Difficult qualifying day for Fore and De Brabander (16th and 18th on the PF Grid). A disastrous one for Libor Toman (last).
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | |
| H1 | De Vries | Catt | Convers | Ardigo | Camponeschi |
| H2 | Convers | De Vries | Ardigo | Catt | Maisano |
| H3 | Convers | Tiene | Cooper | Hanley | Puhakka |
| PF Grid | Convers Kosmic | Catt Tony | Maisano Intrepid | Cooper Kosmic | Tiene CRG |
KZ1
Jonathan Thonon is still the master of the KZ class during the heats. Excellent performance of Anthony Abbasse for Sodi.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | |
| A-B | Thonon | De Conto | Dreezen | Renaudie | Lombardo |
| A-C | Abbasse | Georgiev | Iglesias | Dreezen | Hawksworth |
| B-C | Thonon | Lammers | De Conto | Renaudie | Georgiev |
| PF Grid | Thonon CRG | Abbasse Sodi | De Conto Energy | Dreezen Tony | Georgiev CRG |
KF2
Ignazio D'Agosto (Tony Kart) won his four heats and will start on pole for the pre final. 2nd will be Karol Basz (RK) won won one heat and finished 2nd in the 3 others. Barrabeig (Birel) will be 3rd on the pre final grid after having won 2 heats. Varley and Silva (both on Tony Kart with 1 heat win each) will start 4th and 5th.
But the great news for Thailand is that Tanart Sathienthirakul (13th, 15th, 6th and 12th in his heats) made it to the final stages, starting in 20th position in the pre final. Congratulations. We know how difficult it is to reach the top 34 when you have to fight 82 other very determined entrants!
Kevin Susilo almost made it (40th overall). For next time then!
KF3
3 victories in the heats give pole position to Spinelli (Intrepid). 3 heats wins give front row access to Verstappen (CRG). Rhen it will be Hoevenaars (Intrepid), Anthoine (Tony) and Gasly (Sodi).
PREFINALS / FINALS
SUPER KF
Domination Kosmic in the pre final with Armand Convers 1st and Ben Cooper second. Marco Ardigo is 3rd and Nyck De Vries, as we expected earlier, 4th from 12th on the pre final grid (!). Disaster for Fore, Vigano and Camponeschi who retired in the first lap.
Ardigo prevails in the final with a 0.555 lead over... Nyck De Vries.
Note that Gary Catt started the final in 26th position and Brandon Maisano in 27th position. Impressive come backs for the 2 drivers. De Brabander started in 16th position.
KZ1 / KZ2
Jonathan Thonon had won the KZ1 pre final ahead of Bas Lammers and Manuel Renaudie but in the final it was Lammers (Intrepid)ahead of Thonon (CRG). By not much (+0.150!)
Paolo De Conto (Energy) won both the pre final and final in KZ2. Energy doubled in the final with the second position of Jeleniowski.
KF2
Pre Final and Final for D'Agosto and Tony Kart. Gerard Barrabeig managed to insert his Birel in 2nd position in the pre final ahead of 2 other Tony Karts (Silva and Varley).
Silva confirmed by finishing 2nd in the final ahead of Moller Madsen.
Khun Tanart finished 23rd in the final. We wish him many other finals this season.
KF3
Pre final and final were won by Max Verstappen. Ahead of Spinelli and Hoevenaars in the pre final, ahead of Hoevenaars and Anthoine in the final.
De Vries, Verstappen and Hoevenaars are from the Netherlands. A strong new generation of young drivers.
