FIA Karting European Championship KZ, KZ2 and Academy Trophy rd 2, Adria: qualifying – Pole position for Antonelli (KZ), Albanese (KZ2) and Al Rifai (Academy)

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The categories with the gearbox, KZ and KZ2, are back on track in Adria for the second and final round of the FIA Karting European Championship. In the queen category of karting, 24 drivers are present at the start, while 81 standard bearers compete in KZ2. The 44 young drivers participating in the second of the three Academy Trophy events also join them.

After free practice, the day on Friday ended with the usual qualifications and the starting grids for the qualifying heats are therefore established, which will take place tomorrow and continue until Sunday morning.

KZ: Magic by Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Tyres: MG Tyres

That Andrea Kimi Antonelli (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) was fast and talented was out of the question, but that he could take pole position on his debut in KZ was unpredictable. Yet he did it, amazing everyone: the fresh European champion OK, in his second race in the gearbox category, prints a 48.031 and takes the lead in the premier class of karting.

Excellent performance also for Matteo Viganò (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), who set the second best time. The Italian driver precedes his teammate Viktor Gustavsson (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), who returns to the top of the standings.

Paolo Ippolito (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing) confirms his competitive position with the fourth position and is just ahead of Emilien Denner (Intrepid Driver Program - Intrepid - TM Racing), fighting for the championship after climbing on the second step of the podium in the first round of Wackersdorf.

In sixth place there is the reigning world champion Jeremy Iglesias (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), who has the better of Pedro Hiltbrand (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), seventh, and over Francesco Celenta (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing), eighth after his rib injury remedied in the first round, which forced him to sit still for a month and a half.

Adrien Renaudin (Sodikart - Sodi - TM Racing) and Noah Milell (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) close the top ten, followed by Stan Pex (KR Motorsport - KR - TM Racing), close to the podium in the first round .

Qualifying to forget for the winner of the first round Riccardo Longhi (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), who is only 21st and complains of a defect in his set of tires. Same problem accused by teammate and reigning European champion Marijn Kremers (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), who returns after the rib injury sustained in the first round and finishes 19th.

Disappointing qualification also for Alex Irlando (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), who after winning the bronze medal in the first round is ranked 17th.

Results

KZ2: Danilo Albanese is the fastest driver

Tyres: MG Tyres

Thanks to a time of 48.330 in group 1, an excellent Danilo Albanese (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) takes pole position by force. The KR Motorsport team rider trims just under half a tenth to the dominant of the first round in Wackersdorf Senna Van Walstijn (CPB Sport - Sodi - TM Racing), who is thus fourth in the overall standings. Just 67 thousandths from Albanese is Paavo Tonteri (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), who with the seventh place overall confirms himself fast after finishing the first round in the top five.

To impose himself in group 3 with a time of 48,402 is Giuseppe Palomba (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), who thus conquers the second absolute position and starts the weekend on the right foot after having disposed of the disappointment of retirement in the first round . The Birel ART Racing rider beats Giacomo Pollini (NGM Motorsport - CRG - TM Racing) by just ten thousandths, who after having obtained the silver medal in the first round returns to the top of the standings with fifth place overall. 56 thousandths behind Palomba is Hubert Petit (CPB Sport - Sodikart - TM Racing), who moves to eighth place in the overall standings thanks to a good performance.

A surprising Samuel Luyet (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) set the best time in group 2 in 48.444, which earned him the third place overall. The Swiss driver is just eight thousandths ahead of Jamie Day (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), who gains the sixth overall position and demonstrates exponential growth in his first year in KZ2. Following them is Leonardo Marseglia (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), who finished the first round close to the podium and now occupies the ninth place in the overall standings.

After expressing his speed on the Adria circuit at the start of the season, Juho Valtanen (KR Motorsport - KR - TM Racing) closes the absolute top ten. The Finnish driver is just ahead of Kajus Siksnelis (Energy Corse - Energy Corse - TM Racing), who is still competitive. Behind them is Laurens Van Hoepen (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), who after taking the third step of the podium in the first round starts the weekend with 12th place in the overall standings.

The top 15 was completed by Brandon Nilsson (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), the two-time world champion Lorenzo Travisanutto (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing) and Arthur Carbonnel (CPB Sport - Sodi - TM Racing), who reaffirm their their competitiveness.

Qualifying below expectations for David Trefilov (SRP Racing Team - Maranello - TM Racing), 34th, Jean Luyet (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), 45th, and Ferrari Driver Academy driver James Wharton ( Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing), 48th.

Results

Academy: A surprising Federico Al Rifai sets the pace

Chasis: Exprit Kart / Engine: Vortex / Tyres: MG Tyres

Federico Al Rifai prints a 50.814 in group 2 and thus conquers the pole position. The UAE rider trims more than a tenth and a half to Salim Hanna, who returns to the top of the standings with the third place overall after crossing the finish line of the first round in Wackersdorf in second position. Following him is Noah Monteiro, who moves to fifth place overall thanks to a good performance.

With a 50.849, Oscar Wurz is the author of the best time in group 1 and gets the second position in the overall standings. The son of art beats Maciej Gladysz by just seven thousandths, who wins the fourth place overall. Behind them is Oleksandr Bondarev, who confirms his competitive position in sixth place overall after having demonstrated his speed in the first round thanks to a comeback of 17 positions in the final and the fastest lap of the race.

Positive qualifying also for David Walther, seventh, and Nikolas Roos, eighth.

On the strength of the podium conquered in the first round, Dion Gowda begins the weekend with the ninth place overall and precedes Tom Braeken, who closes the top ten.

Slightly subdued the winner of the first round Reno Francot, 15th overall. Qualifying below expectations also for the first round poleman Bart Harrison, 21st, Yevan David, close to the podium in the first round and now 25th, Darius Babaioana, fifth in the first round and now 28th, and Caleb Gafrarar, seventh in the first round and now 29th.

Results