FIA Karting European Championship KZ, KZ2 and Academy Trophy rd 2, Cremona: qualifying – Pole position for Lindblad (KZ), Milell (KZ2) and Orjuela (Academy)

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A little over a month after the first round held in Genk, the protagonists of the categories with the gearbox, KZ and KZ2, are back on track in Cremona for the second and final round of the FIA Karting European Championship. 31 drivers present themselves at the final act of the European championship in the premier class of karting, while 83 standard bearers are ready to animate KZ2. The 50 youngsters participating in the second of the three rounds of the FIA Karting Academy Trophy also join them.

The usual qualifying sessions took place on Friday, and then continued with the first qualifying heats, which will end on Saturday afternoon for the categories with the gearbox and on Sunday morning for the Academy.

KZ: Noah Milell is back on top

Tyres: LeCont

Clearly, the smooth driving of Noah Milell (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) makes the difference on an incredibly rubber track like that of Cremona. After a complicated start to the season, the reigning world champion wins pole position thanks to a 45.798, trimming more than two tenths to the direct rival and reaffirming his skills.

The second position is the prerogative of an exceptional Senna Van Walstijn (Sodikart - Sodi - TM Racing). At the second race in the premier class of karting, the reigning European KZ2 vice-champion and runner-up in last year's FIA Karting International Super Cup KZ2 expresses his speed and is a candidate for the role of great protagonist.

Equally remarkable is the performance of Tuukka Taponen (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex). At the second qualifying in the shifter category, the reigning OK world champion gains third place, stopping the clock just under two and a half tenths behind his teammate.

After obtaining the fifth place in the first round in Genk, Pedro Hiltbrand (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing) confirms his competitive position with the fourth position. Of the drivers currently in the top seven in the championship, the reigning European runner-up is the fastest in qualifying and will therefore be more determined than ever to aim for the title.

Positive signs also from Juho Valtanen (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), fifth. The Finnish standard bearer is just 14 thousandths ahead of his teammate and compatriot Simo Puhakka (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), skilled in bringing a fourth Tony Kart into the top six positions.

After getting on the second step of the podium in the first round in Genk and having earned the bronze medal in the European championship last year, Paolo Ippolito (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) takes seventh place. Although he was definitely aiming for a better result, the color bearer of the KR Motorsport team finds himself in front of his direct rival Emilien Denner (Sodikart - Sodi - TM Racing). The dominator of the first round and current championship leader signs the ninth best time and will have to work hard to get back in the heats, on a track that at the moment is quite difficult for overtaking. Between the two main contenders for the title is the reigning European champion Riccardo Longhi (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), eighth and author of the best performance in the first sector.

Lorenzo Camplese (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) closes the top ten, giving further proof of the special feeling created between the Tony Kart Racing Team and the Cremona track. The reigning world vice-champion precedes Francesco Celenta (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing), 11th, the 2020 world champion Jeremy Iglesias (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), 12th, and Stan Pex (SP Motorsport - KR - TM Racing), 13th.

Qualifying slightly below expectations for Matteo Viganò (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), 14th after climbing on the third step of the podium in the first round in Genk, the 2020 European champion as well as the 2019 world champion Marijn Kremers (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), 15th, and the 2015 world champion Jorrit Pex (SP Motorsport - KR - TM Racing), 19th after finishing the first round at the foot of the podium and having won the bronze medal in the world championship last year.

Slight disappointment also for the winner of last year's FIA Karting International Super Cup KZ2 Lorenzo Travisanutto (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing), 16th in his second experience in KZ and just ahead of the multiple world champion Davide Forè (Renda Motorsport - Birel ART - TM Racing), 2020 European KZ2 champion Viktor Gustavsson (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), 20th, Adrien Renaudin (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), 23rd, and the winner of the CIK -FIA International Super Cup KZ2 in 2017 Alex Irlando (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), 25th.

Results

KZ2: First pole position in KZ2 for an amazing Arvid Lindblad

Tyres: LeCont

Arvid Lindblad (SP Motorsport - KR - TM Racing) returns to driving a shifter kart and does it in style. After hitting the top five in the first round in Genk, the Red Bull Junior Team driver is the most incisive in group 2 with a 46.099 and gets the absolute pole position, confirming himself as a great protagonist even with the gearbox in hand. The young rookie trims just over a tenth and a half to Thomas Imbourg (CPB Sport - Sodi - Tm Racing), who reaffirms his competitiveness with second place in the group and fifth in the overall standings. Third in the group and ninth overall is a stunning Alex Maragliano (Fina Mangione - Drago Corse - TM Racing), author of an excellent performance and the best performance in the second sector at his first international appearance with the Drago Corse chassis.

After showing off a masterpiece in the first round in Genk, Tom Leuillet (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing) seems ready to show another one on the Cremona circuit. The winner of the first round and current championship leader is the fastest in group 1 thanks to a 46,140, which earned him the second overall position. The young Frenchman was forced to stop after only three laps due to a defect in a front tire, but expressed a disarming confidence in his own means and managed to excel even in this way, while all his opponents completed at least five flying laps. Just under a tenth and a half from Leuillet, an excellent Moritz Ebner (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing) stops the time trial, skilled in getting second place in the group and sixth in the overall standings after scoring the best second. sector. Immediately behind the Birel ART couple is a surprising Giorgio Emiliano Carrara (Novalux - Lenzokart - LKE), who brings his Lenzokart to third place in the group and in tenth overall.

The best interpreter in group 4 is a wonderful Cristian Bertuca (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing). At the second race in KZ2, the standard bearer of the Birel ART Racing team makes evident his love for the shifter kart and makes him the third overall position thanks to a 46.180. The young rookie is just nine thousandths ahead of compatriot Danilo Albanese (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), who signs the best third sector and once again shows his speed skills with second place in the group and seventh in the overall standings. After climbing on the third step of the podium at last year's FIA Karting International Super Cup and on the second step in the first round of the European championship in Genk, David Trefilov (Maranello SRP Factory Team - Maranello - TM Racing) climbs to third place in the group and 11th overall, proving to be ready to compete for the title.

An extraordinary Tim Gerhards (CPB Sport - Sodi - Tm Racing) prevails in a particularly contested group 3, which sees the first five drivers within only 96 thousandths. The standard bearer of the CPB Sport team prints a 46.536 and, although he does not score the best performance in any of the three sectors, he wins the fourth position overall, beating Daniel Vasile (DR - DR - Modena Engines) by five thousandths. Already a protagonist in the first round in Genk, the DR team bishop returns to the top of the standings with second place in the group and eighth overall after signing the fastest third split time. Alessio Piccini (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing) also gives further proof of his potential, third in the group, just 34 thousandths from Gerhards and strong in the best second sector, and 12th in the general classification.

The absolute top 15 is closed, thanks to convincing performances, by Giuseppe Palomba (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), Paavo Tonteri (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing) and Matteo Spirgel (CPB Sport - Sodi - Tm Racing). The CPB Sport team rider finds himself just ahead of Robert Kindervater (Birel ART Racing KSW - Birel ART - TM Racing), 16th and only 43 thousandths from pole in group 3 after having signed the best first sector, while Michael Rosina (TBkart Racing Team - TB Kart - TM Racing) occupies the 20th place after stopping the chronometer just 96 thousandths from the pole in the same group as Kindervater.

Qualifying slightly below expectations for Jean Luyet (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), 17th overall, Norton Andreasson (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), 21st, Jorge Pescador (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), 23rd, the 2014 European champion Andrea Dalè (Andrea Dalè - CRG - TM Racing), 32nd, Genis Civico (Modena Kart - Birel ART - TM Engines), 33rd, Markus Kajak (AIX Racing Team - Tony Kart - TM Racing), 37th and at the foot of the podium in the first round in Genk, David Liwinski (CPB Sport - Sodi - Tm Racing), 38th, Kris Haanen (SP Motorsport - KR - TM Racing), 41 ° after having earned the bronze medal in Genk, Kristijan Habulin (TBkart Racing Team - TB Kart - TM Racing), 49th, and Samuel Luyet (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), 53rd.

At his first appearance in the KZ2 European Championship, the Formula 4 driver Kirill Small (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing) takes the 52nd position in the overall standings.

The reigning European champion Giacomo Pollini is still absent.

Results

Academy: Matias Orjuela makes a difference

Chassis: Exprit Kart / Engine: Vortex / Tyres: LeCont

Matias Orjuela is at his best on a circuit which, due to the huge amount of rubber deposited on the asphalt, puts a strain on the standard bearers of the Academy Trophy. The Colombian driver is the best interpreter in group 1 thanks to a 48.413 and earns the absolute pole position, trimming more than two tenths to Aleksandar Bogunovič. Strengthened by the fifth place obtained in the first round in Genk, the young Slovenian reaffirms his presence at the top of the standings with second place in the group and third in the overall standings. Of the drivers currently in the top five in the championship, Bogunovič is the fastest in qualifying and will therefore be determined to aim to continue at this pace. Third in the group and fifth overall is a surprising Mark Dubnitski, author of the best performance in the second sector.

To impose himself in group 2 with a 48.528 is Thibaut Ramaekers, who thus wins the second place overall, just like he did in the first round in Genk. The young Belgian precedes Dinu Sabin Stroescu by just 17 thousandths, able to prove his competitiveness with second place in the group and fourth overall. The third position in the group and sixth in the general classification is the prerogative of an excellent Iwo Beszterda, who stops the clock just 34 thousandths from Ramaekers and signs the best second split time.

Just 38 thousandths from Ramaekers, Joel Pohjola also confirms his skills, fourth in the group and eighth overall. The Finnish driver immediately finds himself behind an excellent Santino Panetta, who signs the best third sector in group 1.

The drivers who complete the top ten thanks to convincing performances are the pink quota Chiara Battig, supported by the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission, and William Go, still protagonist after climbing on the second step of the podium in the first round in Genk.

Qualifying slightly below expectations for Genk poleman Guillaume Bouzar, fresh from the podium at the third round of the FIA Karting European Championship OKJ in Kristianstad and today 11th overall in qualifying after finishing the first round in third place, Caleb Gafrarar, 13th, Nikolas Roos, 14th, Luke Houghton, 19th and at the foot of the podium in the first round, the winner of the first round and current championship leader Arthur Dorison, 28th, and Henry Joslyn, 44th.

Two protagonists of the first round are absent: Jindrich Pesl and Jack Buckley.

Results