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A little over a month after the second round held in Zuera, the protagonists of the direct drive categories, OK and OKJ, take to the track in Kristianstad for the third and penultimate round of the FIA Karting European Championship. 69 drivers present themselves at the starting line of the second half of the championship in the queen category of single-speed karting, while 73 young standard bearers are ready to continue the challenge in OKJ.

The usual qualifying sessions took place on Friday, before continuing with the first qualifying heats, which will end on Saturday afternoon.

OK: Kean Nakamura Berta is the fastest driver on track

• After obtaining the bronze medal in the first round in Portimao, Kean Nakamura Berta (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) opens the second half of the European championship in the best possible way. Currently third in the title race, the KR Motorsport team driver prints a 50.314 in group 3 and makes him the absolute pole position. The reigning OKJ world champion expresses his determination and precedes by 95 thousandths the poleman of the first round in Portimao Tomass Stolcermanis (Energy Corse - Energy Corse - TM Racing), still among the fastest with second place in the group and fourth in the general classification. An excellent Maksim Orlov (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing) completes a trident made up of three different chassis, third in the group and seventh overall.


• Maxim Rehm (Ricky Flynn Motorsport - LN - Vortex) seems more and more at ease in the premier category of single-speed karting and proves it on the Swedish circuit. The driver of the Ricky Flynn Motorsport team is the best interpreter in group 1 with a 50.336, which earned him the second place overall. The German rookie beats a stoic Arvid Lindblad (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) by just 26 thousandths. Now back on track at full speed following the injury remedied in the Franciacorta accident at the end of February, the Red Bull Junior Team driver returns to driving the single-speed kart after having performed well in the first round of the FIA ​​Karting European Championship KZ2 at Genk. Already a protagonist last year with the third place in both the European championship and the world championship, the rider of the KR Motorsport team obtained the second position in the group and fifth in the overall standings. The young Mercedes recruit Yuanpu Cui (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) is also confirmed at the top of the rankings, third in the group, just 88 thousandths from Rehm, and eighth overall.


• An excellent Alex Powell (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) goes fastest in a particularly contested group 2, which sees the top ten drivers within just 80 thousandths. After winning the third step of the podium in the second round at Zuera, the Mercedes protégé reaffirms its competitiveness and gains third place overall thanks to a 50.464. The rider of the KR Motorsport team trims 15 thousandths to a surprising James Egozi (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), second in the group and sixth in the general classification. After struggling in his first approach to the Swedish circuit during the third round of the Champions of the Future Euro Series, held two weeks ago right here in Kristianstad, the poleman of the second round in Zuera once again demonstrates his ability to learn quickly and to be extremely fast. Luka Sammalisto (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) is also a remarkable performance, giving encouraging signals with third place in the group and ninth overall.


• Completing the absolute top ten was Rintaro Sato (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), author of another convincing performance and just ahead of team mate and reigning OKJ European vice-champion Matheus Ferreira (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME). The two KRs precede the Tony Kart couple formed by the reigning world champion Tuukka Taponen (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) and Juho Valtanen (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex).


• The top 15 in the overall standings is closed by Dion Gowda (Ricky Flynn Motorsport - LN - Vortex) and the reigning vice-champion of the FIA ​​Karting Academy Trophy David Walther (Koski Motorsport - Tony Kart - Vortex).


• Qualifying slightly below expectations for the fresh winner of the preparatory race two weeks ago Matheus Morgatto (DPK Racing - KR - IAME), 17th overall, Ean Eyckmans (EGP Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), 18th and currently fifth in the championship after taking the bronze medal in the OKJ European championship last year, Evan Giltaire (VDK Racing - KR - IAME), 20th and currently fourth in the championship after climbing on the second step of the podium in the preparatory race of two weeks ago, Oscar Pedersen (Ward Racing - Tony Kart - Vortex), 21st after earning the silver medal in the first round at Portimao, Enzo Deligny (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing), 25th and currently second in the championship after climbing on the second step of the podium in the second round in Zuera, reigning OKJ European champion Freddie Slater (Ricky Flynn Motorsport - LN - Vortex), 26th, Gabriel Gomez (CRG Racing Team - CRG - IAME), 44th, and the European KZ2 champion in 2020 Viktor Gustavsson (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), 53rd.


• Slight disappointment also for the winner of the first two rounds and current championship leader Joseph Turney (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), 30th in the general classification after scoring the tenth best time in group 2 at 80 thousandths from the fastest lap. fast, and for the poleman of the preparatory race two weeks ago Arthur Rogeon (VDK Racing - KR - IAME), who is not enough to sign the best first sector in group 1, so much so that the driver of the VDK Racing team finds himself 29th overall . A similar situation occurs for Zachary David (Sauber Academy - KR - IAME), author of the best performance both in the first sector and in the third in group 2, but 24th overall.


• After winning the FIA ​​Karting International Super Cup in KZ2 last year and the first of his two world championships in OK in 2018 right at the Kristianstad circuit, Lorenzo Travisanutto (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing) returns to compete in the queen category of single-speed karting and gets 49th place in the overall standings.


• A protagonist of the championship is absent, such as the reigning world vice-champion Luigi Coluccio (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), engaged in a car competition after climbing on the third step of the podium in the preparatory race two weeks ago.

OKJ: Third consecutive pole position in the FIA season for an extraordinary Guillaume Bouzar

• In case it wasn't clear to everyone yet, Guillaume Bouzar (Koski Motorsport - Tony Kart - Vortex) is incredibly fast. After taking pole position both in the second round in Zuera and in the first round of the FIA Karting ​​Academy Trophy in Genk, the young Luxembourgish continues with his state of grace and gets his third consecutive pole in the FIA ​​championships. The Koski Motorsport team driver stops the time trial in 51,590 in group 3 and makes the difference, trimming more than a tenth to his direct rival Kirill Kutskov (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing). The driver of the Birel ART Racing team returns to the top of the standings thanks to a convincing performance and is second in the group as well as fourth overall. Third place in the group and seventh overall is the prerogative of an excellent Reno Francot (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), which brings another Birel ART to the top of the grid.


• After getting on the second step of the podium in the first round in Portimao, only to be forced to miss the second round of Zuera, Anatoly Khavalkin (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing) is back on track in style. The standard bearer of the Parolin Motorsport team is the best interpreter in group 2 and prints a 51.595, which earned him the second place overall. Already a protagonist last year with third place in the world championship, Khavalkin makes everyone understand that he is one of the main contenders for the final victory and beats an excellent Lewis Wherrell (Forza Racing - Exprit - TM Racing) by 27 thousandths. The Forza Racing team bishop demonstrates his growth with second place in the group and fifth in the overall standings. After winning the silver medal in the second round at Zuera, Enzo Tarnvanichkul (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) also continues to express his skills. The young Thai, currently fifth in the championship, takes third place in the group, just over half a tenth from Khavalkin, and eighth overall.


• The fastest lap in group 1 is the work of a surprising Jimmy Helias (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex). The Tony Kart Racing Team driver signs his best qualification of the season, scoring a 51.635 and thus gaining the third overall position. Emanuele Olivieri (IPK Official Racing Team - IPK - TM Racing) also stands out on the Swedish circuit, second in the group, just over half a tenth from Helias, and sixth in the general classification. After being forced to miss a series of races at the beginning of the season due to a rib injury, the young rookie shows his potential and leads by seven cents Miguel Costa (Sauber Academy - KR - IAME), who completes a trident formed by three different chassis and confirmed its competitive position with third place in the group as well as ninth overall.


• The absolute top ten is closed by Maxens Verbrugge (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), who reaffirms its presence at the top of the standings after having obtained the third step of the podium in the third round of the Champions of the Future Euro Series, which took place two weeks ago. here in Kristianstad. The KR Motorsport team rider is followed by a notable Nikolas Roos (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), who precedes Thomas Strauven (Ricky Flynn Motorsport - LN - Vortex) and Jan Przyrowski (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex ), both authors of encouraging performances.


• The current championship leader and winner of both the second round in Zuera and the preparatory race two weeks ago Nathan Tye (Sodikart - Sodikart - TM Racing), 14th, and the winner of the first round in Portimao Dmitry Matveev (Koski Motorsport - Tony Kart - Vortex), 15th and currently second in the championship, keep a close eye on each other.


• Qualifying slightly below expectations for Lucas Fluxa (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), 17th overall and just behind Tiziano Monza (DPK Racing - KR - IAME) after earning the silver medal in the two-week preparatory race ago, Jules Caranta (Energy Corse - Energy Corse - TM Racing), 18th and currently fourth in the championship, the reigning FIA Karting Academy Trophy champion Maciej Gladysz (Ricky Flynn Motorsport - LN - Vortex), 20th, Kirill Dzitiev ( Ward Racing - Tony Kart - Vortex), 23rd, Leo Nilsson (Ward Racing - Tony Kart - Vortex), 27th after having performed well in the preparatory race two weeks ago at the home circuit, Rene Lammers (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing), 28th and currently third in the championship after finishing third in the first round in Portimao, Arthur Dorison (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), 32nd after climbing on the lowest step of the podium in the second round in Zuera, and Zac Drummond (Parolin Motorsport - Par olin - TM Racing), 46th.


• Slight disappointment also for Adam Hideg (Sodikart - Sodikart - TM Racing), who is not enough to sign the best first sector in group 3, so much so that the Sodikart team rider finds himself 25th in the general classification.


• The pink share of the Mercedes Junior Team as well as rookie in OKJ Luna Fluxa (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) makes her the 51st overall position.


• Oleksandr Bondarev (Ricky Flynn Motorsport - LN - Vortex) and Alexander Dahlstrom (Energy Corse - Energy Corse - TM Racing) are still absent, engaged in a rehabilitation program following the accident in the second round at Zuera.

©Photo: Sportinphoto