FIA Karting World Championship KZ, International Super Cup KZ2 and Academy Trophy rd 3, Kristianstad: qualifying - Pole position for Antonelli (KZ), Van Walstijn (KZ2) and Walther (Academy)

[translated with Google]

Three weeks after the end of the European championship, the categories with the gearbox, KZ and KZ2, are back on track in Kristianstad for the most important appointment of the season: the FIA Karting World Championship and the FIA Karting International Super Cup. In the premier class of karting there are 27 contenders for the world title, while 91 drivers are ready to compete in KZ2. The 41 youngsters of the Academy Trophy also join them, gathering for the third and final round of the championship.

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

KZ: Another magic by Andrea Kimi Antonelli

Tyres: MG Tyres

Andrea Kimi Antonelli (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) had already amazed everyone three weeks ago in Adria, taking pole position at the last round of the European championship, in his first appearance in KZ. However, he was not satisfied and today, in his first world championship in the gearbox class, he wanted to repeat the feat, surprising even himself. The Mercedes protégé is not the fastest in any of the three sectors, but he puts together the best lap of 49,826 and makes the difference in a ranking that sees the top six in just 40 thousandths.

The two-time European OK champion only trims two thousandths of a second to Noah Milell (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), author of an excellent performance on his home track.

To win the third position is an extraordinary Fabian Federer (SRP Racing Team - Maranello - TM Racing), who returns to the top of the standings and sees the pole vanish for 19 thousandths.

The SRP Racing Team standard bearer precedes the CL couple formed by Matteo Viganò (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), still very fast, and by the fresh European vice-champion Pedro Hiltbrand (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), which completes the top five. Following them are the Sodi of Adrien Renaudin (Sodikart - Sodi - TM Racing) and the other CL of Viktor Gustavsson (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), who earns the seventh place after climbing on the third step of the podium in the last round of the European championship.

The top ten was closed by Lorenzo Camplese (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), Simo Puhakka (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) and the winner of the last round of the European championship Paolo Ippolito (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing).

Qualifying below expectations for Ippolito's two teammates, Alex Irlando (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing) and reigning world champion Jeremy Iglesias (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), who are in 17th and 18th position respectively.

Disappointing qualifying also for the two Birel ARTs of Marijn Kremers (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing) and the fresh European champion Riccardo Longhi (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), respectively 13th and 16th, as well as for Stan Pex (KR Motorsport - KR - TM Racing), 20th, and for Francesco Celenta (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing), only 22nd due to a problem with the exhaust manifold.

Bas Lammers (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) is back in the race after missing almost the entire season, setting the 15th best time. The two-time world runner-up Anthony Abbasse (Sodikart - Sodi - TM Racing) is also back after almost two years of hiatus, finishing just in front of his old teammate.

Results

KZ2: Senna Van Walstijn a cut above all

Tyres: MG Tyres

This year at Senna Van Walstijn (CPB Sport - Sodi - TM Racing) the European title narrowly vanished, but this does not seem to have demoralized him. The CPB Sport team bishop gets pole position thanks to a time of 49,901 in group 4, the last of the day. The European runner-up is the only one to go under the 50 seconds wall and almost two and a half tenths of a second to Samuel Luyet (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), again protagonist and fifth overall. The Swiss driver precedes Alessio Piccini (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), author of a good performance that earned him the ninth place in the overall standings.

On the strength of his first podium in the gearbox class, won three weeks ago in Adria during the last round of the European championship, Lorenzo Travisanutto (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing) confirms his excellent form and sets the best time in group 1 in 50.123, which puts him in second place overall. 36 thousandths behind the two-time OK world champion is Giuseppe Palomba (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), still very fast and sixth in the overall standings. A surprising Fabrizio Rosati (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) completes an all-Italian trident, finishing tenth overall.

Danilo Albanese (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) is once again incisive on the flying lap, who wins in group 2 with a time of 50.212 and occupies the third place overall. The KR Motorsport standard bearer trims David Trefilov (SRP Racing Team - Maranello - TM Racing) just over a tenth, who returns to the top of the standings with the seventh overall position. He is followed by Kajus Siksnelis (Energy Corse - Energy Corse - TM Racing), who continues to prove extremely competitive and earns 11th place in the overall standings.

The fresh European champion Giacomo Pollini (NGM Motorsport - CRG - TM Racing) has absolutely no intention of giving up and takes the best performance in group 3 by force thanks to a time of 50.238, which earned him the fourth overall position. After having been forced to abandon the second round of the European championship prematurely due to muscle pain, Jean Luyet (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) is back in a great way, just 48 thousandths from Pollini and eighth in the overall standings. The Tony Kart Racing Team driver precedes Paavo Tonteri (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), who proves his consistency with the 12th place overall.

The top 15 is closed by an excellent Rasmus Jansson (USCR Motorsport - Birel ART - TM Racing), who proves to be fast on his home track, Laurens Van Hoepen (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing) and Thomas Imbourg (CPB Sport - Sodi - TM Racing).

Ferrari Driver Academy driver James Wharton (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing) wins 22nd place overall. A little further back, in 29th position overall, is Hubert Petit (CPB Sport - Sodikart - TM Racing), back from second place in the last round of the European championship.

Qualifying below expectations for Juho Valtanen (KR Motorsport - KR - TM Racing), 36th, Leonardo Marseglia (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), 42nd, and Jamie Day (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing ), 51 °.

Results

Academy: David Walther sets the pace

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

It is not the first time that David Walther has shown himself extremely fast. The Danish driver prints a 53.475 in group 2 and conquers the pole position, trimming 84 thousandths to the winner of the last round in Adria and championship leader Maciej Gladysz, who finds himself third in the general standings. Following them is an excellent Leon Ochiai, who moves to fifth place overall.

Dion Gowda is imposed in group 1 thanks to a time of 53,652 and returns to the top of the standings with the second place overall after obtaining the bronze medal in the first round. The young driver trims more than a tenth to a surprising Ludvig Fransson, who earns the fourth position overall on his home track. The Swedish standard bearer precedes Caleb Gafrarar, who confirms his competitive position with sixth place in the overall standings, just as Leon Zelenko confirms his competitive position with seventh.

After getting on the podium in the last round, Riccardo Ianniello and Oleksandr Bondarev are respectively in eighth and ninth overall position.

Closes the top ten Nando Weixelbaumer thanks to a good performance, which sees him just ahead of Oscar Wurz and Darius Babaioana.

Slightly subdued qualification for the winner of the first round Reno Francot, 15th overall. The performances of the first round poleman Bart Harrison, 19th, of David Yevan, 21st, of Hanna Salim, second at the finish in the first round and now only 25th, and of the second round poleman Federico are also below expectations. Al Rifai, 28th.

Results