WSK Euro Series rd 1, Lonato: KZ2 Final – Masterpiece by an implacable Giuseppe Palomba

[translated with Google]

Tyres: LeCont

"Forbidden to surrender". This is precisely the mantra that accompanies Giuseppe Palomba (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing) towards a phenomenal victory. After finishing the pre-final in second place thanks to a comeback of nine positions, the driver of the Birel ART Racing team immediately leaps to the lead thanks to a feline sprint and remains in the lead up to the checkered flag. Despite using the new tires right in the pre-final, the Italian driver is flawless in resisting the pressure of an arrembante Jeremy Iglesias (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), who has fresher tires. Palomba thus obtained a particularly tasty success after seeing the times recorded in qualifying canceled and starting the weekend from the 31st position on the grid in the first heat.

Jeremy Iglesias must be satisfied with the silver medal. After also winning the pre-final, the French rider accuses a difficult start and slips third, but is lightning fast in overtaking team mate Viktor Gustavsson (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing) on the second lap to move into second position. The 2020 world champion quickly mends the gap with Palomba and it seems that he can easily regain the leadership, but his performances seem to be calmed just when he is almost ready to attempt the attack. Iglesias takes responsibility for the error at the start, on a weekend in which he has always struggled when the traffic lights go out, and he is aware that, if he were first, he could have managed a different race. In fact, the CRG Racing Team driver is forced to push his tires to the limit too soon and consequently is less performing in the second half of the race, but still finds himself second in the provisional championship standings, level on points with the leader Palomba.

An excellent Viktor Gustavsson wins the third place. The 2020 European KZ2 champion declared that he had kept a little margin in view of the final, but it was not enough for the victory. However, the Swedish rider obtained his first podium with the CRG team at the end of an encouraging weekend and moved up to third place in the provisional championship standings.

The other two CRGs of Alex Irlando (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), fourth, and Jorge Pescador (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), fifth thanks to a comeback, also conclude this first round of the championship on a positive note. of six positions. Even Genis Civico (Modena Kart - Birel ART - TM Engines), sixth, and Andrea Dalè (Andrea Dalè - CRG - TM Racing) reaffirm their presence at the top of the ranking, leading CRG fifth among the top seven.

The authors of exceptional comebacks are the rookies Samuele Leopardi (Zanchi Motorsport - Birel ART - TM Racing), eighth, and Cristian Bertuca (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), ninth. Ivan Ekelchik (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), tenth, and Brandon Nilsson (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), 11th also gained positions compared to the start.

Completing the top 15 thanks to convincing performances Oscar Targett (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), Alessandro Buran (Renda Motorsport - Birel ART - TM Racing), Daniel Vasile (DR - DR - Modena Engines) and Francesco Maria Leone ( Modena Kart - Birel ART - TM Racing). The Modena Kart team driver recovers 12 positions from the start, while Alex Maragliano (Fina Mangione - Drago Corse - TM Racing) gains 17, 16th after retiring in the pre-final. The driver of the Drago Corse chassis precedes Paavo Tonteri (CRG Racing Team - CRG - TM Racing), relegated from 15th to 17th place following a five-second penalty due to the nose being in the wrong position.

Two protagonists of the weekend also receive penalties such as the reigning European KZ2 champion Tom Leuillet (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), 19th, and the Friday poleman Danilo Albanese (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), 20th and author of the fast lap. Leuillet is forced to recover from 31st place after exiting the stage in the pre-final due to a technical problem, accused while he was in third position. Albanese, on the other hand, had to chase from the back of the grid after entering the pits in the reconnaissance lap to fix a defect on his kart, thus losing his fifth spot on the starting grid.

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