The rain interferes with qualifying practice

Jérémy Iglésias set the fastest time in qualifying practice for the World Cup of
KZ1 karting (gearbox karts) which is taking place this weekend at Sarno in
Italy. The Frenchman headed double title winner Jonathan Thonon, whilst
Jaime Alguersuari, the Toro Rosso Formula 1 driver, made a good impression
when qualifying in 7th place. In the World Cup for KF3 (13 – 15 years) karts,
European Champion Nyck De Vries confirmed his standing as favourite for that
title.

Within a few kilometres of Vesuvius, the international circuit at Sarno-Napoli this

weekend welcomes the World Cup competitions for category KZ1 (the principal class
of gearbox karts) and category KF3 (the class for Juniors from 13-15 years old). But
whereas stifling heat had been the main topic of conversation in the paddock, it was
the arrival of several spots of rain in the middle of the qualifying practice which
dropped a small bombshell!

For the drivers, it became in effect, a question of dodging the rain drops in order to
set a good time – particularly important for the rest of the weekend. Let us bear in
mind that the qualifying practice session determines the starting grids for the
qualifying races, and they in turn determine the 34 drivers who will contest the final
phase of the competition namely the pre-final and decisive final.

In KZ1, there were two experienced drivers who both produced their best efforts
when it counted most. The Frenchman Jérémy Iglésias (Intrepid-TM) set the fastest
time just seconds before the end of the second session to steal pole position from
double title holder Jonathan Thonon (CRG-Maxter) himself happy to have managed
a fast time despite the difficult circumstances. Behind them, however, was surprise
package Danish driver Andreas Fasberg on an original AM chassis (the initials
denoting former driver Alessandro Manetti) being powered by a Maxter motor.
Fasberg headed two Intrepid mounted drivers, who in order of placing were
European Champion Bas Lammers and Salvatore Gatto.

Whilst many fancied drivers were caught out by the conditions (examples being the
20th, 21st and 22nd positions of Rick Dreezen, Marco Ardigo and Sauro Cesetti),
Francesco Laudato (Birel-TM) secured 6th place just in front of the Spaniard Jaime
Alguersuari (Intrepid-TM). “I am very happy to return to karting this weekend”
explained the Spanish Formula 1 driver for Toro Rosso. “I have always had a
particular affection for karting, which is an incredibly competitive discipline. Here, all
the drivers are fast and it is incredible to see how easily you can pass or get passed.
That creates very exciting races and I am happy to have the chance to take on
drivers who I raced previously when I was involved full time in karting.”
Alguersuari was notably in front of four times World Champion Davide Fore (CRG-
Maxter), the Czech Patrik Hajek (Tony Kart-Vortex) and the Italian Roberto Toninelli
(CKR-TM).

Running alongside the KZ1 competition, Sarno also accommodates the KF3 World
Cup for Juniors from 13-15 years of age. Already European Champion, the
Dutchman Nyck De Vries (Zanardi-Parrila) again made a strong impression securing
pole position. The difference between the three sessions being in excess of 101%
envisaged by the rules, the classification from qualifying practice has been
determined in accordance with the series and not by mixing all of the times as would
normally be the case.

Consequently, behind De Vries, the order is completely unexpected with the Italian
Loris Spinelli (Tony Kart-Vortex) who inherited the 2nd place in front of the Frenchman
Pascal Belmaaziz (Intrepid-TM), the Russian Serguei Sirotkin (Tony Kart-Vortex), the
Italian Gianmarco Ercoli (Tony Kart-Vortex), the Macedonian Risto Vukov (CRG-
Maxter), the Spaniard Soriano Braces (F Kart-Vortex) and the Dutchman Joey
Elkerbout (Zanardi-Maxter). Pre-event favourites Spaniard Gerald Barrabeig
(Intrepid-TM, 15 ),the Russian Danil Kyvat (Tony Kart-Vortex, 47th) and the Spaniard
th

Carlos Sainz (Tony Kart-Vortex, 75th) will be hoping for a far better showing in the
qualifying races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday morning.