Jérémy Iglésias In Ideal Position
Saturday report, European KZ1 & KZ2 Championships, Round 2
press release
The leader of the European KZ1 Championship after the opening round in Sarno, Jérémy Iglésias, made the perfect start to the second and final round of the European Championship for gearbox karts. Around the circuit at Varennes-sur-Alliers the Frenchman won his three qualifying races to secure pole position for the first of the two scheduled finals this Sunday afternoon.
Above: Jérémy Iglésias in action
The French drivers were in superb form on Saturday at the Varennes-sur-Allier circuit in their home country. First of all Anthony Abbasse (Sodi-TM) who when setting the fastest time in qualifying, gave notice of his intentions. But during the three qualifying races, the Frenchman was to leave the highest accolade to one of his compatriots : Jérémy Iglésias (Intrepid-TM). Arriving in the Auvergne region of France leading the championship standings, the driver from Aubagne and last year’s European Championship runner-up, had to be satisfied with the fourth quickest time in qualifying practice. But by winning the three races, Jérémy secured pole position for the first of the two races during Sunday afternoon’s programme. It goes without saying that the Frenchman is in the ideal position to finally take this international title for which he has been bidding for a long time… « But don’t expect me to be taking anything for granted tomorrow », he declared. « Generally speaking to take things for granted never pays off. So I will approach the first race like any other and then we will see ! »
Iglésias’s position is all the more advantageous since his team member and rival, Dutchman Bas Lammers (Intrepid-TM), was penalised in the first race for a jump-start. So it is from 4th place that the European Champion will start the first final. Between these two we find Anthony Abbasse, who confirmed his fast time in qualifying with a second place in the provisional classification, and Thomas Mich (Birel-TM). So that means three Frenchmen are in the first three places. Czech driver Patrick Hajek (Tony Kart-Vortex) is in fifth place, behind Bas Lammers, but in front of Jorrit Pex (CRG-TM), Manuel Renaudie (PCR-TM), very fast but handicapped by an engine failure, Alessandro Piccini (Intrepid-TM), Pierre-Etienne Chaumat (Intrepid-TM) and Ben Hanley (Maranello-Maranello).
Varennes-sur-Allier is also the stage for the second and final round of the European Championship for class KZ2 (Division 2 of gearbox karts). Setting the fastest time in qualifying practice, the Dutch girl Beitske Visser (Intrepid-TM) has been one of several very spirited performers of the day in taking one of the qualifying races. The favourites for the two races tomorrow would also appear to include the Italian Yuri Lucati (BRM-TM), winner of three races, the Frenchman Mathieu Gaillard (Energy-Maxter, 1 victory) and Yan Pesce (Energy-TM, also 1 race win). As for the championship leader, Paolo De Conto (Energy-TM) had been only 12th quickest in qualifying practice and finished his 3 qualifying races in 7th, 3rd and 4th positions. On Sunday morning, the last 3 qualifying races will establish the 34 drivers for the two finals which, as with the KZ1 class, are scheduled for Sunday afternoon.
Link to event info HERE.
