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Matthew Graham “U18” World Championship Leader

press release

Fast all weekend long, the Briton Matthew Graham won an exciting final in the first round of the “U18” World Championship held on the Italian track of Ortona. In the Academy Trophy, Albany’s Aleksander Ndrio and France’s Dorian Boccolacci shared the wins in the two races of the day.

matthew graham zanardi
Above: Round 1 winner, Matthew Graham
pic - CIK/KSP

The first of the three “U18” (under 18 years old) World Championship events, which was held this weekend at Ortona, offered a great show to the spectators present. Held over 19 laps, the final was exciting to watch and action-packed.

The initial leader after his start from the first row, Michele Beccaria (Top Kart) led a group of especially lively Drivers. The Italian’s lead was finally taken by his compatriot Antonio Giovinazzi (PCR), who managed to fly away from his opponents… before being betrayed by his chain. This was to the advantage of the poleman, Matthew Graham (Zanardi), who was strongly recovering from 5th place after a poor start and a minor excursion off the track further to a contact with another Driver. This time, nothing could prevent the Briton, who had already achieved the fastest qualifying practice time, from landing his maiden world victory.

“It was an incredible race”, he explained. “Lap after lap I felt my kart was faster and faster, and I never gave up. It is awesome to achieve a win in this closely-fought Championship. All the engines are identical and there is very intense fighting on the track.”

Above: Federico Savona, Matthew Graham and Pyry Ovaska, U18 World Championship, Round 1
pic - CIK/KSP

Behind the British Driver, the competition remained very hard-fought and arose the enthusiasm of the spectators gathered in the grandstands. Starting from the first row the Italian “Speedy” (alias Antonio Fuoco) collided with the Dane Martin Mortensen (Mach 1). In the meantime, Italy’s Federico Savona (Top Kart) secured the second step of the podium by finishing ahead of the Finn Pyry Ovaska (Maranello). Starting from 14th place, Britain’s Henry Easthope (Sodi) achieved the fastest lap time of the race and ended up at the foot of the podium after he got the better of the Dane Jannick Flygenring (Mach 1).

Above: Cairns karter Aidan Wright made his international debut in Italy, taking an excellent 12th
pic - CIK/KSP

One of the strong men of the weekend, Simone Favaro (Parolin), paid dearly a retirement from one of the two prefinals. Only 18th on the grid, the Italian however managed to limit the damage by scoring the points of 6th place ahead of Germany’s Lucas Speck (Mach 1), the Dutchman Dave Blom (Intrepid) and the Finns Tomi Katajmäki and Niclas Nylund (both in Maranello karts). This exciting race makes us want to know what comes next and we look forward to watching the second round at the end of August on the French circuit of Essay.

Above: U18 World Championship drivers
pic - CIK/KSP

Academy Trophy: Rodriguez unlucky, Boccolacci leader

Held as a support to the CIK-FIA “U18” World Championship, the action-packed Academy Trophy had many emotions in store in Ortona’s heat wave. Leaders further to the qualifying heats, the Russian Vsevolod Gagen and the representative of the FIA Women in Motor Sport Commission, France’s Lucile Cypriano, were unable to confirm their form in the two races scheduled on Sunday afternoon.

Above: Lucile Cypriano was one of the fastest on track in the heats of Karting Academy
pic - CIK/KSP

Both times it was Diego Rodriguez who first crossed the finish line. But the Spaniard could not make it to the highest step of the podium. A three-second penalty in the first race relegated him to the runner-up position and he was disqualified from the second race as he did not meet the regulatory minimum weight. And then we saw a historical event in the first race as it was won by Aleksander Ndrio, the first licence-holder from Albany to enter an international Karting competition. Aleksander thus proved the justification of this international competition created by the CIK-FIA with the support of Parolin (which supplies the chassis and engines free of charge), as in particular it enables Drivers from nations seldom represented in Karting to compete on equal terms with youngsters from countries where this form of sport is well developed.

Above: Race 1 winner Aleksander Ndrio
pic - CIK/KSP

On the podium of this first race, Ndrio was joined by the poor Diego Rodriguez and the Monaco competitor Charles Leclerc. France’s Esteban Ocon and Britain’s Benjamin Barnicoat confirmed their reputation as hopefuls in their countries by getting into the Top 5 ahead of the second Frenchman, Dorian Boccolacci, the Finn Aatu Moilanen, the Spaniard Mikel Azcona, the Greek Filippos Kalesis and the Swiss Randy Berglas. After a bad start and a spin, Lucile Cypriano could only manage to finish 13th despite achieving the fastest lap time in the race, slightly ahead of Vsevolod Gagen.

The second race was also full of action. After the disqualification of Rodriguez, victory went to the young Frenchman Boccolacci, who had successfully pulled away from a group where there was no lack of overtaking. He was joined on the podium by Filippos Kalesis and Charles Leclerc while Esteban Ocon and Benjamin Barnicoat confirmed the 4th and 5th places they had obtained in the first race. It was also worth noting the presence in the Top 10 of Finland’s Juho Valtanen and Aatu Moilanen, of the Norwegian Frederik Schandorff and of the Ukrainian Oleksander Tkachenko, author of the fastest lap time in the race.

Above: Academy Race 2 podium
pic - CIK/KSP

And what about the winner of the first race, Aleksander Ndrio? A collision at the start jeopardised all his chances right from beginning, and it was also the case of Lucile Cypriano, who was involved in heavy bumping in a closely-fought opening lap.

Thanks to the success he achieved in the second race, Dorian Boccolacci will arrive as provisional Championship leader at the next event, scheduled at the end of August at Essay. But he is closely followed by Charles Leclerc, Fillipos Kalesis, Esteban Ocon and Benjamin Barnicoat.

Above: Aidan Wright aboard his Zanardi on the Ortona circuit
pic - CIK/KSP

Above: Academy driver lineup
pic - CIK/KSP

Above: Thumbs up from Lucile Cypriano
pic - CIK/KSP

Above: Dorian Boccolacci inherited the Academy Race 2 victory after the winner came in underweight
pic - CIK/KSP

Above: Part of the pit/paddock area
pic - CIK/KSP

Above: The Danish National Team that competed in U18
pic - CIK/KSP

Above: Pietro Rimbano, Academy class
pic - CIK/KSP

Above: Academy Race 1 podium
pic - CIK/KSP

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	Matthew Graham “U18” World Championship Leader press release Fast all weekend long, the Briton Matthew Graham won an exciting final in the first round of the “U18” World Championship held on the Italian track of Ortona. In the Academy Trophy, Albany’s Aleksander Ndrio and France’s Dorian Boccolacci shared the wins in the two races of the day. Above: Round 1 winner, Matthew Graham pic - CIK/KSP The first of the three “U18” (under 18 years old) World Championship events, which was held this weekend at Ortona, offered a great show to the spectators present. Held over 19 laps, the final was exciting to watch and action-packed. The initial leader after his start from the first row, Michele Beccaria (Top Kart) led a group of especially lively Drivers. The Italian’s lead was finally taken by his compatriot Antonio Giovinazzi (PCR), who managed to fly away from his opponents… before being betrayed by his chain. This was to the advantage of the poleman, Matthew Graham (Zanardi), who was strongly recovering from 5th place after a poor start and a minor excursion off the track further to a contact with another Driver. This time, nothing could prevent the Briton, who had already achieved the fastest qualifying practice time, from landing his maiden world victory. “It was an incredible race”, he explained. “Lap after lap I felt my kart was faster and faster, and I never gave up. It is awesome to achieve a win in this closely-fought Championship. All the engines are identical and there is very intense fighting on the track.” Above: Federico Savona, Matthew Graham and Pyry Ovaska, U18 World Championship, Round 1 pic - CIK/KSP Behind the British Driver, the competition remained very hard-fought and arose the enthusiasm of the spectators gathered in the grandstands. Starting from the first row the Italian “Speedy” (alias Antonio Fuoco) collided with the Dane Martin Mortensen (Mach 1). In the meantime, Italy’s Federico Savona (Top Kart) secured the second step of the podium by finishing ahead of the Finn Pyry Ovaska (Maranello). Starting from 14th place, Britain’s Henry Easthope (Sodi) achieved the fastest lap time of the race and ended up at the foot of the podium after he got the better of the Dane Jannick Flygenring (Mach 1). Above: Cairns karter Aidan Wright made his international debut in Italy, taking an excellent 12th pic - CIK/KSP One of the strong men of the weekend, Simone Favaro (Parolin), paid dearly a retirement from one of the two prefinals. Only 18th on the grid, the Italian however managed to limit the damage by scoring the points of 6th place ahead of Germany’s Lucas Speck (Mach 1), the Dutchman Dave Blom (Intrepid) and the Finns Tomi Katajmäki and Niclas Nylund (both in Maranello karts). This exciting race makes us want to know what comes next and we look forward to watching the second round at the end of August on the French circuit of Essay. Above: U18 World Championship drivers pic - CIK/KSP Academy Trophy: Rodriguez unlucky, Boccolacci leader Held as a support to the CIK-FIA “U18” World Championship, the action-packed Academy Trophy had many emotions in store in Ortona’s heat wave. Leaders further to the qualifying heats, the Russian Vsevolod Gagen and the representative of the FIA Women in Motor Sport Commission, France’s Lucile Cypriano, were unable to confirm their form in the two races scheduled on Sunday afternoon. Above: Lucile Cypriano was one of the fastest on track in the heats of Karting Academy pic - CIK/KSP Both times it was Diego Rodriguez who first crossed the finish line. But the Spaniard could not make it to the highest step of the podium. A three-second penalty in the first race relegated him to the runner-up position and he was disqualified from the second race as he did not meet the regulatory minimum weight. And then we saw a historical event in the first race as it was won by Aleksander Ndrio, the first licence-holder from Albany to enter an international Karting competition. Aleksander thus proved the justification of this international competition created by the CIK-FIA with the support of Parolin (which supplies the chassis and engines free of charge), as in particular it enables Drivers from nations seldom represented in Karting to compete on equal terms with youngsters from countries where this form of sport is well developed. Above: Race 1 winner Aleksander Ndrio pic - CIK/KSP On the podium of this first race, Ndrio was joined by the poor Diego Rodriguez and the Monaco competitor Charles Leclerc. France’s Esteban Ocon and Britain’s Benjamin Barnicoat confirmed their reputation as hopefuls in their countries by getting into the Top 5 ahead of the second Frenchman, Dorian Boccolacci, the Finn Aatu Moilanen, the Spaniard Mikel Azcona, the Greek Filippos Kalesis and the Swiss Randy Berglas. After a bad start and a spin, Lucile Cypriano could only manage to finish 13th despite achieving the fastest lap time in the race, slightly ahead of Vsevolod Gagen. The second race was also full of action. After the disqualification of Rodriguez, victory went to the young Frenchman Boccolacci, who had successfully pulled away from a group where there was no lack of overtaking. He was joined on the podium by Filippos Kalesis and Charles Leclerc while Esteban Ocon and Benjamin Barnicoat confirmed the 4th and 5th places they had obtained in the first race. It was also worth noting the presence in the Top 10 of Finland’s Juho Valtanen and Aatu Moilanen, of the Norwegian Frederik Schandorff and of the Ukrainian Oleksander Tkachenko, author of the fastest lap time in the race. Above: Academy Race 2 podium pic - CIK/KSP And what about the winner of the first race, Aleksander Ndrio? A collision at the start jeopardised all his chances right from beginning, and it was also the case of Lucile Cypriano, who was involved in heavy bumping in a closely-fought opening lap. Thanks to the success he achieved in the second race, Dorian Boccolacci will arrive as provisional Championship leader at the next event, scheduled at the end of August at Essay. But he is closely followed by Charles Leclerc, Fillipos Kalesis, Esteban Ocon and Benjamin Barnicoat. Above: Aidan Wright aboard his Zanardi on the Ortona circuit pic - CIK/KSP Above: Academy driver lineup pic - CIK/KSP Above: Thumbs up from Lucile Cypriano pic - CIK/KSP Above: Dorian Boccolacci inherited the Academy Race 2 victory after the winner came in underweight pic - CIK/KSP Above: Part of the pit/paddock area pic - CIK/KSP Above: The Danish National Team that competed in U18 pic - CIK/KSP Above: Pietro Rimbano, Academy class pic - CIK/KSP Above: Academy Race 1 podium pic - CIK/KSP Home
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