Thonon Suspense All The Way In KZ1; Hanssen Revelation In KZ2
press release
Despite the early morning rain, no less than 5,000 were on hand at the Genk circuit on Sunday to watch the KZ1 and KZ2 World Cups, the two divisions for karts fitted with gearboxes. And they thoroughly enjoyed the visit, as the spectacle being provided by the best karting drivers was enough to take their breath away!
KZ1 : Thonon suspense all the way
Pure spectacle and suspense, the scenario of this KZ1 World Cup KZ1 (the karts fitted with gearboxes) was on a par with the very best of Hithcock’s films. After two days of sun and heat, the rain which had been forecast was at the rendezvous on Sunday morning and so it was on a rain soaked track that the 34 finalists took the start of the Pre-Final. Under pretty precarious road holding conditions these tightrope driving specialists proved their talents. For some the death toll was already sounding in this Pre-Final, with amongst others the regional driver Rick Dreezen (Tony Kart-Vortex) and his team mate the Italian Marco Ardigo, the former being a victim of an accident and the latter as the result of inappropriate tuning. On home soil the Belgian Jonathan Thonon (CRG-Maxter) performed brilliantly by clinching the pole position for the Final ahead of the Italian Sauro Cesetti (Birel-BMB), who had come back from 13th place on the grid, Arnaud Kozlinski (CRG-Maxter), the young Dutch female Beitske Visser (Intrepid-TM), the pole holder Davide Foré (CRG-Maxter) and the title holder Bas Lammers (Intrepid-TM), who in the rain managed to save a difficult start to the weekend by climbing back up from 19th into 6th place.
Above: Thonon takes the KZ1 World Cup for CRG
pic - CIK
At the time of the Final the track had dried out and it would be anyone’s guess as to who would come out as the winner. During 22 laps the battle between these karting professionals enthralled the large crowd of Belgian enthusiasts who had come out to cheer on their representatives. Quickest at the start, Jonathan Thonon was soon disposed of by Beitske Visser. A few hundred meters further on it was Bas Lammers’ turn to take over the command ahead of his young compatriot and … Yannick de Brabander (Parolin-TM), who had come back from 8th place on the grid. In an incredible overtaking manoeuvre the Belgian got the better of the two Dutch drivers. Whilst Beitske Visser immediately threw in the towel, engine cut-off, four drivers managed to escape from the pack. Behind Yannick de Brabander, Davide Foré (four times World Champion and winner of the World Cup back in 2006), Jonathan Thonon (three times winner of the KZ1 World Cup) and Bas Lammers, the title holder, constantly swapped places, whilst at the same time putting pressure on the leader. At the beginning of the last lap de Brabander still had a small lead over Thonon and Foré, Lammers having been left behind. However Jonathan Thonon had not had his last say. Taking on a most improbable attack some two bends from the finish, Jonathan surprised Yannick de Brabander and offered himself his fourth World Cup! Obviously disappointed his rival did in fact provide for a one-two Belgian finish … to the great delight of the crowds who had fully appreciated one of the greatest Finals of these last few years.
On the lowest tread of the podium, Davide Foré has shown that notwithstanding his 37 years his passion and speed have remained intact! Following his victory in 2010, this time around Bas Lammers found himself at the foot of the podium ahead of Arnaud Kozlinski (CRG-Maxter), Antonio Piccioni (Parolin-TM), Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex), Sauro Cesetti (Birel-BMB), Jérémy Iglésias (Intrepid-TM) and Thomas Mich (Monza-TM).
| Rnk | No. | Driver | Chassis / Engine / Tyres | Gap | Best lap |
| 1 | 60 | Thonon, Jonathan | CRG / Maxter / Dunlop | 52.233 | |
| 2 | 61 | De Brabander, Yannick | Parolin / TM / Dunlop | 0.213 | 52.214 |
| 3 | 71 | Fore, Davide | CRG / Maxter / Dunlop | 0.514 | 52.242 |
| 4 | 51 | Lammers, Bas | Intrepid / TM / Dunlop | 1.882 | 52.416 |
| 5 | 76 | Kozlinski, Arnaud | CRG / Maxter / Dunlop | 3.923 | 52.396 |
| 6 | 59 | Piccioni, Antonio | Parolin / TM / Dunlop | 5.632 | 52.358 |
| 7 | 63 | Ardigo, Marco | Tony Kart / Vortex / Dunlop | 7.327 | 52.416 |
| 8 | 67 | Cesetti, Sauro | Birel / BMB / Dunlop | 10.537 | 52.679 |
| 9 | 52 | Iglesias, Jérémy | Intrepid / TM / Dunlop | 11.027 | 52.603 |
| 10 | 80 | Mich, Thomas | Monza / TM / Dunlop | 11.335 | 52.313 |
| 11 | 53 | Kurki-Suonio, Oskari | Ninar / TM / Dunlop | 13.963 | 52.779 |
| 12 | 65 | Carlton, Gary | Zanardi / Parilla / Dunlop | 14.411 | 52.793 |
| 13 | 82 | Piccini, Alessandro | Tony Kart / Vortex / Dunlop | 14.675 | 52.521 |
| 14 | 62 | Dreezen, Rick | Tony Kart / Vortex / Dunlop | 15.79 | 52.607 |
| 15 | 85 | Toninelli, Roberto | Lenzokart / TM / Dunlop | 16.5 | 52.452 |
| 16 | 78 | Leijtens, Kevin | Energy / TM / Dunlop | 16.819 | 52.674 |
| 17 | 68 | Convers, Armand | Kosmic / Vortex / Dunlop | 17.809 | 52.556 |
| 18 | 57 | Puhakka, Simo | PCR / Parilla / Dunlop | 19.173 | 52.882 |
| 19 | 87 | Van der Raad, Sinan | PCR / TM / Dunlop | 20.563 | 52.893 |
| 20 | 86 | Tanco, Jon | Parolin / TM / Dunlop | 30.789 | 52.798 |
| 21 | 88 | Trettenbrein, Lukas | BRM / TM / Dunlop | 31.074 | 53.412 |
| 22 | 72 | Gazzurelli, Gianni | FA Kart / Vortex / Dunlop | 34.227 | 52.929 |
| 23 | 79 | Lombardo, Angelo | Tony Kart / Vortex / Dunlop | 9 Laps |
52.696 |
| 24 | 73 | Geurts, Verdi | Maddox / TM / Dunlop | 10 Laps |
52.98 |
| 25 | 69 | De Conto, Paolo | Energy / TM / Dunlop | 12 Laps |
52.771 |
| 26 | 66 | Catt, Gary | Tony Kart / Vortex / Dunlop | 12 Laps |
52.846 |
| 27 | 54 | Visser, Beitske | Intrepid / TM / Dunlop | 17 Laps |
54.906 |
| 28 | 83 | Schrangl, Andreas | VRK / Seven / Dunlop | 18 Laps |
54.948 |
| 29 | 75 | Kievitsbosch, Arjan | RK / BMB / Dunlop | 20 Laps |
54.995 |
| 30 | 56 | Hajek, Patrik | Tony Kart / Vortex / Dunlop | 20 Laps |
55.849 |
| 31 | 55 | Abbasse, Anthony | Sodi / Maxter / Dunlop | 22 Laps |
|
| 32 | 84 | Serafim, André | Parolin / TM / Dunlop | 22 Laps |
|
| 74 | Hawksworth, Jack | PCR / TM / Dunlop | Excluded |
52.973 |
KZ2: Hanssen from one end to the other
Even though he was not exactly competing in his own country, the Dutchman Joey Hanssen (Lenzokart-TM) rather showed the impression of being at home in Genk, within the vicinity of the border, where the first edition of the KZ2 World Cup (the second division for karts fitted with gearboxes) was being held. Winner of the Pre-Final, Hanssen then put up an irreproachable performance during the Final which he practically led from beginning to end.
Above: KZ2 World Cup winner, Lenzokart's Joey Hanssen
pic - CIK
Even though the Croatian Kristijan Habulin (CRG-Maxter) took the lead at the start, the Dutchman soon reclaimed his right as from the second lap to take off and head for an indisputable victory. Behind him it was another Dutchman Yard Pex (CRG-Maxter) who ensured another double for the drivers emanating from the Netherlands. Having set off from only 17th place following an accident at the start of the Pre-Final, the Italian European Champion Fabian Federer (CRG-TM) climbed back up through the pack to finally clinch the lowest tread of the podium in front of Kristijan Habulin and the Italian Yuri Lucati (BRM-Maxter).
Having experienced mechanical problems in the Pre-Final, Mirko Torsellini (CRG-Maxter) and Joel Johansson (Energy-TM) were back up in 6th and 7th positions having respectively started out from 30th and 29th places on the grid. The top-10 was completed by the Frenchman Morgan Weber (Merlin-TM), the Italian Luca Tilloca (VSK-Maxter) and the Czech Jan Midrla (Birel-TM).
| Rnk | No. | Driver | Chassis / Engine / Tyres | Gap | Best lap |
| 1 | 112 | Hanssen, Joey | Lenzokart / TM / Dunlop | 52.954 | |
| 2 | 166 | Pex, Yard | CRG / Maxter / Dunlop | 2.586 | 52.978 |
| 3 | 101 | Federer, Fabian | CRG / TM / Dunlop | 4.402 | 52.976 |
| 4 | 105 | Habulin, Kristijan | CRG / Maxter / Dunlop | 5.378 | 53.072 |
| 5 | 107 | Lucati, Yuri | BRM / Maxter / Dunlop | 6.027 | 53.211 |
| 6 | 103 | Torsellini, Mirko | CRG / Maxter / Dunlop | 6.206 | 52.706 |
| 7 | 102 | Johansson, Joel | Energy / TM / Dunlop | 6.731 | 52.77 |
| 8 | 182 | Weber, Morgan | Merlin / TM / Dunlop | 6.873 | 52.909 |
| 9 | 173 | Tilloca, Luca | VSK / Maxter / Dunlop | 7.039 | 52.944 |
| 10 | 160 | Midrla, Jan | Birel / TM / Dunlop | 7.491 | 53.124 |
| 11 | 134 | Davies, Dylan | PCR / TM / Dunlop | 8.043 | 53.088 |
| 12 | 159 | Meindorfer, Marvin | DR / TM / Dunlop | 8.352 | 53.195 |
| 13 | 183 | Zanchetta, Marco | CKR / TM / Dunlop | 8.483 | 52.821 |
| 14 | 111 | Öberg, Viktor | Gillard / Parilla / Dunlop | 8.693 | 53.055 |
| 15 | 113 | Benoit, Christophe | Birel / TM / Dunlop | 9.815 | 53.131 |
| 16 | 136 | Delre, Thierry | BRM / TM / Dunlop | 12.698 | 53.312 |
| 17 | 163 | Nilsson, Tobias | Tony Kart / Vortex / Dunlop | 13.063 | 53.198 |
| 18 | 125 | Bagattino, Luca | GP / TM / Dunlop | 13.197 | 53.109 |
| 19 | 157 | Mantione, Nolan | Parolin / TM / Dunlop | 16.326 | 53.388 |
| 20 | 119 | Wiggers, Symen | CRG / TM / Dunlop | 16.385 | 53.269 |
| 21 | 154 | Lundberg, Douglas | Tony Kart / Vortex / Dunlop | 16.806 | 53.29 |
| 22 | 120 | Olierook, Rob | Energy / TM / Dunlop | 16.987 | 53.082 |
| 23 | 127 | Becker, Julian | Tony Kart / Vortex / Dunlop | 18.808 | 53.412 |
| 24 | 116 | Negro, Riccardo | DR / Parilla / Dunlop | 37.217 | 53.012 |
| 25 | 124 | Antonsen, Emil | CRG / Maxter / Dunlop | 8 Laps | 53.291 |
| 26 | 145 | Ghidella, Matteo | Maranello / TM / Dunlop | 10 Laps | 52.991 |
| 27 | 133 | Charles, Kenny | Merlin / TM / Dunlop | 18 Laps | 54.254 |
| 28 | 109 | Van Der Burgt, Ryan | Maddox / Parilla / Dunlop | 19 Laps | 53.826 |
| 29 | 174 | Van Den Eijnden, Rico | Maddox / TM / Dunlop | 21 Laps | 58.861 |
| 30 | 139 | Dontje, Indy | Energy / TM / Dunlop | 21 Laps | 59.772 |
| 31 | 138 | Di Martino, Michele | Energy / TM / Dunlop | 21 Laps | 01:00.6 |
| 32 | 104 | Kokko, Henri | Ninar / TM / Dunlop | 21 Laps | 01:01.5 |
| 33 | 108 | Janous, Adam | Intrepid / TM / Dunlop | 22 Laps | |
| 34 | 161 | Moris, Nicky | Tony Kart / Vortex / Dunlop | 22 Laps |
