Qualifying: KZ World Championship
| 12 September 2015 |
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Italy's Paolo De Conto (CRG-Maxter-Bridgestone) has qualified fastest at LeMans for the KZ World Championship. In the International KZ2 Super Cup, French racer Nicolas Gonzales (Sodi-TM-LeCont ) was fastest.
What is interesting, the KZ2 Super Cup class is going almost a second per lap faster than the KZ1 World Championship category!
Above: This is the first time in 24 years that World Championship karting has been contested at LeMans. The karting facility is part of the complex that hosts the famous 24-hour sportscar race.
pic - Press.net Images
Australian interest lies in the Patrizicorse/Ricciardo and JC Kart entries.
Patrizicorse's Mirko Torsellini qualified 22nd out of the 35 KZ starters, 0.470s off pole, and lines up in Group A for the heats.
Queensland's Jason Faint is ranked 76th out of 96 in KZ2 Super Cup, 0.837s off pole and is in Group D for the heats.
- For LIVE timing, results etc across the weekend - click HERE
- LIVE stream of Sunday's action will be braodcast HERE from 6:15pm Sunday evening AEST
- Kart360 did a bit of a review of the main contenders - see HERE
Above: Jon Targett and Dan Ricciardo in the JC Kart tent
pic - Targett/Facebook
Above: Patrizicorse's Mirko Torsellini about to practice
pic - Patrizicorse/Facebook
Above: Jason Faint with event commentator Ian Salvestrin. Don't forget to tune in to the live video stream on Sunday night, from 6:15pm AEST
pic - Targett/Facebook
Above & Below: Salvestrin took a few photos during practice and reckons the LeMans facility is probably one of the best on earth
De Conto grabs the pole in KZ
The two-time European Champion Paolo De Conto (CRG-Maxter-Bridgestone), thanks to his 51”978, finished ahead of a strong pack of opponents, all grouped in few thousandths of a second. Second place for Jorrit Pex (CRG-TM-Bridgestone): the Dutch stopped the clock at 52”060, 7 thousandths of a second ahead of the Danish Nicklas Nielsen (Tony Kart-Vortex-Bridgestone) and 13 ahead of the British Ben Hanley (Croc-TM-Bridgestone). With 52”086 the reigning World Champion Marco Ardigò (Tony kart-Vortex-Bridgestone) is fifth.
Above: Fastest qualifier in KZ, CRG's Paolo De Conto
pic - Press.net Images
| Rnk | No. | Driver | Equipment | Time | Gap | Group |
| 1 | 23 | De Conto, Paolo | CRG / Maxter / B'stone | 51.978 | A | |
| 2 | 6 | Pex, Jorrit | CRG / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.06 | 0.082 | B |
| 3 | 31 | Nielsen, Nicklas | Tony Kart / Vortex / B'stone | 52.067 | 0.089 | C |
| 4 | 3 | Hanley, Ben | Croc Promotions / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.073 | 0.095 | A |
| 5 | 2 | Ardigo, Marco | Tony Kart / Vortex / B'stone | 52.086 | 0.108 | B |
| 6 | 5 | Hajek, Patrik | Formula K / Parilla / B'stone | 52.178 | 0.2 | C |
| 7 | 14 | Dalè, Andrea | CRG / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.188 | 0.21 | A |
| 8 | 12 | Lundberg, Douglas | Kosmic Kart / Vortex / B'stone | 52.196 | 0.218 | B |
| 9 | 1 | Camponeschi, Flavio | Tony Kart / Vortex / B'stone | 52.211 | 0.233 | C |
| 10 | 9 | Abbasse, Anthony | Sodi / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.217 | 0.239 | A |
| 11 | 11 | Lammers, Bas | Sodi / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.234 | 0.256 | B |
| 12 | 20 | Dreezen, Rick | Ricciardo Kart / Parilla / B'stone | 52.257 | 0.279 | C |
| 13 | 19 | Backman, Andreas | Kosmic Kart / Vortex / B'stone | 52.264 | 0.286 | A |
| 14 | 4 | Iglesias, Jérémy | Sodi / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.285 | 0.307 | B |
| 15 | 25 | Grosso, Emilien | Tony Kart / Vortex / B'stone | 52.289 | 0.311 | C |
| 16 | 16 | Thonon, Jonathan | Praga / Parilla / B'stone | 52.314 | 0.336 | A |
| 17 | 10 | Puhakka, Simo | CRG / Maxter / B'stone | 52.315 | 0.337 | B |
| 18 | 22 | Carlton, Gary | Formula K / Parilla / B'stone | 52.316 | 0.338 | C |
| 19 | 8 | Kozlinski, Arnaud | Sodi / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.375 | 0.397 | A |
| 20 | 15 | Fore, Davide | CRG / Maxter / B'stone | 52.405 | 0.427 | B |
| 21 | 7 | Lennox-Lamb, Jordon | Birel Art / Parilla / B'stone | 52.419 | 0.441 | C |
| 22 | 18 | Torsellini, Mirko | Ricciardo Kart / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.448 | 0.47 | A |
| 23 | 24 | Buran, Alessandro | Haase-Corsa / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.465 | 0.487 | B |
| 24 | 37 | Pollini, Giacomo | CKR / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.466 | 0.488 | C |
| 25 | 30 | Spinelli, Loris | PCR / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.562 | 0.584 | A |
| 26 | 21 | Tujula, Tuomas | Croc Promotions / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.625 | 0.647 | B |
| 27 | 35 | Nilsson, Brandon | Birel Art / Vortex / B'stone | 52.633 | 0.655 | C |
| 28 | 29 | Myers, James | PCR / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.664 | 0.686 | A |
| 29 | 33 | Chubarov, Ivan | Croc Promotions / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.751 | 0.773 | B |
| 30 | 34 | Canal, Julien | Kosmic Kart / Vortex / B'stone | 52.804 | 0.826 | C |
| 31 | 32 | Vigorito, Gianni | OK1 / TM Racing / B'stone | 52.951 | 0.973 | A |
| 32 | 28 | Boisnard, Erwan | Tony Kart / Vortex / B'stone | 53.038 | 1.06 | B |
| 33 | 26 | Gimbert, Maxime | Birel Art / TM Racing / B'stone | 53.047 | 1.069 | C |
| 34 | 27 | Deharte, Julien | CRG / Vortex / B'stone | 54.04 | 2.062 | A |
| 35 | 36 | Durante, Sergio | CRGSPA / TM Racing / B'stone | 55.042 | 3.064 | B |
Gonzales throws down the challenge in KZ2
On his home circuit , Nicolas Gonzales seems to be at ease. In his session he set the best time with 51”153, beating the Spanish Pedro Hiltbrand (CRG-Maxter-Le Cont) who set an excellent time at the beginning of qualifying (eventually he was 65 milliseconds slower than his fellow countryman). Good performance for the German Tom Josef Lorkowski (Righetti-Ridolfi-Modena-Le Cont), third at 74 milliseconds, ahead of the French Pierre Loubere (Sodi-TM).
Above: Fastest qualifier in KZ2, Sodi's Nicolas Gonzales
pic - Press.net Images
| Rnk | No. | Driver | Equipment | Time | Gap | Group |
| 1 | 126 | Gonzales, Nicolas | Sodi / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.153 | A | |
| 2 | 102 | Hiltbrand, Pedro | CRG / Maxter / LeCont | 51.218 | 0.065 | B |
| 3 | 117 | Lorkowski, Tom Josef | Righetti Ridolfi / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.227 | 0.074 | C |
| 4 | 195 | Loubere, Pierre | Sodi / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.256 | 0.103 | D |
| 5 | 111 | Pescador, Jorge Carlos | Praga / Parilla / LeCont | 51.343 | 0.19 | E |
| 6 | 118 | Cavalieri, Alberto | Righetti Ridolfi / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.351 | 0.198 | F |
| 7 | 131 | Horio, Fuma | CRG / Maxter / LeCont | 51.355 | 0.202 | A |
| 8 | 108 | Kremers, Marijn | Birel Art / Parilla / LeCont | 51.356 | 0.203 | B |
| 9 | 181 | Pelizzari, Alessandro | CKR / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.357 | 0.204 | C |
| 10 | 121 | Tilloca, Luca | DR / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.358 | 0.205 | D |
| 11 | 127 | Mosca, Tommaso | Maranello / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.364 | 0.211 | E |
| 12 | 119 | Laurent, Thomas | Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont | 51.375 | 0.222 | F |
| 13 | 130 | Mazzali, Massimo | Croc Promotions / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.385 | 0.232 | A |
| 14 | 142 | Davies, Dylan | CRG / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.392 | 0.239 | B |
| 15 | 148 | Piccioni, Antonio | Righetti Ridolfi / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.427 | 0.274 | C |
| 16 | 107 | Tiene, Felice | CRG / Maxter / LeCont | 51.434 | 0.281 | D |
| 17 | 123 | Bernardotto, Enrico | Maranello / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.437 | 0.284 | E |
| 18 | 115 | Camplese, Lorenzo | Parolin / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.451 | 0.298 | F |
| 19 | 180 | Leuillet, Gabin | Sodi / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.451 | 0.298 | A |
| 20 | 104 | Corberi, Luca | Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont | 51.464 | 0.311 | B |
| 21 | 150 | Brenna, Simone | TB Kart / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.478 | 0.325 | C |
| 22 | 175 | Di Silvestre, Moreno | DR / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.514 | 0.361 | D |
| 23 | 156 | Habulin, Kristijan | TB Kart / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.52 | 0.367 | E |
| 24 | 162 | Van Leeuwen, Martijn | CRG / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.521 | 0.368 | F |
| 25 | 152 | Christensen, Michael E. | Praga / Parilla / LeCont | 51.539 | 0.386 | A |
| 26 | 106 | Schmitz, Alexander | Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont | 51.54 | 0.387 | B |
| 27 | 134 | Rosati, Fabrizio | CRG / Maxter / LeCont | 51.543 | 0.39 | C |
| 28 | 145 | Midrla, Jan | MS Kart / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.552 | 0.399 | D |
| 29 | 177 | Baciuska, Rokas | Energy Corse / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.552 | 0.399 | E |
| 30 | 167 | Fiault, Charles | Sodi / Parilla / LeCont | 51.558 | 0.405 | F |
| 31 | 168 | Guibbert, Enzo | Tony Kart / Parilla / LeCont | 51.582 | 0.429 | A |
| 32 | 113 | Federer, Fabian | CRG / Maxter / LeCont | 51.592 | 0.439 | B |
| 33 | 116 | Babington, Sean | Energy Corse / Parilla / LeCont | 51.598 | 0.445 | C |
| 34 | 188 | Carde, Emilien | Kosmic / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.599 | 0.446 | D |
| 35 | 174 | Skaras, Emil | Tony Kart / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.6 | 0.447 | E |
| 36 | 185 | Simoni, Mauro | CRG / Parilla / LeCont | 51.616 | 0.463 | F |
| 37 | 192 | Godard, Ludovic | FA Kart / Vortex / LeCont | 51.621 | 0.468 | A |
| 38 | 176 | Alex, (A. Irlando) | DR / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.629 | 0.476 | B |
| 39 | 112 | Piccini, Alessio | Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont | 51.629 | 0.476 | C |
| 40 | 120 | Tornqvist Persson, Benjami | CRG / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.642 | 0.489 | D |
| 41 | 151 | Breysse, Kevin | Evokart / Parilla / LeCont | 51.649 | 0.496 | E |
| 42 | 129 | Azedo Sousa, Yohan | Zanardi / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.652 | 0.499 | F |
| 43 | 124 | Negro, Riccardo | OK1 / Parilla / LeCont | 51.655 | 0.502 | A |
| 44 | 166 | Favaro, Simone | Vemme Kart / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.662 | 0.509 | B |
| 45 | 158 | Myszkier, Pawe | Mach 1 / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.673 | 0.52 | C |
| 46 | 144 | Ippolito, Paolo | CRG / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.688 | 0.535 | D |
| 47 | 101 | Johansson, Joel | Energy Corse / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.693 | 0.54 | E |
| 48 | 114 | Celenta, Francesco | Parolin / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.694 | 0.541 | F |
| 49 | 161 | Tanco, Jon | Energy Corse / LKE / LeCont | 51.705 | 0.552 | A |
| 50 | 138 | Cebrian Ariza, Gerard | Maranello / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.709 | 0.556 | B |
| 51 | 154 | Engman, Kevin | Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont | 51.722 | 0.569 | C |
| 52 | 103 | Fasberg, Andreas | Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont | 51.725 | 0.572 | D |
| 53 | 201 | Samon, Enzo | Exprit / Vortex / LeCont | 51.726 | 0.573 | E |
| 54 | 171 | Hall, Philip | Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont | 51.73 | 0.577 | F |
| 55 | 133 | Zanchetta, Marco | Energy Corse / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.732 | 0.579 | A |
| 56 | 147 | Hanssen, Joey | Mach 1 / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.736 | 0.583 | B |
| 57 | 149 | Arrue, Alexandre | Praga / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.761 | 0.608 | C |
| 58 | 155 | Gomez Rubiera, Alvaro | CRGSPA / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.761 | 0.608 | D |
| 59 | 178 | Correa, Juan | Energy Corse / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.792 | 0.639 | E |
| 60 | 170 | Roy, Maxime | Birel Art / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.796 | 0.643 | F |
| 61 | 109 | Pex, Stan | CRG / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.797 | 0.644 | A |
| 62 | 159 | Ostvold, Kenneth J. | Dino Kart / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.804 | 0.651 | B |
| 63 | 186 | Greenfield, Taylor | Gillard / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.804 | 0.651 | C |
| 64 | 199 | Poulain, Antoine | Sodi / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.807 | 0.654 | D |
| 65 | 105 | Besancenez, Paolo | Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont | 51.823 | 0.67 | E |
| 66 | 110 | Siebecke, Maik | CRG / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.825 | 0.672 | F |
| 67 | 179 | Leuillet, Tom | Sodi / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.83 | 0.677 | A |
| 68 | 137 | Giannoni, Lorenzo | Maranello / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.865 | 0.712 | B |
| 69 | 125 | Martynyuk, Maxim | CRG / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.866 | 0.713 | C |
| 70 | 202 | Ucci, Giovanni | Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont | 51.907 | 0.754 | D |
| 71 | 187 | Kallasmaa, Kaspar | CRG / Modena Engines / LeCont | 51.909 | 0.756 | E |
| 72 | 164 | Bondier, Nelson | Tony Kart / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.93 | 0.777 | F |
| 73 | 169 | Neubauer, Thomas | Birel Art / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.946 | 0.793 | A |
| 74 | 200 | Roséo, Arnaud | Tony Kart / Maxter / LeCont | 51.962 | 0.809 | B |
| 75 | 182 | Dijk, Roy | CRG / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.968 | 0.815 | C |
| 76 | 184 | Faint, Jason | Parolin / TM Racing / LeCont | 51.99 | 0.837 | D |
| 77 | 198 | Pagnon, Eddy | CRG / Vortex / LeCont | 52 | 0.847 | E |
| 78 | 122 | Musio, Luigi | Parolin / TM Racing / LeCont | 52.01 | 0.857 | F |
| 79 | 190 | Choisnet, Hugo | Birel Art / TM Racing / LeCont | 52.014 | 0.861 | A |
| 80 | 128 | Prosperi, Oliver Enrico | CRG / TM Racing / LeCont | 52.047 | 0.894 | B |
| 81 | 173 | Lagerstrom, Linus | Tony Kart / TM Racing / LeCont | 52.085 | 0.932 | C |
| 82 | 193 | Hemery, Thomas | CRGSPA / TM Racing / LeCont | 52.113 | 0.96 | D |
| 83 | 160 | Reinhard, André | CRG / Maxter / LeCont | 52.119 | 0.966 | E |
| 84 | 197 | Cobos Manzanal, Arturo | Maranello / Modena Engines / LeCont | 52.12 | 0.967 | F |
| 85 | 136 | Fontaine, Paul | Sodi / TM Racing / LeCont | 52.134 | 0.981 | A |
| 86 | 165 | Di Pietro, Andrea Felice | GP Racing / TM Racing / LeCont | 52.135 | 0.982 | B |
| 87 | 194 | Horr, Pascal | CRG / TM Racing / LeCont | 52.138 | 0.985 | C |
| 88 | 163 | Wiggers, Symen | CRG / TM Racing / LeCont | 52.163 | 1.01 | D |
| 89 | 139 | Mandozzi, Giorgio Alberto | Birel Art / Parilla / LeCont | 52.227 | 1.074 | E |
| 90 | 191 | Di Martino, Giuseppe | GP Racing / TM Racing / LeCont | 52.266 | 1.113 | F |
| 91 | 135 | Bottiroli, Antoine | Sodi / TM Racing / LeCont | 52.28 | 1.127 | A |
| 92 | 153 | Delre, Thierry | Mach 1 / Vortex / LeCont | 52.335 | 1.182 | B |
| 93 | 141 | Zanchi, Matteo | CRG / Maxter / LeCont | 52.35 | 1.197 | C |
| 94 | 196 | Maatougui, Adam | Energy Corse / Maxter / LeCont | 52.371 | 1.218 | D |
| 95 | 189 | Cervera Guardeno, Arnau | Maranello / TM Racing / LeCont | 52.373 | 1.22 | E |
| 96 | 132 | Rhyn, Rudolf | Birel Art / Modena Engines / LeCont | 01:07.3 | 16.184 | F |
Ugo De Wilde is the fastest in the Academy Trophy
He is the youngest but he showed all his skills: the Belgian Ugo De Wilde, with 56”082, is the pole-sitter. He was almost two tenths faster than the Lithuanian Kasparas Vaskelis. Third position for the British Callum Bradshaw, ahead of the current leader of the standings, the Spanish Marta Garcia Lopez (all on Parolin-FIM-Bridgestone).
Above: I think we all know who this is!
pic - Press.net Images
