Sodi 2nd In KF3 At European Championship
press release
The European Championship is an intense, merciless event that gathers the best European drivers, who are determined to do anything to win the title. In this highly competitive environment full of pitfalls, Sodi achieved a fantastic result with Pierre Gasly, who was crowned Vice European Champion in KF3, at the end of a final with several coups de theatre that put the nerves of the team to the test.
Already during the first practice sessions, Pierre's times confirmed the excellent state of form of the driver and his equipment. The excellent job made by the Sodi Racing Team to find the right adjustments, as well as a busy race calendar, which included the WSK Euro Series and the GPO, allowed the team to reach maturity in time for the first major rendezvous of the season. «Pierre came very close to the pole, but was hampered during the last lap in timed qualifying and had to content himself with a 4th time not up to our expectations» Nicola De Cola, the Team Manager, explained.
During the four heats, he kept a level of performances worthy of a real leader of the category (twice best lap time in race), Pierre was penalised by 10" in one heat for a very questionable early start, which pushed him back to 13th place in the provisional general standings. A result that was far from reflecting his real level of performances and pushed the whole team to work twice as hard to prepare for the final phases.
«Frankly, we have the perfect kart to win» Nicola confessed before the start. «IAME supplied us with top engines and our chassis is certainly the best on the market. As for the driver, he has all my confidence. I simply hope that all races are fair, that's all».
In a pre-final, where the assigned goal was first of all caution and a return to top places, Pierre did his job, conquered 8 places and was ideally placed in 5th before the final showdown!
Very ready at the start, Sodi's official driver reached 3rd place immediately at the first turn. Unfortunately several drivers cut the track in the middle of the red and white area and pushed him out of trajectory...6 places back. Evidently the story changed and podium hopes seemed to be gone... but..., but kart n° 120 started to «fly» and to gain ground at very high speed on his rivals, overtaking them one by one. The Gasly/Sodi team was irresistible, with an amazing performance! 3rd when the line of arrival was in sight, Pierre tried to conquer the second place on the finish line to offer Sodi the title of Vice European Champion. A true masterpiece...
«Given the circumstances, we are very happy anyway. Pierre did a great job, nothing to say about that, well done. And he was not the only one, the team was virtually perfect. With the time lost (unfairly, I must say) at the beginning of the race, it was impossible to try and go after the leader, but without that...the title was definitely within our reach! It's a pity that some drivers distorted the race with impunity by crossing the track and pushing everybody around. For me, this is not what competition is about, it's a behaviour that distorts everything...»
Thanks to its remarkable performances, now the Sodi Racing Team is planning the rest of the season with greater determination: French Championship and World Cup are already on the horizon for Pierre and his team mates...who will not be idle this summer, no doubt about that!
