4 Titles For IFR In Austrian Double-Header
press release
It was a brilliant weekend for the Intrepid Force Rotax karting team over the weekend at the Speedworld circuit, Pachfurth when Stefan Locsmandi and Ferenc Kancsár were unbeatable in the Junior and Senior Rotax Max classes respectively at rounds 3 and 4 of the CIK-FIA sanctioned Central European Zone (CEZ) Karting Trophy which also saw them crowned the 2010 Austrian National champions.
Above: The IFR Team: Ernst Penninger (IFR Team manager), Ferenc Kancsár (Senior Champion), Stefan Locsmandi (Junior Champion) & Niki Laa (Senior Vice Champion)
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Jenni Wade/VPD Marketing
Following their success at the previous two rounds in Hungary where they each took pole position and won all finals in both events, the IFR team-mates lead the series coming into the all-important championship decider. Part of the prize pool for the young guns is an invitation from Austrian engine manufacturer BRP-Powertrain to the Rotax Grand Final in Italy this November, where 250 drivers from more than 60 countries will compete for the chance to take the 2010 World title.
This has given 14-year old Locsmandi his first major karting title, cracking the track record in Sunday’s qualifying at his home track in a perfect way to end his racing career as a junior before moving up to the very competitive international Senior Max category next year. For Kancsár, 15 years, who’s originally from Hungary but now races for Team IFR on an Austrian licence, he’s now taken the honours two years in succession at the CEZ event, having won the junior title in 2009.
Above: Stefan Locsmandi
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Jenni Wade/VPD Marketing
IFR-supported local driver Niki Laa was unlucky when he suffered some minor technical problems that hampered his opportunity to take the honours in Senior Max, still managing to take the Austrian vice champion’s trophy however. 3rd in the class was another of the former official team drivers also supported by IFR, Tobias Weichenberger (AUT), with Matija Jurkovic (SLO) in 5th also powered by one of IFR’s HRS Rotax race engines. The excellent result for the senior class gave Italian chassis maker Intrepid Kart Technology four out of 5 places on the podium.
For the Salzburg-based race team, it’s hopefully the first four of several titles they are in the running for over the next month as the season draws to a close. This week they are competing at the final round of the Rotax Euro Challenge in Belgium where their Japanese driver and current World number one in Junior Max, Ukyo Sasahara, is currently positioned 3rd overall while Locsmandi is 12th and Kancsár is sitting 5th in Seniors. Later in September, they will return to Germany for the final round of the German-Austrian Rotax Max Challenge which sees Kancsár heading the points from IFR’s satellite team driver Maxi Gunkel (GER) racing for VPD Germany.
Above: Ferenc Kancsár
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Jenni Wade/VPD Marketing
Complete results from the CEZ Karting Trophy and Austrian National Championship events can be found at www.kart-data.com/Ergebnisse2010 and the series points table www.osk.or.at
For IFR news and updates visit – www.intrepidforcerotax.com & www.racetogetthere.com
