Preview - The Viking Trophy at Pori
Tweetpress release
Traditional event on the CIK-FIA calendar, the Viking Trophy is a special meeting. Open to representatives of North European and Baltic countries, as well as of Russia, this competition is one of the benchmarks for Nordic Drivers. It is in particular an opportunity for the least wealthy ones to make a name for themselves beyond the borders of their countries. Amongst other rewards, the winners are invited to the CIK-FIA Awards ceremony in the same way as the other award winners of the major CIK-FIA competitions.
After the Norwegian track of Rudskogen last year, it is this time the circuit of Pori, in the south-west of Finland, which will be the setting of this event to be organised from 15 to 17 June. Three categories will be represented as usual: KF2, which mainly regroups the Hopefuls, KF3, namely under 15 year-old Juniors, and KZ2, a gearbox kart category.
Although Norway’s Kenneth Aarsnes will not throw in his title, the fight promises to be interesting in KF2. On their home ground the Finns will have territorial advantage. Well-known at the international level, Ville Mäntylä (Energy-Parilla), Juho Valtanen (PCR-Parilla) and Niclas Nylund (ART GP-Parilla) will try to have their national anthem played at Pori. They will however have to keep an eye on the Swede Robin Hansson (Tony Kart-Vortex) and the Russian Dmitry Dlougy (Tony Kart-Vortex) in particular. And, anyway, in the Viking Trophy even more than in any other race a little-known Driver can always reveal himself and create a sensation!
Reserved for under 15 year-old Drivers, the KF3 category will be the one with the biggest entry list in Finland. As far as Finnish Drivers are concerned, Joonas Lappalainen (Ninar-Vortex) and Aatu Moilanen (Haase Corsa-Vortex) seem the most likely to shine. But Denmark’s Martin Ellegaard (FK-TM) and Russia’s Nikita Sitnikov (Tony Kart-BMB), among others, are not prepared to accept that: they are determined to write their name after that of the fast Norwegian Dennis Olsen on the list of results.
The Finns will feel quite lonely in the KZ2 category of gearbox karts. A mere 8 of them have decided to participate in this 2012 edition of the Viking Trophy, and Henri Kokko (Ninar-TM) will indeed be tipped as favourite at the start.
Further to the Friday dedicated to Free and Non-Qualifying Practice, competitors will get down to business on Saturday at the end of the morning with Qualifying Practice. Three Qualifying Heats will then be scheduled for all categories prior to the Prefinal and the decisive Final on Sunday afternoon.
- Event guide and entry list on the CIKFIA site HERE