WSK: Series Salbris summary

FIFTH WSK SEASON'S WEEKEND IN SALBRIS

The championship becomes thrilling: the WSK International Series in Salbris (F) livens the rankings up, after Thonon's (CRG-Maxter) win in KZ2, Johansson (Energy-TM) in KF2 and De Vries (Zanardi-Parilla) in KF3.

All the French races and the Championship predictions on TV, Friday August 7th, on Rai Più Sport.

Strong duels for the top in a heated season's final in Salbris. There was no lack of surprises at the Circuit Internationale de Salbris, a 1500 metres track, in the central part of France, requiring an high driving technique. In that location, the races at the fifth round of the WSK International karting Series declared the winners in the classes KZ2, KF2 and KF3. The qualifying heats and the Pre-finals had already shown a few favourites, but in the tight Finals, not every prediction came true. The temperature, reaching 30o. in the heat of the day, concurred to make things difficult for the drivers involved in the chase for the leadership, in a championship still open to odds.

In KZ2 Thonon returns to win, but Ardigò leads the championship. An unbeatable Jonathan Thonon (CRG-Maxter-Vega) dominated KZ2 Final, dashing that way Ardigò's (Tony Kart-Vortex-Vega) positive hopes of going to the top by winning the final race. The latter, already winner in the Pre-final, was overtaken at the start by French Jeremy Iglesias (Intrepid-TM-Vega) who played a leading role at first, resisting well two strong rival's attacks. Meanwhile, the other driver from Brescia, Davide Forè (CRG-Maxter-Vega) who was the favourite for gaining the pole position in the Pre-final, was staying back due to a touch right after the start. Belgian Thonon overtook Iglesias before long and managed to take the lead, followed shortly by Ardigò. Crossing the line with such unchanged positions, Ardigò left France as the new leader, whereas Dutch Bas Lammers (Intrepid-TM-Vega), being the previous leader, finished behind his team mate Iglesias and cut off of the podium. At only one round left, Thonon is in third position and he can still hope for a mathematical ultimate win. The conclusive challenge for KZ2 win will take place in Zuera, Spain, where at the end of September, Lammers will try to close the gap with Ardigò.

Johansson reshuffles KF2 ranking. English Ben Cooper (Tony Kart-Vortex-Bridgestone), KF2 leader already from the previous round, relied on this race to launch a conclusive attack scoring for the championship. In Salbris, on the contrary, Joel Johansson (Energy-TM-Bridgestone) blocked his way and unexpected the fast Swede won both Pre-final and Final. In both races, Johansson kept an eye on Cooper who finished first third and then second. The English guy now widens the gap over Matteo Viganò (Birel-Parilla-Bridgestone) from Bergamo who was really unlucky today failing to enter the battle for the lead, owing to several engine troubles during the heats. Thanks to a double win, Johansson instead, improves up to third and, only two rounds from the end of the season, throws his hat into the ring for the ultimate win. Well done also to Matteo Beretta (Tony Kart-Vortex-Bridgestone) who mounted the podium in the Final, after a second place achieved in the Pre-final. He too, could regain therefore the right push for a strong recovery in the ranking.

De Vries reverses KF3 ranking. Dutch Nyck De Vries (Zanardi-Parilla-Dunlop) knows what's what. In Salbris indeed, he stood aside in the heats to achieve then forceful victory in the Final. In the conclusive race, Brazilian Guilherme Silva and Spanish Carlos Sainz (both on a Tony Kart-Vortex-Dunlop) gaining the first two places in the Pre-final, were the favourites. Starting from the first line, they both spectated De Vries who starting two lines back took the lead from the first lap. The Dutch driver was very skilful at moving into an early and substantial lead, leaving his pursuers duelling against each other. Sainz managed to win the bagarre for the second place, followed by a further Dutch Peter Hoevenaars (Zanardi-Parilla-Dunlop). A mention to the excellent performance by Italian Raffaele Marciello (Intrepid-TM-Dunlop): stopping immediately due to a chain breaking in the Pre-final, he recovered prodigiously up to a fourth place in the Final. The ranking now reports De Vries strongly at the top, over Russian Daniil Kvyat (Kart-Vortex-Dunlop) who failed to perform as well as in the previous races. Only two rounds from the championship final, Sainz, third, is still shortlisted for the title.

The weekend in Salbris on TV. Also for the WSK race in Salbris, a special report will be broadcast on TV. The meeting is next Friday, August 3rd on Rai Più Sport, both digital and terrestrial.

-credit: wsk