Kart-SM: Only Patrick Näscher may already celebrate
PREVIOUS DECISION At the penultimate round of the Karting Championship in Levier (F), Patrick Näscher already secured the title in the OK Senior class. André Reinhard, on the other hand, was very unlucky in the KZ2 class - the favorite now has to wait for the final in Lignières. The penultimate of the six events of the autobau Swiss Kart Championship 2018 was held in midsummer weather just a few [...]
The penultimate of the six events in the 2018 autobau Swiss Kart Championship was held in midsummer weather just a few kilometers behind the Swiss border at Pontarlier in Levier, France. All five classes held two heats and one final race each.
KZ2: Surprising day winner Mike Müller
Few doubted that championship leader André Reinhard (CRG/TM) would secure his third KZ2 title early in Levier after 2012 and 2013. But the man from the canton of Zeeland had unexpected problems with the track and didn't really get going in either qualifying or the races.
His lead over Hicham Mazou (Kosmic/TM) before the final on September 15/16 in Lignières shrank from 45 to just 28 points.
André Reinhard: "But that should still be enough in a normal case. But I can't afford to drop out in Lignières."
Norick Lehner (Praga/Parilla) dominated qualifying and the heats. However, the hoped-for day's victory came to nothing because the driver from Biel was bumped off the track by an opponent before the first corner in the final and had to retire.
This cleared the way for Mike Müller (Swiss Hutless/Maxter), who took his first win of the day. Isabelle von Lerber and Hicham Mazou (Kosmic/TM) joined him on the podium.
OK Senior: Patrick Näscher closes the bag
Patrick Näscher (Mach1/TM) left no stone unturned in the OC Seniors. The 23-year-old from Liechtenstein already closed the bag with the two preliminary race victories and celebrated the title with a victory in the final.
Miklas Born (Exprit/Vortex), however, came threateningly close to him towards the end of the race. Third place went to Julien Apothéloz (Kosmic/Vortex). One week after the SKM final, the Zurich driver will contest his first touring car race at Hockenheim as the last finalist in the 2018 Young Driver Challenge.
Patrick Näscher: "This season was like a dream. Everything has fit and harmonized perfectly. Now I can really enjoy the finale in Lignières. How it will continue in 2019, I don't know yet."
High voltage before Lignières
The Iame X30 Challenge Switzerland with its technically highly regulated and, thanks to standardized engines, inexpensive karts also provided the largest starting field in Levier with 26 drivers. Danny Buntschu (Kosmic/Iame), DR driver Alain Baeriswyl and Savio Moccia (new on Kart Republic/Iame) were separated by only 13 points before Levier.
Although Baeriswyl won all three races and took the overall lead, he is only 10 points ahead of Buntschu and 14 points ahead of Moccia before the final in Lignières. And a maximum of 75 points are up for grabs at the final, so high tension is guaranteed!
Four riders also still have title chances in the X30 Juniors. Michael Sauter (Praga/Iame), Elia Sperandio (Praga/Iame), Samir Ben (Swiss Hutless/Iame) and Eron Rexhepi (Kosmic/Iame) were only seven points apart before Levier.
In the two heats, Sauter and Ben forfeited a lot of points due to technical problems and caroms, while Rexhepi and Sperandio finished first and second twice.
In the final, Samir Ben then drove as if unleashed from penultimate place on the grid to first place. Rexhepi and Sperandio are now considered title favorites.
Super Mini: Battle of the sexes
In the youngsters, overall leader Shannon Lugassy (Kosmic/LKE) extended his lead over Ekaterina Lüscher (Top Kart/Iame) from 20 to 26 points with the final victory.
Lüscher was able to win the first preliminary heat, but in the final Lugassy and Sebastian Kraft (Kosmic/TM), who came storming from far behind, were a tad faster. Kraft, however, was eliminated from the title fight after losing big points from the heats.
Information: Markus Lehner
