Kart-SM: Season start with a bang
The autobau Swiss Kart Championship 2017 started last weekend in Italy with first surprises. In the top class KZ2, several collisions influenced the fight for the best places in the final heat. On the international track 7Laghi in Castelletto di Branduzzo near Pavia, a total of almost 100 drivers competed in the five championship classes. In the almost [...]
On the international 7Laghi track in Castelletto di Branduzzo near Pavia, a total of almost 100 drivers competed in the five championship classes. In the almost 50 hp KZ2 category, various opponents came into contact with each other as early as the first bend of the final race. Isabelle von Lerber dropped back to the end of the field as a result. André Reinhard, who was fastest in training, also lost a few positions after a jostle.
The highlight of the race was the collision of the two pre-race winners Loïc Vindice and Nicolas Rohrbasser, who had been fighting at the front until that moment. Rohrbasser got into the meadow and came back on the track via a shortcut. This was punished by the jury after the race with a disqualification. As a result, the surprising class newcomer Norick Lehner moved up to second place.
With Vindice focusing on the French championship in 2017 and competing only sporadically in SKM, this unexpected second place for Lehner feels like a victory. Vindice's GSK teammate Quentin Voria finished third on the podium, with Dominik Weibel and Philipp Kissling landing behind him.
In the OK Senior Karts, Pascal Von Allmen and Yannik Klaey each won one of the heats, but each had technical problems in the other. Klaey also dropped out in the final with engine damage. Von Allmen had to admit defeat to 15-year-old Samuel Weibel, but successfully defended second place against the attacking Alessandro Felber.
In the X30 Seniors (15 years and older), the top 3 from 2016 have moved to higher classes (champion Norick Lehner to the KZ2 switch karts, Hicham Mazou and Alessandro Felber to the OK Senior class). As a result, Patrick Näscher is considered the logical title favorite as the fourth-place finisher in 2016. Näscher won all three races, but Steven Planchamp finished close behind in each case.
Stumbled favorite
At first it looked as if last year's champion Savio Moccia would set the tone again in the X30 Juniors. But the fastest qualifier was only able to win the second heat on a wet track. In the final he first had to let Mike Müller go and in the end he also had to bow to Miklas Born.
In the youngest category (Super Mini, from 8 to 13 years), Elia Sperandio was the measure of all things. The St. Gallen native won one heat, finished second behind Michael Sauter in the other heat and pulled away from all opponents early on in the final. Behind Sperandio, Shannon Lugassy and Hugo Giraud offered a splendid duel, which Lugassy won in the end.
The next round of the autobau Kart-SM will take place on Saturday, April 29, in Wohlen.
Information: Markus Lehner
