British drivers at the top KF and KF-Junior in Europe

01.09.14
Without a relationship of cause and effect, two British drivers have made themselves prominent in the UK at the PF International circuit this last weekend in August.

Without a relationship of cause and effect, two British drivers have made themselves prominent in the UK at the PF International circuit this last weekend in August. The final Competition of the CIK-FIA European Championships crowned Callum Ilott in KF and Enaam Ahmed in KF-Junior after a full season which began in May. The two new Champions both won their respective Finals in style to claim their European titles.

Organized over four Competitions this year, the CIK-FIA European Championships for KF and KF-Junior were completed on English soil, in good weather, except for the rainy period during Qualifying late Friday afternoon. Ilott and Ahmed both emerged without challengers, and each dominated their opponents brilliantly in the finals. Another similarity, they were both racing in their second season in the category in which they were crowned. But the outcome was far from settled before the outbreak of hostilities and they showed great maturity in addition to their speed, against sharp opponents at all stages of the Competition.

The PF International circuit and the organizer Trent Valley Kart Club provided facilities suited to the conclusion of the CIK-FIA European Championships. The British track is not the easiest to learn and pitfalls abound throughout its 1,382 m. The Competition has also had its share of surprises, especially during the first few laps of each race with drivers desperate to win. But sportsmanship accompanied an outcome welcomed by everyone, under the Lincolnshire sun.

Ilott dominates KF

Already very fast, but not yet mature enough last year to win, Callum Ilott (Zanardi-Parilla-Dunlop) has progressed well from his 15th place finish in 2013 at this level. At 15, Callum is one of the most promising young talents at the moment. At the Zanardi Strakka team he started the conquest of his European title by winning in the first Final in Italy and taking 2nd place in Belgium. This weekend he fully accomplished his mission by taking control of the KF category during the Qualifying Heats on Saturday before winning the Prefinal and then the Final on Sunday. His main opponent was the Dane Nicklas Nielsen (Kosmic-Vortex-Dunlop), very consistent and victorious in Belgium. Nielsen gave everything to compete for the European crown, but had to settle for second place, both in the Championship and in the Finals behind his faster rival. The podium of the race was completed by the Italian Alessio Lorandi (Tony Kart-Parilla-Dunlop) who recovered well from 11th place on the starting grid. Brilliant at his home race, the experienced Mark Litchfield (Kosmic-TM-Dunlop) finished fourth ahead of the Spaniard Pedro Hiltbrand (CRG-Parilla-Dunlop) and the young Lando Norris (FA Kart-Vortex-Dunlop), who set the fastest lap and was 3rd in the Championship.

Ahmed crowned in KF-Junior

Particularly at ease in this category since the start of the 2014 season, Enaam Ahmed was considered one of the favourites before the last Competition and has not surprised observers by winning the European title in KF-Junior. His performances in England allowed him to win the Prefinal and Final with performance to spare in front of several contenders for victory at the wheel of his FA Kart-Vortex-Vega from the team Ricky Flynn Motorsport. The Russian Alexander Vartanyan (Tony Kart-Vortex-Vega) was on the second step of the podium in the Race and the Briton Max Fewtrell (FA Kart-Vortex-Vega) was on the 3rd ahead of the American Juan Correa (Energy-TM- Vega) and Germany's David Beckmann (Tony Kart-Parilla-Vega). In the final standings of the Championship, second is the German Mick Junior (Tony Kart-Vortex-Vega) with a great result ahead of the American Devlin Defrancesco (Tony Kart-Vortex-Vega), who started strongly at the beginning of the season, but has had less success at the end.