Even though the 258 Drivers may not all be present, the Kristianstad Competition entry is expected to be a great success, with 27 wild card Drivers. Many will go to Kristianstad directly from Finland, where last week the penultimate CIK-FIA European Championship Competition for the OK and OK-Junior categories took place at the Alahärmä circuit. The Swedish Åsum Ring track, which is widely appreciated, is 1221 metres long, and will be responsible for deciding who will fight for the 2017 European titles. The Kristianstad Kart Klubb organisation, which is as competent as it is friendly, is preparing for the decisive Competition of the European season.

De Conto already Champion in KZ

Already three times a winner this year, the reigning World Champion Paolo De Conto (CRG / TM Racing / B'stone) is already guaranteed to win the CIK-FIA European KZ Championship. The battle for the places of honour is between Patrik Hajek (Kosmic/Vortex/B'stone) with 57 points, Marijn Kremers (Birel ART/TM Racing/B'stone) with 53 points, Stan Pex (CRG) / TM Racing / B'stone) with 53 points and Bas Lammers (Sodi / TM Racing / B'stone) with 46 points.

Uncertain match in KZ2

For the third and final Competition of the CIK-FIA European KZ2 Championship, the situation remains open between the top seven of the provisional classification. Leon Köhler (Tony Kart / Vortex / B'stone) has taken the lead with 47 points, while Paolo Ippolito (Lenzokart / LKE / B'stone) came in 2nd with 42 points thanks to his victory at Le Mans (FRA). Alessandro Irlando (Sodi / TM Racing / B'stone) is on 42 points and Matteo Vigano (Tony Kart / Vortex) 40 points, in ambush in the 3rd and 4th places. Remember that Vigano was on the way to winning the Le Mans Final and the lead of the rankings when his engine failed him on the last lap. Rokas Baciuska (Sodi / TM Racing / B'stone) on 35 points has returned to the top five after his 2nd position in France ahead of his teammate Tom Leuillet (Sodi / TM Racing / B'stone) on 29 points. In 7th, Martijn Van Leeuwen (Energy / TM Racing / B'stone) still has a say in the final result.

Taoufik arrives as leader in OK

The twists and turns of the fourth of the five CIK-FIA European Championship Competitions in Finland allowed Sami Taoufik (FA Kart / Vortex / LeCont), a victorious rookie in the Final, to take the lead in the provisional classification of the OK category with 64 points. He leads the reigning Champion Pedro Hiltbrand Aguilar (Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) with 56 points, while three other rookies complete the top five: David Vidales Ajenjo (Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) on 52 points, Théo Pourchaire (Kosmic / Vortex) / LeCont) on 51 points and Pavel Bulantsev (Tony Kart / Vortex / LeCont) also on 51 points. With such tight gaps, the battle for the title is far from over, especially as other seasoned Drivers are ready to play their tricks in the Swedish Races.

Junior: Edgar the big favourite

Jonny Edgar (Exprit / TM Racing / Vega), who won the opening round of the season at Sarno (ITA), added a major victory last week at Alahärmä (FIN). His talent and total of 94 points make him the logical favourite for the 2017 CIK-FIA European Junior Championship. There is no risk of getting bored during the Swedish Competition as the Junior Races are exciting to experience. Harry Thompson (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega) has 70 points to challenge his compatriot in the company of outsiders Jack Doohan (FA Kart / Vortex / Vega), Ilya Morozov (Tony Kart / Vortex / Vega), Gabriel Bortoleto (CRG / Parilla / Vega) or Christopher Lulham (Tony Kart / Parilla / Vega). The 3rd place is to be decided between Hadrien David (Zanardi / Parilla / Vega) and O'Neill Muth (Zanardi / Parilla / Vega).