European Superkarts arrive at Magny-Cours

03.09.13
The French F1 circuit of Magny-Cours will host the third round of the of CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship on 6th to 8th September.

 

The French F1 circuit of Magny-Cours will host the third round of the of CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship on 6th to 8th September. The 2013 international programme seems exceptionally full with four rounds, due to the late addition of the famous event of "Gamma Racing Days" at Assen in August. Magny-Cours is the first of two rounds in France with Le Mans in late October. As it is regularly included in the Superkart calendar (most recent events in 2009 & 2011), the Nivernais circuit will not be a surprise for the majority of the entry.

The Superkarts will appear on this occasion at the prestigious meeting of the GT Tour, guaranteeing a strong attendance by the public and media. The 2013 season saw Superkart increased competition with fewer drivers entered but a closer grid as most top drivers are included in the European Championship. As in 2011, the grid at Magny-Cours will nevertheless be comparable to Assen with the presence of several national drivers such as Alexander Sebastia, the French Championship leader in 2013 and Cyril Vayssié, two regulars who are able to be strong underdogs.

As at the two meetings already completed, the duel can expected to continue between the Briton Gavin Bennett, triple European Champion (2007-2009-2010), the leader in the standings, and the French driver Emmanuel Vinuales who has become his constant rival, now recognized by his peers for the European title he won in 2011. Although Bennett took the ascendancy in Assen, there remains a great uncertainty about the meeting at Magny-Cours circuit which has often gone the way of Bennett, but also his opponent. Both drivers use the same brands of chassis and engine (Anderson-DEA) and each has already won twice, Vinuales in Britain, Bennett in the Netherlands.

Fortunately the situation doesn't boil down to a duel to win the title. Dropping two results at the end of the Championship can give a chance to less fortunate competitors in previous races. Firstly we go back to the Redspeed Team who we saw at Assen with Lee Harpham (Anderson-FPE), the defending champion, vying for victory in the Netherlands. Delayed so far by minor incidents, this time he is determined to make up this disadvantage. Henrik Lilja, the Danish driver on a PVP-PVP, still has a good chance because he can drop his annoying retirement in England (broken rear flap).

The German Daniel Hentschel, powered by DEA, started the season with some problems optimizing the set-up of the chassis but is now better mastering his new Anderson and has ended up third in the standings. Serious and motivated outsiders are in groups on points, which is good for the competition. This is the case for the MsKart driver Adam Kout (CZ), Marcel Maasmann (NL) Vice-Champion in 2012 and Vesa Lehtinen (FIN) who is also under Redspeed colors. We will watch the development of the Dutch driver Danny Bleek (MS Kart), a great former KZ driver who has received the new VM engine which was recently approved. Still unreliable, the young Briton Liam Morley is able to put in a very good performance.

The first race is scheduled for Saturday, September 7th at 16:15, and the second on Sunday morning at 11:25.

For further information on the CIK-FIA, please consult our Internet site: www.cikfia.com