8TH EASYKART INTERNATIONAL GRAND FINALS SIENA, 16TH –18TH OCTOBER 2009

AMAZING AND SPECTACULAR RACES ANIMATED THE EASYKART INTERNATIONAL GRAND FINALS

Successes went to the Russian Shwartzman in 60cc, to the Italian Balsamo in 100cc, to Kramarsky for Russia again in 125 Light, to the Italian Lucchese in 125 Heavy and to the Czech Krauchuk in 125 Shifter

Siena (Italy) – More than 260 drivers, from 19 different nations, animated the Easykart World Finals, run on the Tuscan track of Siena from 16th to 18th October. And the show, to which the huge crowd attended, was amazing, thanks to unpredictable races and results not sure till the chequered flag.
Just think to the success gained by the Russian Robert Shwartzman in 60cc class, where he confirmed himself champion once again, beating at the photo finish, for few centimetres the leader of the 2009 season (European and Italian Champion of category) Mattia Drudi. Always in 60cc, great performance of Roberti, in 5th place after a contact at the start and back to the 3rd one before Lazzari, Cecotto (son of the motorbike and ex F1 driver) and Malczak. In top ten there were also the Venezuelan Cicconetti, the German Waldherr, the Italian Atlante and the German Beckhusen.

Spectacular also the 125 Light competition, ended just at few laps to the last one, when the leader Ruggeri has been reached both by Scaioli and the Russian Kramasky. Under the chequered flag was Kramarsky the one who won on Ruggeri and Scaioli 3rd. But during the post race, for the Gomme & Service team driver, arrived the penalty of 5’’ for missed alignment, and was forced back to the 6th place, on the last step of the podium. The Italian Da Riz gained the 3rd place before Vender, who was the best driver after the qualifications of Saturday and gained the pole for the Final. The English Jack Sales ended 5th, then Scaioli, Messina, the English Langley, the American Amaya and the Russian Timofeev.

After two successes gone to Russia, the first Italian anthem played for the young Nicolò Balsamo, who won the 100cc after spinning from pole, gained thanks to some great performances during qualifying practice and heats. Balsamo left the leadership only during the first part of the race, when Alessandra Brena took the control before being overtaken again by Balsamo, Fontana and Rosa, who ended in this same order after a hard competition. 4th place for Riccardo Geltrude, before Alessandra Brena and Dario Orsini for a totally Italian podium. Following Porta before the Slovak Pastorok, the Russian Bolshikh and the Polish Kowalski, Europen champion in this category.

Italy went on the highest step of the podium also in 125 Heavy, category in which Danilo Lucchese gained the pole in qualifying practice, won both the qualifying heats and dominated the scene in the Final. On the 2nd step of the podium there was Stefano Cobianchi, then the Russian Divak, the English McCullogh, the Russian Smelov and the English, 2007 champion, Pittingale.

In 125 Shifter, the title went to Czech Republic with the success gained for few tens by Krauchuk on the Polish Glowacki and the Italian Scuto. Unlucky, also in this category there was a measure by the Stewards that modified the ranking so that Scuto has been excluded after an overtake with yellow flags, making Laguardia gained the 3rd place and preceded the Greek Stathakopoulos and Perdisa.

Great success also for the 50 Training program, with almost 40 young drivers coming from 5 different nations, as well as it is important to focus on the perfect organizational machine created by Birel and the Italian ASN that, among other things prepared the video control of all the startings and the use (for the 1st time in Italy) of the radar to check the speed of starting, and a staff with professional Marshals of the Monza Autodrome and more than 40 people among Stewards, Scrutineers, Race Directors, medical and safety staff.

There were also a lot of services dedicated to drivers, like the huge structure of Hospitality and Secretariat of the paddock where Red Bull and Beretta products were distributed for free. Both the stands were really appreciated: in the Red Bull Zone the hostesses of the most famous energy drink of the Motorsport entertained drivers and staff with music and distribution of thousands of cans, while the Beretta catering was active for two days in the main room and in the Vip Lounge where almost 100 journalists and many hosts of the organization were welcomed during the race day. About communication, the huge media success of the event, which saw the press room full of journalists coming from 11 different countries and many televisions which produced material for a lot of hours. The public was able to follow everything in real time on the big screen thanks to the Orange direction, present on the circuit. Huge success also for the live results service on the website, with more than 23.000 users in three days of competition.
The International Finals of 2009 have very positive balance, both from the sport, where the equality of cars has been confirmed as well as the formative prerogatives of the Trophy supported by Birel, and the organizational point of view, where stands were comparable to the ones of the most important International meetings.

FULL REPORT

60 EASYKART - International Grand Finals

Shwartzman confirmed himself the champion beating Drudi at the photo finish for just 75 thousandths

The intermediate classification of penalties after qualifying practice and the two qualifying heats, saw the International champion Robert Shwartzman gaining the pole for the World Final thank to the best time of his group of qualification, the 2nd place gained after Drudi in the 1st round and a victory in the 2nd round. With the same penalties ended also eliminatory, the great Davide Lombardo won both the heats, but due to a worse qualifying practice of Shwartzman gained the 2nd place. Positive and growing Jonathan Cecotto, absolute 3rd before Mattia Drudi, the Hungarian Havasi and the German Waldherr. The huge group of finalists did great at the 1st turn with Shwartzman before Cecotto, Drudi and Waldherr, but at the 2nd breaking there was chaos with Lombardo and Roberti back in 16th and 17th place. The next turn other three protagonists have been involved in a contact: Tommasin, Havasi and Travisanutto, all back to the 25th place. In the meantime, Drudi forced the rhythm and he was leading since the 1st lap, but Shwartzman took the control some turns later. At the 3rd place there was Waldherr, before Cecotto, Lazzari, Cicconetti and Atlante. In the middle of the group, Roberti, Havasi, Tommasin and Travisanutto tried not to miss contact with the first ones. During first laps, Roberti was great and present in top ten in just three laps. Unlucky Granelli did not complete the 2nd lap for a technical problem some minutes before the start. At the 5th lap, Drudi led the race but Shwartzman followed him like a shadow and the 3rd place was occupied by Lazzari, followed by Cecotto, Waldherr and Roberti, before Cicconetti and Atlante. Fighting for the 10th position were Malczak and the German Beckhusen, then followed Passa, Giardino, Krencisz, Carballo and Toth while another contact put out of the race Davide Lombardo. At the 10th lap Shwartzman overtook once again Drudi, but was not able to gain advantage and was clear that the race will be decided only during the last lap. In 3rd place there was Roberti, but Lazzari tried to make his life hard starting a series of overtakes amazing to the public. Hard fight also for the 4th place between Atlante and Cecotto, while in 6th place Malczak preceded Waldherr. In the middle of the group Travisanutto and Tommasin recovered in 18th and 20th position. During the 13th lap another change to the top made the competition amazing and unpredictable: Drudi was back to the first place, overtaking Shwartzman who tried to force in the last five laps. The Russian did not give up and was back to the top. The last two laps were amazing: Shwartzman closed all the possibilities to be overtaken and under the chequered flag won the title beating Drudi for 75 thousandths. The honour lap was covered with applauses for both of them, exceptional protagonists of an amazing and correct challenge. An example for everyone. The battle between Roberti and Lazzari for the 3rd place ended at the last lap too, won by Roberti. 5th place for Cecotto, followed by Malczak, Cicconetti, Waldherr, Atlante and Beckhusen. 11th place for Travisanutto, then Grudzinski and Tommasin. The English Stowell was 14th preceding the Venezuelans Baiz and Carballo, while Krencisz was 17th before Zhirkov, Toth and Passa.

60 EASYKART - Final "B"

Reicher (Austria) won and also the amazing Warren (USA), coming from the Final “C”, qualified himself

Pole position for the Venezuelan Daniel Mori, who in 1st line, is on the Austrian Reicher’s side. In 2nd line, there were the Italians Sampieri e Mancini. During the first part of the race, Reicher took the leadership followed by Sampieri, Mori and Krencisz, while a contact immediately eliminated Javurek, Panseri, Jarkovsky, Fernandez and Lockwood. Strict to the race leadership, Reicher created an advantage of 3’’ at the 5th lap, soon behind him Sampieri, Krencisz, Mori, Mancini, Cetin, Besler and Garstecki. Herbec and Warren, taking advantage of the hard competition of the first laps, reached Vitali, Masztalerz and Morrison around the 12th position. During the last part of the race, the Austrian Reicher increased his advantage of 5’’ on Sampieri winning the race before the Italian of the Castelli Modenesi team. On the 3rd step of the podium there were Krencisz, while the 4th was contended for it assigned the last places for the World Final. Under the chequered flag Malucelli preceded for few thousandths the Venezuelan Mori and an amazing Collin Warren, able to qualify even he arrived from Final “C”, and so started from the 32nd place. The same thing tried to do Herbec, out for few thousands, as well as Mancini beaten by Garstecki and Colombo during the last lap. Following Masztalerz, Vitali, Morrison, Iannace and Besler.

60 EASYKART - Final "C"

Javurek (Czech Republic) won against Colombo

Qualifying practice and heats determined the pole for the Final “C” for the Polish Herbec, 57th with 55 penalties. By his side the Czech Javurek, then Jindrich and Iannace. The poleman Herbec started with a sprint before Javurek, Iannace, Warren and Colombo. The group was pretty compact during the first laps and the public saw many overtakes and some out of race, among which the one of the Cypriot Kofali back on track from the last lines. At the 3rd lap, Javurek overtook Herbec for the 1st place and Colombo installed in 3rd position overtaking Iannace. At the 5th lap the little train of 6 drivers, already close, seemed to have already established the 6 finalists to access the Final “B”, with Javurek, Herbec, Colombo, Warren, Iannace and Vohnout. At a 1’’ followed Grimston, Sezer, Korec and Sciaguato. At the 7th passage was the Italian Colombo to gain the 1st position before Javurek and Herbec and from this point till the end, between the two race leaders, began a hard competition with many overtakes, while at the 3rd place there was Iannace following Warren. At the end Javurek won at the photo finish for 272 thousands on Colombo, while Iannace gained the 3rd place. The other three places for the Final “B” went to Warren, 4th before Vohnout and Herbec. By a hair (551 thousandths) ended out of zone Laski, before Sciaguato at the 8th place, than Sanders and Korec. Following the English Grimston preceded the Austrian Dam, the Polishes Cegielski and Wojcik and the Czech Tlachac.

100 EASYKART - International Grand Finals

Nicolò Balsamo on the top of the world

The qualifying trials put under the light the young Nicolò Balsamo (12 years old) who won the pole for the World Final thanks to the 4th time in qualifying practice in his group, besides a 1st and 2nd place in the two heats. On his side, there was the Polish Kowalski, European champion of category, while from the 2nd line took off two Italians of big ambitions: Fontana and Geltrude. Very competitive during heats the lady of Minardi team, Alessandra Brena who gained the 5th place before the Venezuelan Schimdt, Porta and Bertonelli. Two protagonists occupied the 14th and 15th placements: Cunati and Orsini. The first, pole man of the qualifying practice, in the two heats was forced to retire for an accident and won the other, while Orsini, 2nd was excluded from the first heat and won the 2nd. At the starting point, the second lines were the more competitive and Balsamo reached the 3rd place before Fontana and Alessandra Brena. At the 2nd lap the young Italian lady took the leadership and Balsamo overtook Fontana, while at the 4th place arrived Geltrude before Bolshikh, Kowalski and Rosa. A contact in the middle of the group, stopped Bertonelli, Cunati and Arone who fell down till 20th place, while an engine problem gave the last place to an unlucky Paschina, forced to run since the very first laps. At the 6th lap, after studying his challenger, Balsamo attacked Alessandra Brena and gained the leadership of the race, Rosa gained the 5th place before the Russian Bolshikh. Leading the race there was a little train of 5 drivers, with Balsamo, Fontana, Brena, Geltrude and Rosa. Detached by 5” followed Bolshikh, Smaga, Porta, Kowalski and Dario Orsini. At the 10th lap Balsamo was followed by Fontana, while in 3rd position Rosa was before Alessandra Brena. In 5th position there was Geltrude then a great Porta, Smaga, Dario Orsini, Kowalski, Schmidt and Bolshikh. During the last part of the race Balsamo kept the necessary clearness to control Fontana without making any mistake and winning a prestigious title of the season in 100cc class. In 2nd place ended a great race Fontana, vice International champion to end a season among the bigs, while the 3rd place was a battle in photo finish between Rosa and Geltrude. Under the chequered flag, for only 152 thousandths, was Rosa to win, Geltrude 4th before Alessandra Brena. In 6th place ended the Italian champion of category Dario Orsini then, following Riccardo Porta of team Gomme & Service team, the Slovak of the Easykart Driver Program Pastorok, Bolshikh and Kowalski who closed the top ten. Then Smaga, Cuvalcioglu, Bertonelli, the winner of Final “B” Antonio Bono and Oprandi. 

100 EASYKART - Final "B"

Out Tagliacollo and Srdinko, the success went to Bono

On the spot reserved to the pole position, there was the kart n.79 of Alessandro Tagliacollo, the unlucky driver, after a great 5th place in his qualifying practice group and the 6th in the 1st heat, has been excluded for a contact in the 2nd one for a total of 43 penalties. As well as Pavel Srdinko, who started near him, while in 2nd line went off the USA champion Filgueiras and the Italian Bono. From the 3rd line Bissolo, penalized during qualifications by two accidents. He was indeed the fastest, overtaking Bono and Filgueiras, while Tagliacollo has been involved in a contact with Srdinko, Paggi, Laghi and Cavone. All these unlucky drivers will regain the track after the 20th position, losing any qualification ambition and, few laps before the end Tagliacollo, Laghi and Cavone retired. Bissolo, the leader, tried to gain more on Bono, but his kart, after the accident in heat, was no more to 100% and at the 3rd lap overtook him. At the 3rd place, the American Filgueiras controlled the English Waldock and Barbato, but this one to avoid the accident during the 2nd turn, crossed the track and is now under investigation by Stewards. During the first laps, there were many contacts and overtakes and the ranking stabilized only after the 5th lap with Bono leading the race and Bissolo heeled by Filgueiras and Barbato. During the 6th lap, Filgueiras overtook Bissolo for the 2nd place and formed a group of three with the leader Bono, followed by the same Filgueiras and Bissolo. Then followed Barbato, a great Lay back to the 5th place, then Waldock, Gomez, Myszkier and Osmera. During the last phases the top positions were set with Bono winning with 5’’ of advantage on Filgueiras and little more of 1’’ on Bissolo. At the 4th place ended a great race the Italian Barbato, but had 10’’ of penalty and the consequent retrocession in 9th place. For the World Final qualified Lay, ended at 4th place before Waldock and the Polish Myszkier. Out Gomez, Strzeciwilk, Barbato and Noviello, who ended in 10th position. Following the German Wackerbauer, unlucky during qualifications, then the American Rhea, Colaluce, Wisniewski, Sagarra, the lady Adele Ciavolella, Manatskiy, Gonzalez, Garzon, Amado and Paggi.

125 EASYKART Light - International Grand Finals

Kramarsky, recovering, came first Ruggeri and gifted the title to Russia

The group of 34 drivers on the starting grid of the World Final of the Light, is open by Pier Armando Vender who won the pole after the trials thanks to the best time in qualifying practice, a 5th place and a victory in the heats. Great trip also for Alessandro Ruggeri, 9th in ranking in his group, while he won the 1st round and gained the 3rd place in the 2nd race. From the 2nd line took off the Venezuelan Rojas and the Italian Scaioli and from the 3rd the English Jenman and the Cypriot Akbil. At the start, Vender was caught by surprise by Ruggeri who started well and followed by Scaioli and Rojas, then Vender took the 4th place before Sales, Langley and Messina. At the 3rd lap Vender overtook Rojas for the 3rd place, but Ruggeri, who was leading the race, was super fast and gained 10 metres from all the others. During the 4th lap Langley overtook Rojas for the 4th place and behind, after a bad start, Kramarsky took the 7th place soon after Messina. During the 8th lap Vender reached the 2nd place, overtaking Scaioli and in the meantime Ruggeri slowed down his rhythm. But Vender and Scaioli lost time fighting together till the 12th lap when Scaioli gained the 2nd place definitely. Kramarsky was back to 4th place and overtook Langley, while Messina, from the 6th place controlled a great Da Riz back from a bad starting, following Sales, Timofeev and Rojas, fallen to 10th. At the 16th lap Kramarsky overtook also Vender and gained the 3rd place, and two laps later, followed Scaioli who reduced to 1’’ the distance from the leader Ruggeri. The last five laps were amazing with Scaioli attacking Ruggeri in the 1st turn and being overtaken again the turn after. Three turns later Scaioli overtook him again, followed by Kramarsky who, at the turn of the paddock, overtook also Scaioli and took the leadership. During the last two laps, the Russian Kramarsky gained 5 metres on his challengers, thank also to the battle between Ruggeri and Scaioli for the 2nd place. Under the chequered flag the title went to Kramarsky, who won one of the best races of the day, before Scaioli and Ruggeri. 4th place for Da Riz, who during the last phases of the race had the best on Vender. In the post race, for Scaioli there was a penalty of 5’’ by the Stewards for the missed align on the grid, so the driver of the Gomme & Service team ended 6th behind Da Riz, who won the 3rd step of the podium, of Vender 4th and of the English Sales 5th. Followed Messina, Langley, Amaya and Timofeev who closed the top ten. Then the Italian Sanvito, Denktas, Carballo, Jenman, Muslu and Di Fabrizio. The Venezuelan Rojas, after a great start, ended 17th before Akbil, Zani and Moretti.

125 EASYKART Light - Final "B"

Dominique Lamanna won for the Usa

With 43 penalties gained during the qualifying rounds, was the American Lamanna who won the pole for the Final “B” of 125 Light, while by his side there was Mendez and in 2nd line the couple Wong – Kreysa. When the light went out, Lamanna was ready and took the leadership before Ferree, Acosta, Ilona Zaniuk and Kreysa while Wong went out at the 1st turn and back on track too late. At the 2nd lap there was a spin for Ferree, while Stewards, after watching the video of the start put under investigation the leader of the race Lamanna, who will receive 5’’ of penalty for missed alignment. But the American has a higher rhythm and at the 5th lap has already 3’’ of advantage on Acosta, Mendez and Ilona Zaniuk. At the 10th lap Mendez is forced to retire while a contact hangs back Acosta who lost many positions. At the end, in spite of penalties Lamanna won before Wong and Kreysa. Qualified for the World Final also Casse, who ended 4th before Ilona Zaniuk and Ferree, while is out by a hair Emanuela Bini.

125 EASYKART Heavy - International Grand Finals

Italy dominated the scene with Danilo Lucchese

Danilo Lucchese gained the pole position on the starting rid of the World Final, after dominating the scene of the qualifying trials in which he made the fastest lap and won both the heats. By his side, the Russian Viktor Divak, first in his qualifying practice group and then 3rd and 2nd in heats. The 2nd line has been conquered by the Russian Smelov and by the Italian category champion Mantori. When the light went out, the 34 finalists started with Lucchese before Divak, Mantori, Smelov, Cobianchi, Smith, Lanticina and McCullogh. At the 5th lap Mantori overtook Divak on the first turn, but did not see the yellow flags and so he will be penalized later. A lap after Cobianchi gained the 2nd place, overtaking Divak and Mantori. At the 10th lap Lucchese already had 4’’ of advantage on Cobianchi, while Mantori checked Divak, McCullogh, Pittingale and Smelov. Then followed Smith, Lanticina, Scotti, Lawrence, Adani and Ambrogetti. During the last part of the race, the top position were defined with Lucchese of the FG Racing team first and won the title with 4’’ of advantage on Cobianchi, 2nd for the Pak team colours. The battle for the 3rd place ended only during the last lap, with Divak overtaking Mantori and gaining the 3rd step of the podium. Mantori, in the post race, has been excluded for the overtake with yellow flags and so the 4th place went to McCullogh, while Smelov had the best on Pittingale for the 5th place. 7th for Lanticina who preceded the English Smith and Lawrence. 10th place for the International champion of 2008 Roberto Ferri, penalized by a leaving of the track during the 1st lap that back him to the 30th place. Then Scotti, Alessandrini, Baroni, Collini, Kreysa and Benelli, penalized too by a contact that forced him to recover, and made him make the fastest lap of the race. 18th place for Pizzolato, before Deltsov and Iglesias.

125 EASYKART Heavy - Final "B"

Baroni before Necipoglu and Hill

The Cypriot Akay Necipoglu spins from the pole with 40 penalties gained during the qualifications, before the Italians Baroni and Zangheri. At the start, the Easykart North Cyprus driver did great before Baroni, Wheeler and Zangheri, while Dokucu had an accident on the turn near the paddock and went back late. At the 5th lap, Baroni took the leadership before Necipoglu and Hill, who overtook Zangheri and Wheeler. In this race phase Zangheri felt the break of the manifold and lost time from Hill, who preceded him. The competition continued without anything special, with Baroni able to win with 4’’ of advantage on Necipoglu. The Italian was relegated to Final “B” due to some unlucky accidents like the exclusion for underweight for a contact during the 2nd qualifying heat. The great Tim Hill, of Easykart UK team, ended 3rd, while Zangheri defended his 4th place from Wheeler and Guryel, who won the last useful placement for the World Final. Then there was Dokucu who preceded the Italian Costanzia.

125 EASYKART Shifter - International Grand Finals

The title went to Czech Republic with Yury Krauchuk

The qualification phases gave success to the Austrian Schrangl, 2nd in qualifying practice and winner of both the heats. Great performance also for Krauchuk, 2nd in both the heats, as well as the Italian champion of category Simoni, who ended the eliminatory with a 4th and a 3rd place. At the beginning of the race, the first twist due to a problem of the pole man Schrangl, who recovered his position after the first lap breaking the rules. For this cause and a track cut, the Austrian driver went under investigation by the Stewards. Behind him Krauchuk, Glowacki and Stathakopoulos, while Simoni was bumped into and forced to retire with Reheberger, Nowak and Lepri. At the 3rd lap Krauchuk took the leadership, overtaking Schrangl, who was overtaken also by Glowacki and Stathakopoulos. The competition was great and at the 3rd lap the competition to the top is hard with the Polish Glowacki before Krauchuk, Stathakopoulos, Schrangl and Laguardia. From behind arrived Danilo Scuto, who at the 10th lap reached the 4th position overtaking the Greek Stathakopoulos, while in the meantime Krauchuk got the leadership overtaking Glowacki. During this phase Scuto was put under investigation for an overtake he made with yellow flags. At the 15th lap another match between Krauchuk and Glowacki, but from the 16th lap the Czech driver, running for Joka team colours, gained few metres winning the race and the title. The Polish Glowacki won indeed a great 2nd place, while the 3rd one went to the Italian Scuto. But unfortunately, for the Castelli Modenesi team driver, in the post race arrived the exclusion for the episode of the overtake with yellow flags. On the 3rd step of the podium there was Laguardia, who ended before Stathakopoulos, Perdisa and Zanoni, back to the 7th place for a penalty of 10’’ received for the missed alignment. So the 6th place went to the Austrian Maurer, while soon after Zanoni, Sorci, Jokes and Drudi completed the top ten.

Qualifying Practice