Report By The CIK / Photo by Mediasuperkart

OPENING SUBJECT TO WEATHER CONDITIONS

Damien Payart (PVP-FPE) threw down the challenge to the other European Superkart racers, and especially the well fancied British Drivers, when he took the 2010 Championship lead after the opening two rounds at Silverstone.

Race 1 was strange because the great majority of Drivers chose slick tyres for the drying conditions. Yet the first eight Drivers to finish were amongst the few that had chosen wet tyres. Malcolm Crowe (Anderson-DEA) from pole position was one of the first Drivers to realise he had made the wrong tyre choice and elected to come in and change but spun out of the race before he could do so. But the other front row starter Trevor Roberts (Anderson-BRC) made a superb start and led the race until just before half race distance when his engine seized. The impressive Norwegian Erik Martin Gjertsen (PVP-PVP) took over the lead for three laps and looked the likely winner. But Damien Payart starting on the 7th row was making steady progress through the field and in the final quarter of the race, pulled away for a 4.8 seconds winning margin. Swedish newcomer to the Championship, Tony Ahlgren (PVP-PVP) was impressive throughout and was well worth the 3rd podium place.

“I took it easy in the opening laps and tried to avoid those Drivers on slicks”, Payart explained. “But once I got ahead I had no problems and I had made just the right tyre pressure choice for my Bridgestone wets”, he said.

Race 2 was altogether different with the track completely dry. Pole sitter Malcolm Crowe made that advantage count and set a fast opening pace. But Trevor Roberts again took the lead and this time there was to be no bad luck story. However, at two thirds race distance defending champion Gavin Bennett (Anderson-DEA) was closing fast and looked to have enough speed to go by. But the Irishman Roberts resisted his moves and went on to win by just over a second. Malcolm Crowe had no misfortunes this time and the Channel Islander made the podium in 3rd place.

“I am obviously pleased to win”, said Roberts. “But I knew Gavin was closing in on me. I could hear him changing gears and I knew what a fast finisher he is”. Then he added bitterly “I hope I can find the budget to complete the Championship”. Bennett also had an eye on the Championship as a whole. “I think I have just salvaged my title hopes with that result” he said with a smile.

The morning and afternoon races had been in stark contrast. Four PVP chassis finished in the first four places in Race 1 with three Frenchmen in the Top 6 and only one Englishman in the Top 10. In Race 2 it was Anderson chassis in the first four places with five English Drivers and two Frenchmen in the Top 10.

Damien Payart had mastered the Silverstone Formula One Grand Prix circuit in all conditions (wet, dry and drying) with a first and a fifth places, and one of the best Englishmen was the least experienced: the consistent Lee Morgan (Raider-Rotax) who is 20 years old, took a fifth and a seventh places and looks a potential champion of the future.

All photos supplied are copyright of the BSK / Toni Panebianco. If you use these photos ensure you credit the BSK and Toni Panebianco.

 

	Silverstone Entry List			Championship Standings
	Qualifying 1 Times			Qualifying 2 Times
	Race 1 Results			Race 2 Results

THE GREAT RETURN OF SUPERKARTS AT SILVERSTONE

Mecca of Superkart (then called "Formula E") in the 1980’s with the British Superkart Grand Prix, the Silverstone circuit will again vibrate to the humming of the fastest karts in the world.

On 3 and 4 April, the circuit of the British Formula One GP will be the framework of the first round of the 2010 edition of the CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship. Stimulated by the pleasure of taking up competition again after a long winter and by the opportunity to race on the 5.1 kilometres course, the 50 entered Drivers are prepared to face the difficulties of the famous Copse, Becketts or Stowe corners. Further to this British stage, they will continue their European tour on equally prestigious circuits: Assen (Netherlands, on August 8) and Le Mans (France, on October 24).

Winner of the 2009 edition of the European Championship, UK’s Gavin Bennett (Anderson-DEA) is throwing in his title; he will again count among his main opponents his two runner-ups of last year, i.e. the Frenchman Damien Payart (PVP-FPE) and the German Peter Elkmann (MS Kart-VM). The latter, Champion in 2008, will use for the first time a Czech engine of the VM make in England as a replacement of his usual Yamaha. The interests of the Czech engine will also be defended by the Swede Stefan Malm, the Dutchman Marcel Maasmann and two new-comers in the Superkart world, Holland’s Kievitsbosch, a very talented former KZ Driver, and the Czech Adam Kout, whose joint experience of the KZ category and of Formula Renault could prove to pay off. The FPE engine, mainly represented by its Driver-Manufacturer Damien Payart, will again be used by Britain’s Carl Hulme, John Riley and Rob Chilcott. Although it is the most recent of all entered engines, the DEA "made in Italy" will obviously be chiefly represented by the reigning Champion, but it will also have two new ambassadors, namely the Brit Malcolm Crowe and France’s Benjamin Mahé. The Northern Irishman Trevor Roberts and the German Guido Kleinemeyer remain faithful to the Canadian make BRC, while the PVP delegation will be led by the Frenchman Emmanuel Vinualès, the Swede Tony Ahlgren, the Norwegian Erik M. Gjertsen and obviously the Dane Poul Petersen, father of PVP chassis and engines. The field will also comprise a few karts powered by the good old Rotax 256, the Yamaha V2 and single-cylinder Honda engines.

In total, out of the 50 entries, there will 11 nationalities at the start, the host country being the most represented, with no fewer than 21 competitors.

Two qualifying practice sessions are scheduled for Saturday 4 April, and the two 50-km long races will be held on Sunday 5 April, at 12h00 and 16h10. The results will be published in real time on www.cikfia.com. This first event of the CIK-FIA European Superkart Championship will be organised within the framework of the first round of the "Superleague Formula" (a Series for single-seaters with 750 HP V12 engines, bearing the colours of great football teams).

For further information on the CIK-FIA, please consult our Internet site :

CIK-FIA (Commission Internationale de Karting-FIA) Administration : 2, chemin de Blandonnet, 1215 Genève 15, Switzerland Tel. +41 22 306 10 80 - Fax: +41 22 306 10 90 - Email : cik@fia.com