TEXT S. CORRADENGO PHOTO KARTPIX

CIK FIA EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP OK / OKJ 20 MAY 2018, PF INTERNATIONAL BRANDON, GRANTHAM (GB), 2nd ROUND

At PFI, the championship’s most demanding and selective circuit, rewards Janker ahead of Vidales and Hiltbrand. The Spaniard from Crg leads the championship and will be hard to unseat, but this kermesse appears to be the most fought over since the introduction of the new “Original Karting” engine, so plenty to watch out for. Travisanutto, fastest in practice and winner of the final, was disqualified for trying to restore his front bumper. An impeccable performance, but that gesture lost him points. Victory assigned by track-side judges also in Junior with Dutchman Van T’Hoff second at the finish line, but first on the podium, thanks to a three-second penalty inflicted on winner Bernier. Third place to Minì who leaps to command the provisional ranking of the European. This category’s championship races also promises to be pyrotechnic.

Fireworks

The British track again lived up to expectations. Starting in front is an advantage, certainly, but it’s not enough to win. For one, this circuit won’t allow for errors, and tackling it with deteriorated tires is especially difficulty. And the result is never obvious. The heats, 5 for each driver, which determine the starting grid of the final, proved to be a valid test, one wherein the driver’s potential and team show their true potential. We saw a brilliant Mattia Michelotto masterfully rise to conquer the pole of the final. Travisanutto, best time in practice, fails to keep pole, occupies second row in the final grid. Janker and Valtanen follow. On the third row, Keirle and Hiltbrand, winners of the last two editions of the OK world. The grid is, indeed, a nice sight: Vidales, surrounded by the Brits: Patterson, Porter, Bradshaw, Hodgson, Lulham, Thompson, Edgar. Among the many who didn’t qualify in the final whom even the infamous British bookmakers reserved no chance, there was who caused a sensation, the Briton, Tom Joner, world champion 2013.