FIA Karting – Keeble and Antonelli pick absorbing victories in thrilling Finals at Sarno

Following the many twists and turns that spirited the qualifying phases of the third round of the FIA Karting European Championship – OK and Junior, surprises were expected within the 2 Finals. The grew to become out to be more conservative than expected with the undisputed victory of Italy’s Andrea Kimi Antonelli in OK and the practically winning comeback of Britain’s Freddie Slater in Junior two thousandths late his compatriot Harley Keeble.

The final qualifying heats on Sunday morning had put the tone within the continual but no longer overwhelming heat of Sarno. Many non-serious incidents had punctuated the no longer easy-fought races without upsetting the hierarchy. Loads of contenders for the title had recovered their competitiveness after a rather slower originate. The stage was put for the prolonged-awaited final act at the foot of Vesuvius. The MG Tyres fulfilled their characteristic with huge efficiency till the tip despite the temperatures frequently exceeding 30°.

Keeble wins in Junior by two thousandths

On Sunday lunchtime, the FIA Karting European Championship – Junior qualifying heats were led by Anatoly Khavalkin (RUS – Parolin/TM Racing/MG) earlier than James Egozi (ITA – Tony Kart/Vortex/MG) and Matheus Ferreira (BRA – KR/IAME/MG).

Khavalkin saved the lead at the originate of the Last, but Alex Powell (JAM – KR/IAME/MG) took over from him on the fifth lap earlier than Ferreira took the lead for absorbing. On the opposite hand, the spin was removed from over as Freddie Slater (GBR – Kosmic/Vortex/MG) came abet from 12th space on the grid treasure a cannonball. On the halfway level, Slater was practically seven tenths off the chief and was closing in on Keeble. Slater executed his aim and took retain watch over of the feature on lap 14. Keeble adopted the proceed at less than three tenths and stayed on the hunt till the tip. As Slater started to savour the victory as he approached the attain line, Keeble took honest correct thing in regards to the opportunity to overhaul him within the final metres and pick the spin by two thousandths of a second for the Tony Kart Racing Team. Ferreira accompanied them on the podium, whereas Khavalkin had to resolve for fourth space. Yevan David (LKA – Exprit/TM Racing/MG) was the principle Sri Lankan driver to attain in a European top 5, earlier than Powell and Egozi.

Slater had nonetheless recovered properly and remained at the tip of the provisional Championship standings earlier than Ferreira. Powell moved up to 3rd earlier than Keeble, whereas Ashkay Bohra (SGP – KR/IAME/MG) in 27th dropped to Seventh and Kirill Kutskov (RUS – KR/IAME/MG) to eighth after retiring.        

Provisional FIA Karting European Championship – Junior standings after the third round in Sarno:

1- Freddie Slater (GBR) – 70 ingredients

2- Matheus Ferreira (BRA) – 61 ingredients

3- Alex Powell (JAM) – 52 ingredients

4- Harley Keeble (GBR) – 38 ingredients

5- Ean Eyckmans (BEL) – 35 ingredients

2d consecutive victory for Antonelli

Rather disenchanted along with his consequence at the principle round in Genk, Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA – KR/IAME/MG) has been making up for it within the FIA Karting European Championship – OK since then. He started by at the side of a extraordinarily conclusive victory to his compile within the final Qualifying Heat, which allowed him to put together the 2 drivers within the spotlight this weekend, Nikola Tsolov (BGR – KR/IAME/MG) and Artem Severiukhin (RUS – Tony Kart/Vortex/MG).

Arvid Lindblad (GBR – KR/IAME/MG) was incisive first and main of the spin late Tsolov. Then the Antonelli machine came into motion and made its formulation abet to the tip of the score. He took second space and then chased Tsolov all the plan down to decide the spin for KR Motorsport by bigger than a second. Lindblad secured a extraordinarily critical third space for the Championship. Severiukhin finished fourth earlier than being disqualified for mechanical aid on the pre-grid and it was Evan Giltaire (FRA – KR/IAME/MG) who took fourth earlier than Norton Andreasson (SWE – Tony Kart/Vortex/MG).

After an unconvincing weekend that ended with a retirement, Rafael Camara (BRA – KR/IAME/MG) misplaced the lead within the provisional standings to Antonelli earlier than Lindblad. Tsolov moved up to fourth earlier than Severiukhin.

Provisional FIA Karting European Championship – OK standings after the third round in Sarno:

1- Andrea Kimi Antonelli (ITA) – 77 ingredients

2- Arvid Lindblad (GBR) – 71 ingredients

3- Rafael Camara (BRA) – 63 ingredients

4- Nikola Tsolov (BGR) – 46 ingredients

5- Artem Severiukhin (RUS) – 38 ingredients

The fourth and final round of the FIA Karting European Karting Championships – OK and Junior will happen from 22th to 25th July in Spain on the Zuera circuit.

Outcomes from the Sarno tournament are available in on the legit FIA Karting Championship app for cell devices and on the web page www.fiakarting.com.