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Tony Kart Junior Team passes first test with flying colours
Date: 7th May 2009
Paul Spencer couldn’t hide his delight after watching three of his drivers win the KF2 and KF3 finals at Angerville on Sunday (3 May), whilst hearing that Matteo Beretta had also qualified for the European Championship finals whilst competing at Sosnova (Czech Republic) and Gustavo Menezes
– racing with Swedish partner team, Ward Racing – had also made the cut
over in Genk (Belgium).
“I’m knackered, but delighted,” he said. “Angerville is such a tricky circuit to work at because the track temperatures change so quickly, and when they do you have to completely alter the karts’ set-ups. You can never relax, you are constantly working.”
The team’s efforts were to be rewarded with some superb individual performances from the drivers.
“Carlos (Sainz Junior) was on fire. Often his rivals were able to match his pace, but if one went quicker his mechanic would raise his finger and Carlos would respond.”
Sainz delivered a flawless performance throughout the weekend, fastest in Timed Qualifying, the Spanish teenager then won all his heats and the two finals - marking himself as one of the favourites for overall glory at the KF3 finals which will be held at Zuera, Spain in July (11/12).
Carlos’ team-mate, Guilherme Silva endured a torrid European Qualifier debut, but showed character and maturity to finish a highly-creditable 7th overall. Just one place behind him in his regional qualification’s rankings, was Gustavo Menezes.
Paul commented, “Gustavo also did a good job. He’s continuing to improve and he did well to adapt to working with a different team and achieve what we all wanted – to make it through to the finals at Zuera.”
His praise for his KF2 drivers was equally - if not more - fulsome to that of his Juniors.
“To win both finals with two different drivers is a great advert for the Tony Kart Junior Team. It also shows that the equipment – the EVR chassis and the Vortex engines – are extremely good. At one point I thought we were going to have a one, two, three on the podium with Chris Lock, Luke Wright and Ben Cooper all running at the front. As it was, Jorge Pescador took 2nd on the same equipment and we were still 1st, 3rd and 4th. Luke took his first podium with us and put in a storming drive to come from 25th on the grid to 3rd. Chris won it, but sadly crashed out of the second race, whilst Ben took victory in that and left France as the number one-ranked driver.”
He added, “For Ben and Chris’ first year at this level and in the KF2 class, they’re doing brilliantly. I’m really, really pleased for them. I am very confident for Essay. Each of the boys delivered something exceptional and I think they all have a very good chance when we return to France. Carlos must be a favourite for the Spanish final now and I expect Guilherme to be in the top ten also”
More
photos of the Tony Kart Junior Race Team in action at Angerville
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