CIK champions awarded
The CIK-FIA World will remain the benchmark Competitions for the 2014 season with the crowning of a great experienced Driver, Marco Ardigo, in KZ and two young British hopeful Lando Norris in KF and Enaam Ahmed in KF-Junior.
A third world title for Ardigo
Often the fastest KZ for several seasons, Marco Ardigo (Tony Kart-Vortex-B'stone) has
often been hit by bad luck. He finally landed in a third world title at Sarno (ITA) which rewards his perseverance as well as the hard work of his team, the Tony Kart Racing Team. Second in qualifying, winning his two heats, and dominating in the Prefinal, Ardigo fought to maintain the lead early in the final before making the difference at the end of the race. His teammate Flavio Camponeschi (Tony Kart-Vortex-B'stone) always maintained the pressure and took the second step of the podium in front of Rick Dreezen (Zanardi-Parilla-B'stone), the European Champion. Paolo De Conto (Birel-TM-B'stone) was allowed to challenge the domination of the future champion by taking the lead of the final for a moment, but Mirko Torsellini (Birel-TM-B'stone) finally grabbed fourth position.
« I wanted more than ever to win the World Championship. I stayed very focused lap after lap. When De Conto passed me in the Final, I was not impatient. I had total confidence in my equipment, I waited until the grip came back to my chassis to attack. In general the first World Championship is the most important in a career. But for me, it means just as much as I missed out on it several times. »
Norris crowned in KF class
Lando Norris was 14 years old when he was crowned CIK-FIA World KF Champion at Aunay-les-Bois (FRA), which made him the youngest Driver to win a title at this level. Although the Danish Driver Nicklas Nielsen (Kosmic-Vortex-Dunlop) was the favourite at the end of the Qualifying Heats on Saturday night. On Sunday, the wet weather changed all that. Nielsen was involved in an accident in the Prefinal while Tom Joyner (Zanardi-Parilla-Dunlop) won the race. In the Final, the hierarchy was still evolving with the takeover by the young British rookie Lando Norris (FA Kart-Vortex-Dunlop) who had his chance after collecting second place during the Competition. He was joined on the podium by two other young talents, the Russian Nikita Mazepin (Tony Kart-Vortex-Dunlop) and the Indian Jehan Daruvala (FA Kart-Vortex-Dunlop).
« I managed to set the second fastest time in Qualifying. I was able to keep second position at the end of the Qualifying Heats, but Nielsen was very strong at that time. In the Final, the first few laps were very lively! I did not take any more risks than was necessary behind my team-mate Daruvala. I took the lead at the halfway point. Everything worked fine, I was able to get a lead and I won with the fastest lap. »
Ahmed: the revelation of the year
The young British hopeful, Enaam Ahmed (FA Kart-Vortex-Vega), aged 14, won every possible international Championship in his second year in KF-Junior, a unique feat that will be remembered. After winning the CIK-FIA European Championship, he was won the World crown during the Competition at Aunay-les-Bois (FRA) at the end of a perfect Competition at the top of the KF-Junior category. The German Mick Junior (Tony Kart-Vortex-Vega) was on the second step of the podium after a very strong track record, while the Venezuelan Mauricio Baiz (Kosmic-Parilla-Vega) created a surprise by finishing third after recovering from a long way back.
« It was an amazing weekend! I won a lot of Races this year, but I've never dominated for an entire Competition. I got my first Pole Position of the season in Qualifying and stayed ahead until the Final. It was fantastic! »