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Belgian & French Drivers Win X30 Europa Challenge


press release 2 April 2013
 

The curtain has fallen on the X30 Europa Challenge that took place this weekend at the ‘Karting des Fagnes’ track in Mariembourg, Belgium.

Local drivers Benjamin Lessennes (X30 Junior) and Thierry Delré (X30 Shifter) took wins in their categories, but Frenchmen also went home with two titles, thanks to Vincent Fraisse (X30 Senior) and Nicolas Duchateau (X30 Master).  Among the Minis, it’s Hugo Ravet who takes the lead in the Belgian Championship.

Some snow flakes appeared on the morning but eventually they did not disturb the various competitions of the X30 Europa Challenge. What is its biggest event of the year proved once again that the ‘Karting des Fagnes’ is one of the most spectacular tracks in Europe and delivered exciting duels in all categories.

X30 Junior : Lessennes seizes the opportunity

Having won twice in the X30 Junior on Saturday, Charles Machado (FA Kart) could not keep the luck on his side on Sunday. After climbing from 6th to 1st in Race 3, the Frenchman was penalized for having jumped the start. He found himself in 8th position, leaving the victory to Benjamin Lessennes (Kosmic), who had crossed the line right behind him.  

Ahead of the last race of the weekend, the situation between the Belgian and the Frenchman : the one who would precede the other would win the X30 Europa Challenge in the Junior category. Starting from the pole, Benjamin Lessennes kept the advantage at the first corner, while his rival fell victim of the excessively lively group behind him. The French re-joined the race in last position with all his hopes gone… In the lead, « Benji » was determined to win the race after a nice battle with Maxime Potty (Kosmic), Matteo Raspatelli (Tony-Kart) and Maxime Drion (Sodi).

In the final standings, Benjamin Lessennes beat Charles Machado and last year ‘s champion Matteo Raspatelli. The top 5 was completed by Maxime Potty and the very consistent Gilles Magnus (FK), with Maxime Drion in sixth position despite being twice the fastest driver in the qualifying sessions.

 

X30 Senior : Imperial Fraisse

Four wins in four races : Vincent Fraisse (Sodi) couldn’t do any better. After dominating the weekend in the X30 Senior category, the 20-year-old Parisian has written in Mariembourg the brightest line on his CV. In terms of speed, the most serious rival for the Frenchman was Romain De Leval (Kosmic), but the Belgian lost any chance at the start of Race 3 when he was pushed out of the track while starting from the front row. The subsequent retirement caused him to finish only 7th in this European challenge.  

Consistency was also a pre-requisite to shine in this prestigious challenge. Handicapped by a flue, François Bécamel (Kosmic) has fought with all his energy to stay among the front-runners. With a 5th place as worst result, François finishes second, ensuring a one-two win for French drivers. On the third spot of the X30 Senior category podium, Laurent Absolonne (Alpha) was the best-classified Belgian, just ahead of Simon Mirguet (Tony-Kart). Fifth spot was for Victor Compère (Kosmic), ahead of another Frenchman, Hubert Petit (Tony-Kart).

 

X30 Shifter : Delré does it again

Last year, Thierry Delré (Bremer) took everything in the X30 Shifter category, the competition open to karts equipped with a gearbox. After the X30 Europa Challenge and the Belgian title, he also won the 2012 IAME international finale. In this Easter weekend, the driver from Waremme has proven that he successes were not the result of good luck. Still, after his two wins on Saturday, the Belgian couldn’t do better than fourth (twice) on Saturday, but that was enough to grant him the final success.

Nicky Moris (Tony-Kart) could have challenged him for the win, but the Belgian paid his contact with Thomas Cuypers on Saturday, and had to satisfy himself with the final second spot, after dominating on Sunday. Third, Germany’s Mike Halder broke the Belgians’ domination, preceding Thomas Cypers and Benjamin Breny.

 

X30 Master : A poker for Duchateau

Seeing the results sheets, one would think that Nicolas Duchateau (Alpha) has had an easy task in the X30 Master category. But, despite having won the four races, the Frenchman has had to fight hard, in particular with country fellow Frédéric Blin (Kosmic). The two have delighted the audience with some memorable battles, from which Nicolas always emerged as a winner. The only one able to follow the path of the two leaders was  Thierry Raccamier (Kosmic), who completed an all-French podium, ahead of Belgiums’  Gilles Smits (Kosmic) and another Frenchman, Guy Collignon (DR).

 

Mini : Ravet, first leader of the Belgian Championship

In the framework of the X30 Europa Challenge, the organizers had invited for free all the drivers in the Mini category (8 to 11 years of age), for whom this event was the first round of the Belgian Championship. Hugo Ravet (Energy) took his maiden win … twice on Saturday, before also dominating Race 3 on Sunday. The Namur-born, though, was penalized for having pushed out of the track Valon Janssen (Intrepid), eventually finishing 7th. He put the record straight in the last race, winning again and proving he deserves his provisional lead in the Belgian Championship.

Having already impressed two weeks ago at his debut in the Belgian ASAF Karting Series, Keziah Manguette (Kosmic) has confirmed by winning Race 3, after the penalty inflicted to Hugo Ravet, and by fighting for the win until the very end against his rival in the last race. The gap between the two is minimal and this is very promising ahead of the second and final round of the series, next September.

Also quick but less consistently, Evan Becerra (Kosmic), Calogero Lopez (Kosmic), Elie Goldstein (DR) and Arthur Ronvaux (Energy) are within 3 points. They will also have something to say on 14-15 September at the Belgian Championship finale, again at the Karting des Fagnes.

Cadet : De Pauw unbeaten

A prestige race in the framework of the X30 Europa Challenge, the IAME Belgian Cadet Challenge (for drivers between 11 and 13 years of age) has been won by Ulysse De Pauw (Kosmic). The Wavre-born took the four races and beat Ugo de Wilde (Kosmic) and Josué Delbauche (GB). There was an intense fight among the outsiders and it is finally Dimitri Thriskos (Sodi) and Martin Hébette (GB) who completed the top 5

 

 

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