French drivers fight back in Spain - Champions Cup Race Reports

Race reports from KF3 and KF2 at the last big European race of the season, thanks to Kartcom for the original writeups.

KF3
After winning his qualifying rounds, Brandon Maisano on Intrepid/TM started on pole for the final alongside the Italian Kevin Ceccon. The start went well, and for once the drivers took the first right almost without encumbrances. Maisano had already taken the race lead from Ceccon, Adrian Del Rio and Mackenzie Taylor and was two lengths ahead. Jordi Gomez, down at the other end of the circuit after stopping on the formation lap with an oiled-up plug, stopped for repairs which saw him black-flagged on the second lap.

Del Rio and Taylor passed Ceccon while Carlos Sainz was placed fifth, some distance behind. On lap eight Maisano increased his lead and Ceccon took back third from Taylor, who lost some ground as did Sainz, now in seventh. Later Antonio Giovanazzi overtook Eduardo Cheever and threatened Joni Wiman, but Cheever exited the track after a violent pass from Sainz.

At the head of the field the race remained stable and there were fewer fights in the second half of the race apart from a quartet battling for the tenth spot: Ferran Monje, Mans Grenhagen, Stefano Cucco and Jorge Cabezas. Shortly before the end, Sainz defeated Wiman and eventually finished sixth.

Brandon Maisano won his second consecutive Copa de Campeones, followed by another Intrepid driver, the Spanish Adrian Del Rio. Ceccon was third, fourth was Taylor.

KF2
Miki Monras suffered problems on the formation lap while Pedro Ivars seized violently on the start line and ended up trapped in the nets. Ruben Rodriguez also dropped out. On the first lap Jeremy Iglesias had already taken the lead and the advantage on William Benedetti, Craig Breen and Norman Nato. Anthony Abbasse edged into fifth place, just ahead of Alban Varutti.

On the next lap, Benedetti threatened Iglesias and launched powerful attacks on the leader. But he lost out slightly in the battle and ended up down in fifth position, while Iglesias and Nato made a small gain. Nato also started to threaten and prepared to move ahead, succeeding shortly before half way. Benedetti returned to third, then Abbasse, Smarazzo, Breen, Foster-Jones and Varutti. Monras had returned to the race, but unfortunately for him he was touring rather than competing.

On the tenth lap Smarazzo attacked Iglesias, then on the next lap started on Nato, and Abbasse tried a move on Benedetti which Foster-Jones settled by passing both of them. Nato reacted to the return of Smarazzo, but would do well to be wary of Iglesias.

On lap 14, Abbasse retook Foster-Jones, leaving him to fight Benedetti as he eventually took the lead two laps later. Iglesias bided his time and moved on Smarazzo when he seemed within reach, while Nato consolidated his lead. On the final lap, Iglesias upped his attack on Smarazzo, and further back Varrutti and Benedetti were together to finish just behind his team-mate Abbasse.

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