Kozlinski wins at Lonato

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Prefinal
Armand Convers took on Will Stevens from the start in the KF1 Prefinal, while Piccioni shared in the lead at the bottom of the circuit then Cesetti moved into third position. Thonon made a reasonable start to make it to sixth position. Convers soon attacked Stevens and seized control of the race, and Ardigo and Guignet took Cesetti while Stevens went backwards to fifth and then eighth position.

Starting 21st, Arnaud Kozlinski made an impressive comeback, outbraking his opponents and he was into the top ten in a few laps. His team-mate Thonon was also on his way and successively overtook Stevens and Cesetti.

Convers accrued a strong lead while his pursuers were fighting. Thonon took second place from Ardigo and Stevens came back into the race. Kozlinski was on a mission and continued to attack to the maximum. Two laps from the end Guignet found an opening on Ardigo, while Stevens was defeated by Cesetti.

Armand Convers won the KF1 Prefinal two seconds ahead of Thonon, then Guignet was third. Ardigo was fourth, Stevens fifth, Kozinski sixth, Cesetti seventh and Ryall eighth.

Final
Armand Convers led initially, but Jonathan Thonon was very threatening, going round the outside at the first left-hand hairpin. Arnaud Kozlinski, from the third row, was already in fourth behind Jean-Philippe Guignet. Will Stevens was fifth ahead of Michael Ryall and Marco Ardigo.

On the second lap, Convers lost five places, putting Kozlinski in the lead followed by Stevens and Thonon who closed the doors on those behind. Jonathan Thonon retired, apparently after an engine problem. But more importantly, Jason Parrott and Alessandro Bressan crashed violently by the dummy grid area and Bressan stayed on the ground without getting up. The yellow flags and Slow signs were put out while dealing with the Kosmic driver. This took seven laps before Bressan could be moved on a stretcher, but he waved to reassure everyone that he was OK.

The restart took place on lap ten with no problems. Kozlinski was ahead of Guignet, Ryall, Stevens, Ardigo and Convers. Matias Laine and Yannick De Brabander took Gary Catt, while Jack Te Braak was strong, overtaking Convers then Ardigo. Meanwhile Guignet took the lead at the expense of Kozlinski. Everyone knew that the race would be brief but exciting.

It remained very tight, but the two CRG drivers were irreproachable at the front. Arnaud regained the lead, and Jean-Philippe had to cede the place to Stevens for a time before regaining it. Then Michael Ryall, now third, threatened and then attacked Guignet on lap 20. Convers and Ardigo lost time by touching in an overtaking attempt. Returning to the top ten, Davide Fore also benefited from the pass.

The arrival of the Maxter and TM engines at the front is confirmed, with Kozlinski’s victory and Guignet’s third on Maxter and Ryall’s second place on TM. Bollingtoft was fourth, Laine fifth, ahead of Cesetti, Iglesias, Toninelli and Stevens. Only 22 drivers finished this eventful final but the news about Alessandro Bressan was reassuring.

Photo: Kartpix

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