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The young Finn Aaro Vainio created something of a sensation by winning, at just 15 years of age, the Super KF European Championship, the principal class of international karting. Perfectly handling the pressure from experienced Frenchman Manuel Renaudie, Vainio secured his second consecutive European crown after winning the KF3 (Juniors) European Championship in 2008.

In spite of being just 15 years old and with the enormous pressure weighing on his shoulders, Aaro Vainio (Maranello-Maxter) never flinched this Sunday at Essay where the third and final round of the Super KF European Championship was held. Impressing with his comfortable driving and apparent maturity, this young man proved that he can follow in the tyre tracks of a long line of flying Finns.

After having somewhat missed the jump at the start of Race 1, resulting in being in only 8th place after the first turn, Aaro kept a cool head to pass all of his opponents one by one. Finally getting the better of Mauel Renaudie (Gillard-Parilla) four laps from the end, the Finn gave himself a great opportunity to take the European crown. But there still remained the Final to be raced. Once again, Aaro showed astonishing calm, resisting Manuel Renaudie’s challenge at the first bend. And even though he finished the first lap in 3rd place, he once again maintained forward progress. He was not to be intimidated when Robert Foster-Jones (F Kart-Vortex) starting from the back of the grid after a non-finish in Race 1, successfully attacked with some late braking.

“I could have closed the door better”, acknowledged the young Finn. “But when I saw him I said to myself that one second place was perfectly acceptable to me since that would permit me to become the European Champion. We have been in the running all season and this title is a superb reward.”

For Vainio, this European title is the second consecutive one he has won after the KF3 (the class for Juniors) Championship he won last year. The young Finn has therefore more than succeeded in the step up to karting’s principal class.

Second in the first race, Manuel Renaudie slipped back during the second where he finished in 5th place. European Vice-champion after having finished in 2nd place in the World Cup last May, the French driver was inevitably a little disappointed. “But Aaro was really very fast” he confirmed “today, and also throughout the whole season. His title is merited. But I hope to take my revenge during the World Championship in Macao.”

Despite a weekend when he never made the podium (one 5th and one 4th place), Jason Parrott (Birel-Parilla) retained his third place in the Championship in the face of the challenge of Simo Puhakka (PCR-TM), twice on the bottom step of the podium in Normandy. By virtue of his victory in Race 2, Robert Foster-Jones secured 5th place in the Championship.

Amongst the unlucky drivers of the day was Miika Kunranta (Birel-Parilla) who started on pole position in Race 1. But a collision at the first turn put an end to all of his hopes and also to those of the Belgian Yannick de Brabander (Intrepid-TM), second on the grid. These two will be looking to get another chance of glory between the 8th and 11th of October at Macao where the Super KF (the principal category of non gearbox karts) 2009 World Championship will be held.