March 2, 2013 Verstappen and Negro win first KZ Finals

l WSK Euro Series, La Conca

Max Verstappen (CRG/TM) won both KZ1 heats, the first by a large margin of 2.5s from Ben Hanley. However, Fabian Federer (CRG/Modena) on the second row and Charles Leclerc (ART/TM) in 5th were both given 10s penalties for the start.

Verstappen was less dominant in the second heat, he won by only 0.1s ahead of Jorrit Pex (CRG/TM), while Hanley followed closely in 3rd. There was a good recovery from Jordon Lennox-Lamb (CRG/Maxter) ahead of Marco Ardigo (Tony/Vortex) and Jérémy Iglesias (Lenzo/LKE) who were faster. In the classification, Kozlinski (Birel/TM) was in 5th place ahead of Ardigo, and Iglesias finished 7th.

Although it was dry, the start of Final 1 in KZ1 set the tone of the race. Jorrit Pex (CRG/TM) took advantage of Verstappen, Ardigo started very quickly, but Hanley dropped down the standings. Iglesias jumped into 4th position behind Ardigo, Jonathan Thonon (CRG/Maxter) was 5th ahead of Lennox-Lamb and Kozlinski.

Iglesias was well on the pace in 3rd position, Thonon retired with a mechanical failure and Paolo De Conto (Birel/TM) climbed inexorably. Verstappen managed to take advantage of Pex halfway through and both CRGs got away. Ardigo fought bravely but lost places, De Conto finally took 3rd and in 4th Lennox-Lamb set the fastest lap. Iglesias finished 5th from Kozlinski, Hajek was 7th, Andrea Dale (CRG/Maxter) 8th, Ardigo 9th and Roberto Toninelli (Birel/TM) 10th.

In KZ2, the situation was clear with two identical top threes in both heats on Saturday: Francesco Celenta (Zanardi/TM) won ahead of Riccardo Negro (DR/TM) and Tomi Dragan (Lenzo/LKE). 4th place was disputed between Jan Midrla (Birel/TM) and Marco Zanchetta (Maranello/TM) in favor of the latter.

Celenta (Zanardi/TM), Negro (DR/TM) and Zanchetta (Maranello/TM) were at the front of the first KZ2 Final during the first half of the race before Negro gained some distance from his classmates. Daniele Delli Compagni (CRG/TM) then joined the small group. Next Midrla (Birel/TM) and Dragan (Lenzo/LKE), mingled with the fight, while Negro won the final with a lead of 2.5s. Midrla climbed into 2nd position, ahead of Dragan and Zanchetta. Simas Juodvirsis (Energy/TM) was 5th, Celenta 6th and the French driver Maxime Roy (Birel/TM) was 7th for his first race in the at AVG Birel Racing.

Original text from Kartcom

Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen by CRG