2008 WSK INTERNATIONAL SERIES SARNO, 17th – 20th July - Round 5 (KF3 -KF2 -KZ2)

HARVEY: STILL RACING FOR THE KF2 TITLE

DESPITE A FEW TECHNICAL PROBLEMS, HARVEY FINISHED IN 5TH PLACE AND DURING THE LAST EVENT OF THIS SEASON AT ZUERA HE WILL RACE FOR THE TITLE, AS WILL SMARRAZZO, THORP AND ROWLAND.

On the occasion of the 5th event of the WSK season Birel’s most awaited-for category was undoubtedly KF2, as Jack Harvey (Birel-Iame) was behind Smarrazzo by only one point. Following their victory in KF1 with Cesetti, Birel Motorsport almost took KF2for granted; but a series of technical problems made the race harder than they had thought. For the British driver the weekend had a slow start as he had to recover over his adversaries, mainly working on the engine with Iame engineers. Rowland and Smarrazzo also had a few problems which for the first one even meant taking part in the rescheduled race. No problems for Thorp who, thanks to his particularly efficient engine, did really well in both the Pre-Final and the Final, where he had the luxury of managing to complete his fastest lap with 6 tenths over Camponeschi, who arrived second. Groman achieved 3rd place whereas, as mentioned, Harvey arrived 5th behind Tiene, achieving better results than both Smarrazzo (9th) and Rowland who gained no points. Positive results also for Patrono (Birel-Tm) who, after achieving 3rd place in the Pre-Final, entertained a long struggle with the top drivers during which he also helped Harvey in the middle of the race. The Italian driver from Birel Motorsport was then knocked out by a collision during the 10th lap. Birel’s chassis however also showed off with Basz, rated 2nd, who did very well during the legs but ended 14th in the Pre-Final because of a collision. A technical problem on the other hand was behind his withdrawal during the first lap of the Final. Positive results also for the German driver Hauke, although carburettor problems during the Race prevented him from gaining any points. In terms of championship Smarrazzo is still on the lead, although Harvey is only one point behind his adversary, whereas in 3rd place is Thorp who, together with Camponeschi and Rowland, still has the possibility to put up a good struggle for the title. The engineers from Iame and Birel need to work hard before the event at Zuera to enable the British driver to stand a better chance. In terms of KZ2 on the other hand, work is already underway at Birel; Sauro Cesetti took part in the race at Sarno to test some technical solutions in view of the forthcoming World Cup. Both the driver from Marche and Laudato and Mich, who were both knocked out of the championship, took advantage of the weekend to test various chassis and engine solutions. This also explains some mechanical faults experienced by Laudato and, more generally, the results below expectations. During the Pre-Final, which was won by Manetti, Cesetti achieved 12th place because of a bad start, Mich arrived 14th and Laudato, who started from the rear of the grid, achieved 19th place. During the Final, in which Ardigò won both the Race and the championship, Cesetti arrived 6th, Laudato 12th with Mich immediately behind him. Positive results also for Frasnelli with the Monza chassis, 15th in Race 1 and 14th in Race 2. Finally in KF3 Coleselli was penalised by two accidents during the legs and did not manage to qualify, whereas both Agostini (KSB) and Torsellini (New Team) achieved positive results both in the qualifying heats and in the legs. They were however penalised by some contacts during the race: Agostini ended the Pre-Final in 13th place and the Final in one of the last places due to the fact that he went off track, whereas Torsellini achieved 20th place in the Pre-Final (following a multiple contact which also involved Camplese) and in 12th place in the Final. Both races were won by the French driver Maisano.