Trolley travelling bag: two main spaces with "U" shaped upper opening and foldaway handle, reinforced handle and shoulder belt, black colour, Nylon 840D fabric. Measures: 75x48x33cm

 

 

Desenzano del Garda (Italy), June 23rd 2009. The appointment with the international karting will be back on stage this weekend with the European Championship KZ1 and KZ2, the 125cc shifter classes.
The race, which is particularly important as it will award the European title in both classes, will take place on the "Prokart Raceland" Circuit of Wackersdorf, Germany, 160 km north from Munich.
It will be a single event for the "top class" KZ1 with 47 pilots on the starting grid representing the major manufacturers, while the second appointment with the KZ2 after the race in Muro Leccese of April 19th will see the participation of 101 drivers.

The CRG official team, holder of the KZ1 European title won last year by the Belgian Jonathan Thonon, will take part to this event with all its technical and sporting potential to be able to confirm its leadership in this category. The 2008 champion Thonon will defend the colours of the Italian factory in KZ1 , as usual with the number 1, together with the several times world champion Davide Forè and the French "Koko" Arnaud Kozlinski who is also looking for another prestigious victory to be added to his 2006 World Cup Title in Formula A.

The CRG Holland team will also compete with the fast Belgian driver Rick Dreezen, together with the other specialist of the shifter category, the Dutch Arjan Kievitsbosch.
In KZ2 the CRG-Maxter efforts will be focused on the fast driver from Sardinia Luca Tilloca, who was a great protagonist in the first round of the championship in Muro Leccese and among the major pretenders to the title. In that occasion the driver from Sardinia, assisted by CRG and by the official team for Sardinia "Team Erebus" with its president Giuseppe Saro, ran a marvellous first final reaching the podium with a good third place, but in the second final he was forced to withdraw for a technical problem just while he was about to get a certain victory.
In spite of this mishap, Tilloca has the potential to fight for the European title and to win it in Wackersdorf.
In fact according to the regulations, the final classification will be determined by the 80% of the best results obtained in the four races of the championship. So nothing is barred for him, on the contrary the CRG pilot is strongly determined to reach this great result.

Mirko Torsellini will race in KZ2 with his LH Lewis Hamilton chassis, produced and marketed by CRG. The young pilot from Siena was not very lucky in the European Championship round in Muro Leccese but he was the protagonist of a good qualification heat. His aim is first of all to make experience but also to take part in the finals and to obtain a prestigious place.
As to the private teams, lots of drivers will race with the CRG chassis in KZ2. The Dutch Jorrit and Yard Pex and Symen Wiggers with CRG Holland as well as Georg Vann from Estonia and the Italians Leonardo Fuoco (Montera Racing), Maurizio Giacchetti, Andrea Tonoli and Giacomo Superti (BTR), the French William Benedetti, Kristijan Habulin (KK1) from Croatia, the German Kevin Illgen (DMV), the Spanish Antonio Garcia and the Swiss Heinz Fröhlich.

The race program of Wackersdorf foresees free practices on Thursday June 25th, qualifying on Friday June 26th from 2.25 p.m., 15 qualifying heats for KZ1 and KZ2 on Saturday the 27th with a further repechage in KZ1. Three qualifying heats will take place on Sunday June 28th, then Pre-finals and Finals on the same day starting from 1.15 p.m.
The results will be published live on the web site www.cikfia.it


CRG-MAXTER OFFICIAL DRIVERS participating in the European KZ1 & KZ2 Karting Championship, Wackersdorf (D), June 25th-28th 2009.

KZ1
1 - Jonathan Thonon (B) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop
3 - Davide Forè (I) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop
4 - Arnaud Kozlinski (F) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop

KZ2
140 - Luca Tilloca (I) - CRG-Maxter-Dunlop

Press Office
C.R.G. S.p.A.
Desenzano del Garda (BS), June 23rd 2009

 

 

Ed Brand produced two superb performances to win the latest round of the British Super 1 kart championship and put himself at the top of the leaderboard. The Coles Racing star scored a brace of victories at the demanding Buckmore Park circuit in Kent last weekend (13/14 June) to propel him from fifth position into the overall championship points lead, with three rounds remaining. Timed qualifying went satisfactorily enough for Ed after he recorded the fifth fastest time - just nine hundredths of a second down on the pole-position setting time. In his first heat, a crash dropped him from fourth to twenty fourth and needed a great recovery drive to carve his way back up the order to a creditable eighth place at the finish.

In the following encounter, he settled for second place to secure fourth place on the grid for the first of Sunday's two points-scoring finals. By the end of the first lap of the final, Ed was up to second and pressing for the lead. Two laps later, he moved to the front and began to edge away from the chasing pack. "I got up to the leader, passed him and away I went," he commented afterwards. "It was hard work though. To lead for 21 laps, keep my concentration and not make any mistakes wasn't easy."

This approach saw him win by over seven seconds from his closest pursuer, team-mate Spencer Barrow - although Ed modestly acknowledged that he was helped when the drivers, then in second and third place, collided. Leading the field from pole position for the grand final, he benefited from having clear air ahead of him and made an excellent start. "I got through the first few corners and then got my head down and chased my own shadow all the way to the chequered flag." He added, "Winning is the best way I can thank all the people who support me and make my racing possible. To take two victories over a quality field and at such a tough circuit is always special and I'd like to thank Mike and Adrian at Coles and Tristram and Nigel at HRS Motorsport for their fantastic help and efforts throughout the weekend

Genk (Belgium), June 14th 2009. The fourth round of the WSK International Series, run on the Genk circuit on June 14th 2009, was also the first race abroad after the three ones held in Italy in Muro Leccese, Sarno and Castelletto. It was a hard but productive race especially considering the technical development of CRG-Maxter before the next international events. The Belgian race was particularly difficult because of the track conditions, which was rather slippery due to the dust coming from the cross-track nearby but also to the strange weather conditions which suddenly passed from very hot Friday and Saturday to a cold and rainy Sunday of the finals.

In this fourth round together with the KF2 and KF3 categories there was also the professional KZ2 class and the official CRG-Maxter team was on track with its best top drivers such as the Belgian Jonathan Thonon, the French "Koko" Arnaud Kozlinski and the several times world champion Davide Forè.
They were all extremely motivated and gave every time their best, enhancing this way the quality of CRG chassis and Maxter engines but the rain transformed the final phase in a real "lottery".

The best result for the CRG colours was reached by Forè who obtained a 6th place both in the Prefinal and in the Final at the end of a series of great duels.
The difficult race conditions have also been confirmed by the home driver, the Belgian Rick Dreezen of CRG-Holland, who was the most favourite driver after having won all the three qualification heats on a dry track but he was then forced to withdraw in the final after his 12th position in the pre-final.

Thonon was also a leading player in the qualification heats coming close to the pole at only 50 hundredths of seconds from the best time. In the heats he could easily get a victory in two races becoming one of the most important candidates for the final success.
Unfortunately the Prefinal was characterized by several accidents and track going-outs so that the Belgian pilot ended only 17th. Thonon made a great progression in the Final while the track was getting dry, but at only three laps from the finishing line he was forced to withdraw for a technical problem when he was in 5th position. Bad luck also for Kozlinski in the Final, although the French driver was able to gain a good 7th place in the Prefinal despite the difficult track conditions. The other CRG private teams' pilots, the Dutch Yard and Jorrit Pex of CRG-Holland finished respectively 10th and 13th.

In KF2 both the CRG-Maxter drivers Niccolò Schirò and Giovanni Martinez did not manage to qualify. Schirò had and accident problem as well as Martinez who was penalized for a going-out on track during a qualification heat. He got then an 11th place in the repechage while Schirò ran up against another accident. It was an unlucky race also for Rick Nadin of the private team VDK Racing from Luxembourg who had to give up in both KF2 finals after some good qualifying heats.
Very positive debut in KF2 for the 16-year-old Brandon Maisano from Cannes with the LH Lewis Hamilton chassis. The young French promising driver was driving for the first time a CRG chassis with the assistance on track of Dino Chiesa team and he was immediately a protagonist in the official heats reaching the second best time at only 10 hundredths from the pole. He got then a third and 5th place in the heats but in the final phase he had to start from a back row because of an accident during another heat. He recovered up to the 17th place in the Final. On the whole it was an excellent performance for Maisano which also confirmed the competitiveness of LH chassis and Maxter engines.
Mirko Torsellini raced in KZ2 with the LH colours too but he was assisted by the team of Elto Racing. A series of problems in the heats forced the driver from Siena to run the repechage race. Here he was greatly recovering but an accident definitively stopped him from an access into the final phase.
The KF3 class was here represented by the official CRG team drivers, the Polish Jakub Dalewski and the Rumenian Robert Visoiu: this Belgian race was anyway very difficult for them because of the many and continuous accidents which characterized the races of this youngsters category. In fact both drivers have been several times involved in the accidents of the qualification heats having then to run the dangerous repechage.
They then had further problems in this race so Dalewski wasn't able to get a better place than his 12th while Visoiu was forced to withdraw for an accident.

THE INTERVIEWS

Giancarlo Tinini, President of C.R.G. S.p.A.: "On the whole the performances of our karts and drivers were very satisfying as to KF2 on Saturday, both in the trials and in the qualification heats. Unfortunately the rain on Sunday changed the values on the field and certainly we could have obtained different results if the weather conditions would have been the same as the day before. The slippery asphalt caused several troubles too with a lot of contacts during the race. I would like to underline the good performance of Brandon Maisano in KF2 who was immediately able to run at his best since the beginning of the race with the LH chassis and Maxter engine. This WSK round in Genk was anyway very useful for us for a further development of our equipment in view of the European KZ1 and KZ2 of Wackersdorf at the end of June and the Final of the European Championship KF3 in Zuera in mid July".

Omar Di Gesualdo, CRG Racing Director: "In KF3 and KF2 our pilots ran into several accidents and couldn't therefore get the results they were fighting for. Visoiu made a good progress in KF3 and was more aggressive than in the past. Dalewski was involved in accidents after two good heats and the same happened to Schirò and Martinez in KF2. Now the drivers have acquired enough experience to face as best as possible the rest of the season. In KZ2 we were the protagonists in the trial and in the qualification heats but we were penalized in the final phase because of the changing weather conditions and a technical problem for Thonon. Forè was the only one to reach a good result even if the track was drying up while he was running the Final with a wet ready chassis instead of a dry one, as it should have been in that particular moment".

Classifications

KZ2: 1. Ardigò (I); 2. Laudato (I) + 8.101; 3. Mich (F) + 8.215; 4. Cesetti (Birel) + 9.977; 5. Renaudie (F) + 10.844; 6. Forè (I) (CRG-Maxter) + 12.286; 7. Puhakka (FIN) + 13.603; 8. Bressan (I) + 16.979; 9. Hawksworth (GB) + 20.901; 10. Pex Yard (NL) (CRG-Tm) + 21.465; 11. Piccini (Intrepid) + 23.099; 12. De Conto (I) + 24.423; 13. Pex Jorrit (NL) (CRG-Tm) + 26.109; 14. Geurts (NL) + 28.138; 15. Schoonderwaldt (D) + 32.959 … 18. Thonon (B) (CRG-Maxter) + 3 laps; 28. Kozlinski (F) (CRG-Maxter) + 14 laps; 30. Dreezen (B) (CRG-Maxter) + 17 laps; 33. Habulin (HR) (CRG-Maxter) + 19 laps.
KZ2 Championship: 1. Lammers (B) points 85; 2. Ardigò (I) 81; 3. Renaudie (F) 50; 4. Laudato (I) 35; 5. Hawksworth (GB) 30; 6. Dreezen (B) 28; 7. Mich (F) e Cesetti (I) 25; 9. Forè (I) 24; 10. Puhakka (FIN) 21.

KF2: 1. Cooper (GB); 2. Rossler (S) + 2.100; 3. Moller (DK) + 2.919; 4. Lock (GB) + 4.655; 5. Grenhagen (S) + 5.713; 6. Johansson (S) + 6.622; 7. De Ridder (F) + 10.113; 8. Giovinazzi (I) + 12.535; 9. Beretta (I) + 12.801; 10. Goff (GB) + 13.420; 11. Taylor (GB) + 14.783; 12. Hauke (D) + 19.051; 13. Smarrazzo (I) + 19.269; 14. Lynn (GB) + 21.072; 15. Zimin (RUS) + 23.305.
KF2 Championship: 1. Cooper (GB) points 155; 2. Viganò (I) 109; 3. Grenhagen (S) 84; 4. Lock (GB) 72; 5. Smarrazzo 57; 6. Basz (PL) 54; 7. Tiene (I) 48; 8. Rossler (S) 43; 9.Taylor (GB) 37; 10. Goff (GB) 36.

KF3: 1. Hoevenaars (NL); 2. Silva (BR) + 2.631; 3. King (GB) + 3.644; 4. Abreu (P) + 7.038; 5. Sirotkin (RUS) + 7.757; 6. Barrabeig (E) + 8.607; 7. Albon (GB) + 9.945; 8. Sainz (E) +10.826; 9. Walsh (GB) + 14.542; 10. Helias (F) + 16.192; 11. Dennis (GB) + 16.289; 12. Pakari (FIN) + 19.884; 13. Kvyat (RUS) + 24.401; 14. Elkerbout (NL) + 25.345; 15. Fioravanti (I) + 26.019.
KF3 Championship: 1. Kvyat (RUS) points 150; 2. De Vries (NL) 135; 3. Sainz (E) 95; 4. King (GB) 82; 5. Marciello (I) 72; 6. Hoevenaars (NL) 67; 7. Albon (GB) 57; 8. Silva (BR) 48; 9. Barrabeig (E) 41; 10. Jaminet (F) 35.

Press Office
C.R.G. S.p.A.
Genk (Belgium), June 14th 2009

 

Desenzano del Garda (Brescia), June 10th 2009. The fourth WSK International Series race will be run next weekend in Genk, Belgium. After the first three rounds held in Italy, in Muro Leccese, Sarno and Castelletto, the most representative international championship of the European scene is just starting its series of European races that will also be run in France and Spain.

The whole CRG-Maxter official team will take part in all the three categories run on the circuit of Genk, which is about 90 km. East-way from Bruxelles. Together with the main class, the KZ2, the Belgian appointment of the series will see the KF2 and KF3 drivers fighting for the victory. CRG will take part in this important appointment with its fantastic “trident” of drivers: the Belgian Jonathan Thonon, the French “Koko” Arnaud Kozlinski and the Italian Davide Forè. These three pilots have just returned from the World Cup race in Suzuka, Japan, where the Italian team achieved a good podium with Kozlinski. Now, in full season, the CRG - Maxter team will line up its drivers who are totally motivated to carry on the positive trend aiming at the victory.

Other private pilots will compete with the CRG colours: the CRG-Holland team with its excellent Belgian driver Rick Dreezen, together with the Dutch Yard and Jorrit Pex, the Spanish Fulgencio Garcia will with the team Jamkart of Tenerife and Krisijan Habulin from Croatia with the KK1 Team.

This race is also the comeback for the 15-years-old Mirko Torsellini after his brilliant debut in Formula Azzurra with his second place in Vallelunga, where he was assisted by Elto Racing Team. In Genk Mirko will race with his LH “Lewis Hamilton” chassis, the new CRG brand. With the brand new LH chassis, we should also point out the debut of the talented young French driver Brandon Maisano in the KF2 category, who will use from now on the new chassis for the team managed by Dino Chiesa.

Niccolò Schirò from Milan, who is in a strong agonistic growth at the moment, will also take part in KF2 with the CRG colours together with Giovanni Martinez from Sardinia, who wants to redeem his unlucky race in the qualifications of the European Championship in Sosnova. The two Belgian Damien Dupont and Stoffel Vandoorne are also enrolled with the VDK Team together with Rick Nadin from Luxemburg. The French Vincent Fraisse with Jamkart Team will be racing too.

Some young drivers such as the polish Jakub Dalewski, who recently made excellent performances, and the Rumenian Robert Visiou will also join the KF3 category with the CRG race team, whereas the VDK Team will line up the Belgian Laloux Bryan.

CRG-MAXTER OFFICIAL DRIVERS racing the fourth round of the “WSK International Series”.

Genk (Belgium), June 11th-14th 2009.

KZ2

101 - Jonathan Thonon (B) - CRG-Maxter-Vega

102 - Arnaud Kozlinski (F) - CRG-Maxter-Vega

103 - Davide Forè (I) - CRG-Maxter-Vega

KF2

232 - Niccolò Schirò (I) - CRG-Maxter-Bridgestone

233 - Giovanni Martinez (I) - CRG-Maxter-Bridgestone

KF3

309 - Robert Visoiu (RO) - CRG-Maxter-Dunlop

310 - Jakub Dalewski (PL) - CRG-Maxter-Dunlop

Press Office

C.R.G. S.p.A.

Desenzano del Garda (BS), June 10th 2009

 

Suzuka (Japan), May 24th 2009. The CRG official team obtained an excellent result in Suzuka, Japan, on the occasion of the first international competition of the current 2009 season, the Super KF World Cup. The comeback after some years ob absence to this competition was for CRG-Maxter of great satisfaction with the podium conquered by "Koko" Arnaud Kozlinski, an absolute protagonist who fought till the end for victory, and with the KZ1-world champion in charge Jonathan Thonon who was on the spotlight with an excellent performance. It was definitely a positive weekend, considering also the great performance of Davide Forè who was unfortunately quite unlucky during the race. Eddy Tinini got his qualification for the final after the second chance heat.

"Koko" was unfortunately forced to withdraw due to an high kerb which drove him out of the track after a bit uncertain start at the beginning of the 2nd heat. At the end of a very aggressive pre-final the driver was able to recover from the 21st to the 8th position and in the final he reached the 2nd place even attacking the race leader De Brabander, but the tyres showed the bad effects, as usual, after so many frantic laps so he preferred to manage the race finishing then third.
After his 9th position of the pre-final, Jonathan Thonon was also able to recover to the 5th place, while there was quite a different ending for Davide Forè who was racing with a new engine-development which didn't gave the expected results in this race.
Eddy Tinini, the fourth CRG driver, lived the thrill of the repechage following the qualification heats and just because of a single penalty. The Italian driver has anyway had the merit of reacting as best as possible winning at the repechage the sixth position and therefore the entry to the final. Tinini ran a good pre-final race even starting from the last position then he had to withdraw in the final for a technical problem.

Another great but unlucky leader of this race was the British 2008 KF2 World Champion Oliver Rowland, who got a final 9th place driving a "LH Lewis Hamilton" chassis produced and marketed by CRG with the track assistance by Dino Chiesa. After an excellent third place at the end of the qualification heats Rowland was immediately forced to withdraw in the pre-final. The final proved that the British driver is in a very good shape being able to perform a real masterpiece with a progression from the last to the 9th final position. A fantastic result for a talented and fast driver which also confirms the quality of the LH chassis with Maxter engine.

Among the private pilots running with CRG chassis the Japanese driver Takeharu Nakamori of Kart Club Musashino obtained a 22nd place in the final, while Kazushi Sano of team Strega was forced out of the race.

The Asia-Pacific KF2 Championship has taken place at the same time and it was won by Felice Tiene while the best among the CRG private drivers participating in the race was the Japanese Ryuya Fujie of CRG Japan Team who made also the best time in the final. His team-mate Fumiya Nakayama finished the race in 17th position as the first Bridgestone-tyred driver. The other Japanese Hayato Kurosawa of Silking Racing Team placed 20th.

THE INTERVIEWS

Giancarlo Tinini, President of C.R.G. S.p.A.: "We are very glad about our comeback to the World Cup here in Suzuka and mainly because we turned to be among the protagonists in this very important international event. We have been greatly welcomed by everyone, especially by the organizer of the Suzuka circuit who was very grateful to us for our decision of taking part in this race after some years of absence. Our Road Rebel chassis performed great during the event and we have been very close to the victory with Kozlinski but unfortunately he lost several positions in one of the heats. His performance was anyway of a very high level as well as the one of Thonon who made a beautiful final. Forè had some problems with his engine performance especially at low rates and he couldn't therefore do his best. Referring to the situation of the karting market in Japan, which has been really quite critical in these last periods, it seems to get better and a lot of people are forecasting a significant recover of the whole sector; this is of great importance for the sale of our products".

CIK-FIA WORLD CUP SUPER KF & KF1, May 24th 2009:
Final: 1. De Brabander (B); 2. Renaudie (F) +0.917; 3. Kozlinski (F) (CRG-Maxter) + 1.153; 4. Ardigò (I) +2.786; 5. Thonon (B) (CRG-Maxter) +3.911; 6. Vainio (FIN) +4.784; 7. Sasaki (J) +4.870; 8. Parrott (GB) +6.761; 9. Rowland (GB) (LH-Maxter) + 6.955; 10. Convers (F) +7.348.

Photo: Kozlinski on the podium of Suzuka (photo by Tada Takano).

Press Office
C.R.G. S.p.A.
Suzuka (Japan), 24th May 2009

 

Desenzano del Garda (Brescia), May 15th 2009. One of the most important events of the international karting season is the one at Suzuka, Japan, on the 24th of May with the World Cup races of "Super KF" professional category where CRG will take part with lots of its best drivers. In fact the CRG-Maxter Team for Japan is made up by the champion in charge Davide Forè, by the winner of the 2006 edition Arnaud Kozlinski, by the holder of the KZ1 World Cup Jonathan Thonon from Belgium and by the fighting and fast driver Eddy Tinini.
This CRG-Maxter participation is therefore in grand style, a return to this competition after some years of absence.

The last success of CRG in this race dates back to 1999 with the victory in the corresponding category "Formula Super A" of Vitantonio Liuzzi who is nowadays a F1 pilot. The edition of the year 2000 was run in Japan but in that occasion in Motegi the title of "Formula A" was won by the present F1 World champion Lewis Hamilton and his Racing Team Chiesa, while Davide Forè won the "Formula Super A" inserting for the first time his name in the Golden Roll of the category. Earlier before it was Danilo Rossi to win for CRG in 1992 the "Formula K" and in 1994 it was Luca Casazza in "Formula A".

CRG-Maxter will be taking part this year with all its credentials to be able to fight for the victory after a very positive start in both the WSK International Series and the European Championships raced up to now. In the WSK Kozlinski proved to be a serious candidate to win the title in Super KF while Thonon and Forè were absolute leaders in KZ2. Their target is anyway to win the European Championship and the World Cup starting from the event in Suzuka.

In Japan another protagonist who will draw great attention is the British Oliver Rowland who will be assisted during the race by the Team Chiesa Corse with a LH-Lewis Hamilton chassis produced and marketed by CRG.
Two Japanese drivers will also be present in Suzuka with CRG chassis in "Super KF", they are Takeharu Nakamori of Kart Club Musashino and Kazushi Sano of Strega Team. Both Super KF and KF1 categories will be run here with the Japanese Masaki Mori of Sugiyama Racing using CRG chassis.
Apart from the Super KF World Cup also the Asia Pacific Championship will be taking place in Suzuka together with the KF2 category where the "CRG Team Japan" will be run with the drivers Fumiya Nakayama and Ryuya Fujie. Also other CRG drivers will join this event: Kazumi Osada of Team Hirano, Rintaro Kubo of Sugiyama Racing and Hatayo Kurosawa of Silkroad Racing Team.

OFFICIAL DRIVERS CRG-MAXTER
2009 CIK-FIA WORLD CUP FOR SKF & KF1 & ASIA-PACIFIC KF2 CHAMPIONSHIP
21-24.05.2009 - SUZUKA (J)
5 - Davide Forè (I) - CRG-Maxter- Bridgestone
23 - Arnaud Kozlinski (F) - CRG-Maxter-Bridgestone
24 - Jonathan Thonon (B) - CRG-Maxter-Bridgestone
25 - Eddy Tinini (I) - CRG-Maxter-Bridgestone

Press Office
CRG SpA
Desenzano del Garda (Brescia), 15th May 2009

 

 

Sosnova - Ceska Lipa (CZ), the 3rd of May 2009. CRG-Maxter hit the target with an excellent performance during the European Qualifications of KF2 and KF3 categories. On the kart-track of Ceska Lipa in Sosnova (Czek Republic) the official CRG drivers could reach the qualification for the Finals which will respectively take place in Zuera (Spain) as to KF3 in July, 12 and in Essay (France) in August, 2. Winning was also the quality of the equipment used for the race and the fact that "Road Rebel" chassis proved to be very competitive together with the reliability of Maxter engines. But the greatest satisfaction for the Italian company was to note how great was the competitive growth of two very young drivers like Niccolò Schirò in KF2 and Jakub Dalewski in KF3. There was also the further discover of a leading driver like Alessandro Vantini at his start in KF2 and immediately competitive with his CRG chassis.

In KF2 Niccolò Schirò showed to be in great shape since the beginning in Sosnova. The driver from Milan had had a definitely superior step compared to his seasonal start since his extempore race the week before at the Open Masters in Siena. His performance continued here in Sosnova at a higher level which means new confidence and great hopes for this young driver. He was placed fourth in the official trials, then third in one of the four heats and got the fastest lap of all at the end of the first of the two Finals so he is fully expressing his qualities right in the middle of the season. Finally he was placed 20th due to some troubles happened in the two finals but he would deserve much more indeed.

Alessandro Vantini showed his certain potentials in KF2. At his start in CRG the International Champion 2008 of the SuperRok was immediately able to draw attention on himself catching good results both in trial and qualification heats with a 5th and two 7th places plus a withdrawal due to accident. He reached the 12th position in the first of the two Finals which also meant the certain qualification for the Final in France. In the second Final, while he was producing his attack and was in 9th position, he found right in the middle of the speed chicane a kerb which had come off from the side of the track and made Vantini literally take off. This was of course the end of a marvellous race in crescendo up to then. Apart from that, we have the confirmation of a very competitive pilot who has already been showing his talent. He was placed 18th in the final classification.

Among the KF2 drivers no qualification came for the pilot from Sardinia Giovanni Martinez at his start in the European after beginning in WSK. He was forced to withdraw after an accident during the last heat so he couldn't even try to cut a good figure. It was a real pity because Martinez would certainly deserve to reach the Final in France considering what he was able to show us this round.

DALEWSKI, NEW TALENT IN KF3

Nice satisfactions for the official CRG team came also from the KF3 category, where both its very young drivers, the Polish Jakub Dalewski (photo on the side) and the Rumenian Robert Visoiu fully hit the Final in Spain without any problem. At CRG home Dalewski was a real revelation proving to be competitive and ready to hit great results. After a 12th time in qualification he was able then to performance excellent progressions almost fighting for victory which he skimmed over in several occasions. His heats results with a second, third, fourth and fifth place clearly say how he is one of the leaders at the moment. With a 7th and 13th place in the two Finals he was at the end classified 10th.

Very interesting is also the growth-trend of the Rumenian Robert Visoiu who had to suffer a bit more to reach the qualification because of a bad timing session which then penalized him during the heats. Nevertheless he could enter the final phase racing two good rounds placing 22nd and a good safety edge for the Final in Spain.

CRG was running at the same time in Sosnova and in Angerville (France) for the drivers' selection of Western Europe with its Spanish pilot Antonio Alarcon. Quite disappointing were the races of the Spanish driver here. He first quite easily reached the final with a 2nd, 4th and 7th place then was forced to withdraw for troubles in the first final. So he started his second final with a result which penalized him of course not being able then to do better than the 23rd place that leaves him out from the 24 finalists.

In Genk (Belgium) as to the Northern Europe third selection in KF2 the Danish Jacob Nortoft (Team J.S.Racing) got the qualification as well as the three Belgian of Team VDK Racing Stoffel Vandoorne (23th), Clemente Picariello (24th) and Damien Dupont (25th). The same was for the Danish Kean Kristensen (26th) and the Belgian Luca Stolz (27th) of Team MM Racing Kart in KF3.

THE INTERVIEWS

Giancarlo Tinini, President of CRG SpA: "The one in Sosnova was a positive weekend. Of course I am sorry for Martinez who unfortunately had to start with quite bad qualifying timings also because he couldn't participate to the pre-race test due to school duties so at the end he was the only one not able to get the qualification. As to the others, very good races for Schirò and Vantini in KF2 as well as Dalewski and Visoiu in KF3. Particularly Schirò is showing a progressive growth and his best time in Final-1 was a good sign. He hasn't got much experience as a pilot but considering his first season in KF2 we can note much progress indeed. We hope the best for the future, he's an aggressive and plucky pilot who will be able to give us lots of satisfactions. Vantini showed good potentials for the whole week having a good approach to the race. Dalewski raced well this weekend but made a mistake in the second final otherwise he could aim at a better result. Visoiu has got too less experience but showed excellent progress. When I am thinking at his debut at WSK in Muro Leccese it seems to me almost not true what I see him doing today. Now the next important event will be for World Cup of Super KF in Suzuka and just after that the fourth trial of WSK".

Omar Di Gesualdo, CRG Racing Director: "There is a general satisfaction in our Team this time. We aimed at qualification and we got it with Schirò and Vantini in KF2 although the second had had an incredible accident against a kerb of the track. We are sorry for Martinez as he missed qualification. In KF3 Visoiu had some problems at the beginning for lack of experience then had a good recover, while Dalewski got a good qualification willing to draw attention on himself and that means he will reach excellent results. Unfortunately as to the other European selection in Angerville, Alarcon was doing well at the beginning then he couldn't get the qualification because of a silly technical ignition problem at the start of the first of the two finals".

Niccolò Schirò - Driver - KF2: "It was a good start of my weekend which was then quite negative because of troubles in some heats but at the end I got the qualification for the finals anyway. I had an accident at the start of the first final so I could only try to gain a useful position in the second final which could bring me to the Final in France and I managed that. I could have better results but I am happy anyway also because I recorded the fastest lap in race-1 during my progression after the accident".

Alessandro Vantini - Driver - KF2: "I was unfortunately forced to withdraw in the second final as I bumped against a kerb right in the middle of the track at just a few laps from the end otherwise I could aim at the first positions. The CRG Road Rebel chassi was excellent as well as the Maxter engine and on the whole it was a very positive weekend. The main target was the qualification for the Final in France but the podium would have been a nice award. I wish to thank everybody for the work they've done for me and for their help. A special thank goes to Alessandro Marrapese whom I owe my debut in CRG".

Giovanni Martinez - Driver - KF2: "It wasn't a very lucky weekend for me due to some technical problems at the beginning durinf the trials and I couldn't go round much so to know better the track. Then I had an accident in the last heat of the first round otherwise I could get the qualification. Furthermore we have been trying a new set-up in the third heat but we failed. On the whole it was good experience for me . My next event will be in Genk for the fourth trial of WSK. I will also run the World Cup in September and I hope to do better then".

Jakub Dalewski - Driver - KF3: "It was a perfect weekend for me as well as for the whole team and the chassi and the engine too. I had some problems with the tyres and with the track which was very slippery. I must say here in Sosnova there were lots of accidents, I like the track but there are spots where it is easy to have accidents. This was my best race of the season anyway and I am very happy indeed".

CRG-MAXTER OFFICIAL DRIVERS qualified for CIK-FIA European KF2-KF3 Championships:

FINAL KF2 - ESSAY (F), 2nd August 2009
Niccolò Schirò (I) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop
Alessandro Vantini (I) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop

FINAL KF3 - ZUERA (E), 12nd July 2009
Jakub Dalewski (PL) - CRG-Maxter-Vega
Robert Visoiu (RO) - CRG-Maxter-Vega

Press Office
CRG SpA
Sosnova - Ceska Lipa (CZ), 3rd May 2009

Just two rounds in to this year's British Super 1 Championship, and already Ed Brand is shaping up to be a serious contender for overall honours at the end of the season. The CRG Dark Knight driver took his second victory at the spectacular Rowrah circuit in Cumbria last weekend (25/26 April).

Brand was too hot to handle in Timed Qualifying and duly posted the fastest lap to secure pole position for his two eliminatory heats. The first of which he won comfortably, crossing the line over two seconds ahead of his closest rival. A tougher second heat saw Ed just pip the third-placed driver by four one-hundredths of a second - but it was enough to secure the number one position on the grid for the first of Sunday's two finals. "The circuit has been resurfaced recently, making it much smoother and faster - but almost impossible to set the kart up perfectly for prior to racing. I was fortunate that my kart felt very good from the word 'go' and again in the final, it was ballistic," Ed explained. Although he was chased hard, Ed romped to a dominant win - his second of the campaign. "Once I'd survived the opening corners, I was quickly able to get my head down and open a gap. With everyone fighting hard behind me, that gave me the opportunity I needed to make the break."

However, there is a phlegmatic saying in the sport to sum up the unexpected lows, 'that's motor racing.' As the field streamed out of the pits and onto the undulating Cumbrian circuit, Ed discovered that his engine had developed a mystery gremlin. "It just wouldn't run properly at all. I think something in the carburetor had broken and I had to quickly return to the pits to see if my team could fix it. Unfortunately, in the few seconds they had available before the start, nothing could be done and I had to get out of the kart and become a spectator." He added, "I sulked for a few minutes, but then got over it. I've had three podiums out of four, so we're going quite well - but I'm 5th in the points now and this shows that consistency will be crucial over the rest of the season." The Super 1 Championship next visits Buckmore Park, in Kent (13/14 June) where Ed will be hoping that another strong performance will put him top of the table.

Desenzano del Garda (Brescia), the 30th of April 2009. After the start of the European Championship with the Super KF and KZ2 categories which took place in Muro Leccese, CRG and its official pilots will be facing the very important international CIK-FIA lap for the KF2 and KF3 European qualifications racing this weekend. On this purpose Europe was divided into three areas where the three appointments will take place at the same time from the first to the third May next: these will be in Sosnova near Lipa in the Czeck Republic as to Central Europe, in Genk Belgium as to North Europe and in Angerville - France - as to West Europe. CRG will run the KF2 category in Sosnova with the Italian drivers Giovanni Martinez, Niccolò Schirò and Alessandro Vantini while the Polish Jakub Dalewski and the Rumanian Robert Visoiu will run in KF3.

In the same date CRG will also stand the French KF2- race in Angerville with the Spanish driver from Mallorca Antonio Alarcon.
Something like 400 pilots will run the three rounds of the European KF2 and KF3 qualifications. Those who will be reaching the finals will take part to the KF3-Final in Zuera (near Saragozza) -Spain - on the 12th of July and to the KF2-Final in Essay (Normandie) - France - on the 2nd of August.
From the round in Sosnova the first 31 drivers will be qualified in KF2 and 28 in KF3, 24 drivers in KF2 and 25 in KF3 from Angerville and 26 in KF2 plus 28 in KF3 from Genk.

OFFICIAL DRIVERS CRG-MAXTER
CIK-FIA European KF2 & KF3 Championships, 1st-3rd of May 2009:

Autodrom Sosnova, Ceska Lipa (CZ)

KF2
82 - Giovanni Martinez (I) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop
85 - Niccolò Schirò (I) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop
86 - Alessandro Vantini (I) - CRG-Maxter- Dunlop

KF3
133 - Jakub Dalewski (PL) - CRG-Maxter-Vega
150 - Robert Visoiu (RO) - CRG-Maxter-Vega

Circuit International Gabriel Thirouin, Angerville (F)

KF2
62 - Antonio Alarcon A. (E) - CRG-Maxter-Dunlop

Press Office
CRG SpA
Desenzano del Garda (Brescia), 30th April 2009

 

Muro Leccese (Lecce), the 19th of April 2009. The international season of CIK-FIA Championships was started with the first round of the Super KF and KZ2 European Championships in Muro Leccese, although the big factories like "CRG" had decided not to participate officially to the Super KF continental series. The rule of this category does in fact not correspond to the real requirements of constru-ctors who would on the contrary use it as a real lab to be able to test during the race the technical deve-lopments of both the engines and chassis which should then be applied for production.

Between the two categories which have been racing on the Circuit La Conca in Muro Leccese it was the KZ2 the one to draw the greater competitive interest, with the presence of something like 96 drivers from 18 countries racing top level competitions since the qualification heats that counted then 34 finalists.
CRG was a protagonist in this category with lots of its drivers, also new ones like Luca Tilloca, a young driver from Alghero who lived his first international experience and was the real revelation of the day.
He was assisted by CRG and by the CRG official "Team Erebus" for Sardinia together with its president Giuseppe Soro and proved to be one of the major protagonist at all since the beginning (one heat victory, three second places and a fourth one) and certainly among the candidates for the end-victory.
First he got the podium in Final-1 with a surprising and well-deserved third place, then he immediately attacked in Final-2 being able to carry out his performance in lap nine inning the head of the race. The big disappointment came 5 laps from the end, when he was about to reach a triumph, and this was due to a sudden, unusual technical engine-problem. It was a pity indeed as Tilloca was proving to have a superior pace over all the others and would therefore maybe crown his excellent weekend with the highest step of the podium.

Among the other CRG protagonists there was also the calabrian Leonardo Fuoco, winner of two heats but unlucky in the two Finals and Daniele Delli Compagni, who was able to make a good progression up to place 15 in Final-2 with the comfort of one point for the championship. Nice performance also for the Dutch Yard Pex of CRG Holland, with a 7th position in both the Finals.

It was a first European debut also for the 15-years-old siennese Mirko Torsellini driving the new LH Lewis Hamilton chassis which is produced and marketed by CRG. He was quite unlucky at the beginning of the qualification heats after being involved in an accident at the start, but Torsellini redeemed himself in the last heat winning with obstinacy a very good 5th place and anyway missing the Final phase of the race for less than nothing.
Winner of both KZ2 Finals was the Czech Patrick Hajek, each time ahead of Riccardo Piccoli.

In Super KF, among the drivers with CRG chassis, the one who got the best result was Andrea Dalè, who was placed 5th in the first Final but was out of the race after an accident during the second Final when he was about to be placed very well. Also the Belgian Rick Dreezen wasn't this time able to shine as usual especially after his withdraw in Final-1 but could anyway recover positions in Final-2 up to place nine.

The most unlucky was anyway the very fast British Oliver Rowland with LH Lewis Hamilton chassis assisted by "Chiesa Corse". He was in fact forced to start from the back-lines being involved in a few accidents during the qualification heats but then stood out for his fantastic progressions and finally never passed the finish anyway because of several technical mishaps.
The Finnish Simo Puhakka won the first Super KF Final and the British Jason Parrott won the second.

THE INTERVIEWS

Giancarlo Tinini, President of CRG SpA: "Apart from the technical problem happened to Tilloca, the result on the whole was anyway positive. We would deserve a success in the second Final for sure, considering that our driver was the fastest in the head-group. Unfortunately we had to withdraw 5 laps from the end of the race and couldn't bring home an almost certain victory. Now we need to check what happened. We discovered a good driver, I met him in Sardinia, saw how well he could he could drive and offered him this opportunity. He accepted the challenge and I must say that he's doing very well at the moment. But now his road is going uphill as he shall try to repeat the good performances in the future, in view also of the World Cup to which he could participate".

Omar Di Gesualdo, CRG Sport Manager: "This was Tilloca's first International race and he realized a good performance proving to be a winning driver. Unfortunatelly a technical problem which still shall be checked stopped him in Final-2. We are anyway very satisfied because it's a pleasure to see that a driver who uses for the first time one of our karts - a Road Rebel chassis in this occasion - becomes quite immediately a winner at his debut in the European Championship".

Luca Tilloca: "It was a marvelous weekend for me and I'm very happy for what I could get. Our aim was the qualification, but a heat-victory and some other good placings during the other races let me point to a full result. Especially satisfying was already the third place in Final-1, then also a victory could come out in Final-2 when I was in the lead and was gaining ground over my opponents. A technical problem stopped me from an almost certain victory. There's anyway a second championship round in Germany and I'm still running for the title".

Classifications

Super KF: Final-1. Puhakka (FIN); 2. De Brabander (B) +0.501; 3. Foster-Jones (GB) +0.932; 4. Vainio (FIN) +1.981; 5. Dalè (CRG-TM) +2.206.
Final-2. 1. Parrott (GB); 2. Kunranta (FIN) +1.096; 3. Groman (CZ) +1.751; 4. Renaudie (F) +1.943; 5. Bradley (GB) +5.306.
Super KF Championship: 1. Parrott (GB) points 32; 2. Puhakka (FIN) 29; 3. Renaudie (F) 23; 4. De Brabander (B) e Kunranta (FIN) 20; 6. Groman (CZ) and Gromanova (CZ) 18; 8. Foster-Jones (GB) 16; 9. Giacomello (I) 15; 10. Vainio (FIN) 14.

KZ2: Final-1. 1. Hajek (CZ); 2. Piccoli (I) +0.755; 3. Tilloca (CRG-Maxter) +0.859; 4. Hawksworth (GB) +1.527; 5. Cane (I) +5.481.
Final-2. 1. Hajek (CZ); 2. Piccoli (I) +0.583; 3. De Conto (I) +1.155; 4. Lombardo (I) +1.943; 5. Cane (I) +3.690.
KZ2 Championship: 1. Hajek (CZ) points 50; 2. Piccoli (I) 40; 3. Cane (I) 22; 4. De Conto (I) 21; 5. Ferri (I) 20; 6. Wawksworth (GB) and Pex (NL) 18; 8. Tilloca (I) 16; 9. De Luchi (I) 15; 10. Lombardo (I) 14.

Press Office
CRG SpA
Muro Leccese (Lecce), 19th April 2009

 

Castelletto di Branduzzo (Pavia), the 5th of April 2009. It was a productive weekend full of satisfactions for CRG the one which took place on the beautiful track of "Pista 7 Laghi" in Castelletto di Branduzzo (Pavia) for the third round of WSK International Series FIA Authorised. The chassis of new generation "Road Rebel", tested for the first time during this interna-tional event and the new evolutions of Maxter engines gave a renewed confidence to all the team and drivers. The results were evident mainly in the "top class", the professional Super KF, where the three champions "Koko" Arnaud Kozlinski, Jonathan Thonon and Davide Forè expressed super high performances showing to be among the major protagonists at any similar predicament of the event.

Even if the results of the final in Super KF do not render justice to the colours of CRG-Maxter, the checking of the whole weekend of work was absolutely positive for the official team of the "All Blacks". Moreover, the strange weather conditions forced the team to an incredible series of technical interventions, influencing therefore some sports values,as it happened to Thonon when a shower prevented him from doing his time in the Superpole just as the Belgian driver was about to enter the track for his timed lap.

Misfortune also influenced Kozlinski's performance who won at the beginning the first of the two heats then was forced to withdraw in the second for a clay-breaking of the candle. These setbacks didn't anyway prevent from appreciating the capacity of the new technical equipment used during the race, all the more because Forè also signed the best time at all in the warm-up before the final.

At the end the tough Kozlinski and Forè got the 5th and 6th places both with fantastic progressions. Forè was also involved in a spectacular accident during the first lap but could then get out very well.

On the contrary, Thonon had first won the pole position in the final with two excellent heats (second and third), but was then really unlucky because of a problem at the beginning of the race. He first started late in the line-up lap, then recovered his grid-position with a pole in a part not allowed by the rule (between the red line and the starting line). At the first turn Thonon also touched other drivers, immediately recovered but after the finish (7th) he was disqualified for his initial infraction.

Kozlinski has confirmed his second position in the championship at only 20 points from the leader. Thonon and Forè were left behind, coupled in the 12th position, with 55 points of delay from the top.

As to the other CRG pilots in Super KF, Andrea Dalè was placed 15th and Eddy Tinini 25th at full laps, both protagonists of great duels. The Dutch Rick Dreezen of CRG Holland, who recently got the podium at KZ2 in Sarno, was forced to withdraw at half race. The British Oliver Rowland had also to slow down for problems after winning a good qualification (22th on the finish). He was racing with the new "LH Lewis Hamilton" chassis which is produced and marketed by CRG and on track assisted by Dino Chiesa.

GOOD HEATS BY SCHIRO' IN KF2 AND QUITE UNLUCKY DALEWSKI IN KF3

Good race in KF2 for Niccolò Schirò and Giovanni Martinez who both could reach the final round. Schirò raced some good heats but placed 26th in the final. Martinez entered the final after the repechage trial and was 27th at the end.
The Spanish from Mallorca Antonio Alarcon couldn't manage to qualify due to a series of problems in the preliminary heats.

In KF3 the unlucky Polish Jakub Dalewski was involved in a heat-accident which forced him to start from the back in the pre-final. Nevertheless, he raced very well in the final placing at the end 23th. The Rumanian Robert Visoiu wasn't able to enter the final round.

INTERVIEWS

Giancarlo Tinini, President of CRG SpA: "in Super KF we have been using some new equipment, that is a new Road Rebel frame which gives a higher grip on the back. The checking was already positive during the test of last week so we have decided to use it here too. This technical solution was appreciated by everyone and the reply in the race was excellent. WSK is proving to be a valid test stand in order to match as best as possible our engagements in the international championships. We have been preparing some technical evolutions in KF2 and KF3 too. Our very young drivers are meanwhile improving race after race and we are already remarking some progress. As to the motors, we are making two different lines of motors and have already positive and valid indications."

Nico Carigiet, Maxter Engine manager: "We are properly preparing several news, with suitable kits that we successfully propose to our clients after having tested the development of some parts. We've been reaching a very good level in Super KF and KF2 and in KF3 we're developing some devices to render the motor even more competitive."

Omar Di Gesualdo, CRG Racing Director: "in Super KF the performances of Kozlinski and Forè were excellent indeed and showed the validity of our chassis in such a long final. We are also very happy as regards the new Maxter motors. Thonon's unlucky start from the pole was really a pity otherwise we could get a beautiful result. In KF2 Schirò is doing his very best and he will soon show to be of great value. Martinez also made a good performance, considering his first year in this category. In KF3 Dalewski is racing very good and above all he is learning what to do in the most difficult moments. Visoiu is building his own experience that he's still lacking of."

"Koko" Arnaud Kozlinski: "My strategy have been very different if in a heat I was not forced to withdraw for a breaking of the candle-clay. Then at the beginning of the final I lost some positions after an accident which happened just in front of me. That is the reason why I had to attack immediately without carefully running my kart anymore. At the end I had no chance to attack the leading positions. I could anyway save my second place in the championship and I am therefore very confident for the future also because we own an excellent technical equipment."

Davide Forè: "It was a difficult weekend to manage because of the weather condition which continuously changed. In the final I ran against Groman's accident and was out of track losing therefore many positions. Then I was able to recover and I am really happy. We've been very fast and the new chassis is perfect, as well as the new evolution of Maxter motor. I am sure victory will soon arrive."

Classifications

Super KF: 1. Toman (CZ); 2. Vainio (FIN) +1.265; 3. Cesetti (I) +3.333; 4. Renaudie (F) +3.506; 5. Kozlinski (F) (CRG-Maxter) +4.447; 6. Forè (I) (CRG-MAxter) +6.158; 7. Grice (GB) +7.496; 8. Piccioni (I) +8.125; 9. Bradley (GB) +9.752; 10. Puhakka (FIN) +10.835; 11. Foster-Jones (GB) +11.338; 12. Litchfield (GB) +11.495; 13. Gaggianesi (I) +12.472; 14. Parrot (GB) +13.442; 15. Dalè (I) (CRG-Maxter) +15.573.
Super KF Championship: 1. Cesetti (I) points 65; 2. Kozlinski (F) and Toman (CZ) 45; 4. Vainio (FIN) 35; 5. Convers (F) 21; 6. Puhakka (FIN) 18; 7. Parrot (GB) and Piccioni (I) 17; 9. Renaudie (F) 15; 10. Foster-Jones (GB) 13; 11. Grice (GB) 11; 12. Thonon (B) e Forè (I) 10; 14. Litchfield (GB) 9; 15. Ardigò (I) 8; 16. Bradley (GB) and Catt (GB) 7; 18. Dalè (I) (CRG-Maxter) and Gromanova (CZ) 4.

KF2: 1. Grenhagen (S); 2. Smarrazzo (I) +1.491; 3. Maisano (F) +1.794; 4. Cooper (GB) +2.985; 5. Lock (GB) +3.909; 6. Lennox-Lamb (GB) +5.609; 7. Luka (B) +7.112; 8. Beretta (I) +7.322; 9. Rossler (S) +7.823; 10. Catting (DK) +8.733; 11. Johansson (S) +9.294; 12. Viganò (I) +9.884; 13. Tiene (I) +11.993; 14. Zimin (RUS) +12.170; 15. Wright (GB) +12.263.
KF2 Championship: 1. Viganò (I) points 109; 2. Cooper (GB) 90; 3. Grenhagen (S) 65; 4. Maisano (F) 56; 5. Basz and Smarrazzo 54; 7. Lock (GB) 49; 8. Tiene (I) 48; 9. Taylor (GB) 32; 10. Luka (B) and Goff 30; 12. Beretta (I) 24; 13. Stoffel (B) 23; 14. D'Agosto (I) 17; 15. Johansson (S) 16.

KF3: 1. De Vries (NL); 2. Sainz (E) +0.747; 3. King (GB) +1.062; 4. Kvyat (RUS) +2.683; 5. Fioravanti (I) +3.009; 6. Marciello (I) +4.176; 7. Dennis (GB) +4.451; 8. Menezes (USA) +5.487; 9. Hoevenaars (NL) +5.707; 10. Barrabeig (E) +6.533; 11. Agostini (I) +6.679; 12. Frolenkov (RUS) +6.931; 13. Silva (BR) +9.286; 14. Abreu (P) +11.916; 15. Jaminet (F) +12.459.
KF3 Championship: 1. Kvyat (RUS) points 140; 2. De Vries (NL) 115; 3. Sainz (E) 87; 4. Marciello (I) 70; 5. King (GB) 54; 6. Albon (GB) 39; 7. Wolf (D) 32; 8. Barrabeig (E) 31; 9. Jaminet (F) 29; 10. Agostini (I) 26; 11. Dennis (GB) 24; 12. Wernersson (S) 21; 13. Silva (BR) 18; 14. Fioravanti (I) and Menezes (USA) 14.

Press Office
CRG SpA
Castelletto di Branduzzo (Pavia), 5th April 2009

Do fairytales come true? We believe they do. Especially after seeing our self-designed CRG Dark Knight kart take stunning victories at Whilton Mill last weekend (4/5 April). In Junior Max, Coles Racing's Ed Brand was in brilliant form - fastest in Timed Qualifying before winning the heat and first final. After leading much of the second race, he sensibly opted for points over the possibility of crashing out, to finish as runner-up and leave the Northamptonshire circuit with the series lead in his pocket. Commenting on the Dark Knight chassis, the Hertfordshire driver said, "It feels really good to drive. The kart is very well balanced and did me proud. It's given us a great start to the season and is clearly fast. Lee (Jenner) and I have proved that."

Despite nursing injured tendons in his arm, HRS works driver, Lee was able to run at the front and cope with the furious pace set in the Senior class.

Second quickest in qualifying, he also crossed the line in second place in the heat. Pushed wide at the start of the first final, Lee fought back to take a strong 3rd at the chequered flag - giving himself that all-important inside line for the first corner for the start of the following final.

An excellent start saw him survive the opening-lap dramas to join a thrilling dice for the lead. The race had the crowds thronging the barriers, as the spectators tried not to miss the drama unfolding in front of them. Making his move at precisely the right moment, Lee seized the lead.

"The start had been a bit edgy but I got my head down and worked my way into second. With four minutes to go, I thought 'Give it a go' - and went for it." After holding his advantage to take a popular victory, he added, "This is a great Super 1 debut for the Dark Knight. It's easier to set up than other karts, the tyre wear is fantastic and it's so easy to drive."

HRS boss, Tristram couldn't contain his delight, "We couldn't ask anymore from Lee and Ed, I'm ecstatic". "We designed the chassis specifically for the Rotax classes," he explained, "And I'm over the moon to leave Whilton leading the (Junior and Senior) points tables."

"Can we maintain our form? I think so. We've worked for a long time to have a kart that is strong both at the beginning and the end of a race and we've got that."

OCALA, FLORIDA (March 23, 2009) - A three month escape from the cold temperatures of Quebec, Canada ended for the PSL Karting squad as the third and final round of the 2009 Florida Winter Tour went into the books March 14-15 and March 21-22. The fifth and sixth weekends of the series were the Rotax division and the 'Formula Kart' weekend finales at the Ocala Gran Prix in central Florida. Though championships eluded the team in the '09 edition, the PSL name was atop the podium numerous times throughout the three months. Jesus Rios Jr. and Jimmy Cabrera put PSL on top of the podium at the Rotax finale while defending ProShifter champion Fritz Leesmann scored the last victory of the Tour.

Entering the weekend, Rios was among the contenders in the Rotax Junior championship following his victory at the final Homestead event. The Ocala finale did not start off the way Rios had hoped, qualifying on day one in 11th. The Florida pilot and the PSL technical support team worked together throughout the day to help get his CRG up to speed. Rios made up four spots in the Prefinal to start seventh for the feature. In the main event, Rios was the man on the move as he eventually worked himself up to second by lap 12 of the 24-lap event. Holding the spot until the white flag, an ill-advised pass attempt from the third place kart resulted in hard contact during the final circuit and put Rios back to eighth place as the checkered flag waved. Non-related penalties to drivers ahead of him moved him up to sixth in the final classification however the result was still disappointing considering the circumstances.

Putting the first day's action behind him, Rios was focused on taking care of what he needed for a chance in the championship. A better qualifying effort for day two put him outside row two for the Prefinal. Just five laps into the Prefinal, the CRG driver had found his way to the front, where he would stay until the checkered flag. Lined up directly behind him for the start of the main event would be the championship leader. At the drop of the green flag, the two began a clean and professional race-long battle. In the end, Rios took his second victory in Rotax competition but would come up short in the championship chase, ending the year as the runner-up.

For Cabrera, the second half of the Florida Winter Tour has been a successful one. Though not in the hunt for the Micro Max championship, Cabrera came to Ocala in search of victories. A third place in Qualifying got the weekend started off in the right path as he would hold the spot through the Prefinal race. Soon after receiving the green flag to start the feature, Cabrera made his move to the front of the field and by the second lap was showing the way. Running consistent laps, Cabrera went on to take the win by over four-seconds for his first taste of victory in Rotax competition.

The 'Formula Kart' weekend event began strong for Leesmann as the Californian put his CRG/Maxter entry at the top of the time sheets in Qualifying on Saturday to edge out his championship rival. Leesmann then went on to lead all 16 laps of the Prefinal to start the main event from the pole position. The 24-lap race would be a dual between Fritz and his championship rival. Leesmann led the majority of the laps however lost the position in the second half of the race, settling for the runner-up finish. Sunday saw Leesmann in the same spot in Qualifying, posting the second quickest lap of the session to start the Prefinal from outside row one. Getting away cleanly, Leesmann slotted in behind the championship leader to run second. Saving the best for last, Leesmann got the hole shot to begin the feature race. As they came around for the first lap, Leesmann showed the way and he would continue on until the checkered flag waved to take the victory by nearly a second. The victory, his first of the season, was not enough to slide into the lead in the point standings however as Leesmann would earn the vice-championship honor.

Making only his second start in KF3, Rios used the notes from the Rotax weekend to help secure the top position in qualifying session. His fast lap led to Rios showing the way in all 16 laps of the Prefinal to start the feature from the P1 position. The main event would not go as smooth as the previous race as after leading the opening lap, Rios was shuffled back to third. After regaining his composure, he muscled his way back to second and cut into the leader's advantage however it would not be enough as Rios settled for the runner-up spot, his second podium visit in three races.

Heading into the weekend, PSL Karting Cadet driver Cabrera had a chance to steal the championship away from the defending class champion. The event began in the right direction with Cabrera putting his CRG on top in the Saturday qualifying session. After a tough battle in the Prefinal, Cabrera crossed the line second but was penalized five positions per the race director. After his appeal was denied, Cabrera chose to sit out the feature race. Putting the day's action behind him, Cabrera set out to perform well on the final day. A fourth in Sunday's qualifying put him in outside row two for the start of the Prefinal. In the opening corner however contact sent the entire outside line off track. Cabrera rejoined the track in seventh and managed to climb back up to fourth. Once again, Cabrera was shuffled back at the start, falling to sixth however was able to advance back up to third to stand on the podium in the final race and second in the championship standings in his first year at the Tour.

Ocala, FL - Canadian-based Cameron Motorsports/CRG and US-based SSC East/CRG will combine resources to campaign the 2009 Snap-On Stars of Karting Championship. Both camps are proven racing winning CRG teams with experience in both North America and Europe.

The stated goal of this new strategic partnership is to combine the talents, resources and knowledge of both teams. Bringing together some of North America's most talented drivers and experienced tuners will benefit the performance of both organizations. This past weekend was the first event of this new partnership and things went extremely well. With 8 drivers under the tent and great results on track this winning formula will certainly lead to great results.

KF3
Phil De La O (SSC East/ CRG) was the only driver from either squad to enter into Stars newest CIK class, KF3. The only way to describe his KF3 performance this past weekend is near perfect. A second in Heat two was the only blemish in a string of firsts that started in pre-qualifying. DeLaO was able to top the charts on three straight days, making him the man to beat in this new class.

Junior National
One of only a handful of drivers to do double duty, Phil De La O (SSC East/ CRG) became the only double winner on the weekend. He took the Junior National final setting fast lap time in the process. Phil continues to build on his stellar results for 2009 and will head to Europe in June to compete in the WSK.

Joining De La O was 2008 Canadian National Honda Junior Champion Reid Arnold (Cameron Motorsports/CRG). Arnold had a strong run all weekend with consistent top 10's including a 3rd in Heat 2. In the feature the racing gods did not shine his way and a Lap 5 incident while running in 5th put him back to 16th. He is certainly deserving of the hard luck award.

KZ2
A total of five drivers competed in the renamed KZ2 class including two of North Americas best. Canadian Michael Vincec (Cameron Motorsports/CRG) led the way finishing 2nd in the Final. Vincec was fast all weekend, qualifying on the pole on Friday. Next to cross the stripe was Cody Jolly (Cameron Motorsports/CRG) coming in 4th after a string of solid runs. Jolly was very competitive all weekend with a strong finish as a reward. Arie Ouimet (SSC East/ CRG) crossed just behind Jolly taking the 5th spot. Ouimet had to brush off the cobwebs, as the last time he raced a shifter kart was in mid-2008. By the end of the weekend Arie was as fast as the leaders and took home the Hard Charger award. Next through was Alex Manglass (SSC East/ CRG) tucking in right behind his teammate to finish 6th. Manglass' hard work this winter paid off with a very competitive weekend. Getting the hard luck prize in KZ2 might be the always fast Gary Carlton (SSC East/ CRG) who ended a tough weekend in 8th. After three straight wins in the heats put him on pole for the Pre-Final, his luck ran out. A DNF from contact in the pre-final and a DNF for a broken chain left the perennial favorite looking for better things to come when Stars of Karting hit the track at Infineon Raceway in April.

Tag ICC
The lone TAG ICC pilot was Canadian Eric Simon (Cameron Motorsports/CRG). Simon was almost able to turn his Stars of Karting debut into a podium finish. Crossing the line in third, it looked a podium finish, but a 3-position penalty for a jump start moved him back to 6th. The Rookie shifter pilot looked impressive and will be factor through out the season.

Trevor Wickens, Team Manager for Cameron Motorsports/CRG.
"We are very pleased with the results from this past weekend, but we are even more excited about the rest of the season."

Dave Davies, of SSC East/CRG.
"New Castle is only a couple of months away and this will allow us time to add drivers to the new KF2 class as well as National Senior."

Sarno (Salerno), March 8th 2009. A really challenging and difficult weekend for the second race of the WSK International Series, that took place at the International Circuit of Sarno, Naples. This was the first race for the "queen" class, the KZ2, and the second appointment for KF2 and KF3.
A real challenge with 200 drivers on the starting grid and very uncertain weather conditions that created many difficulties for the karts set-up. The free practices on Friday have been made with rain and cold, while the weather gradually improved until the hot temperatures of Sunday. As if to say, all wiped out in terms of chassis and engines set-up. Under these conditions, the work of the CRG-Maxter technicians was at the highest level, with the continuous development of the race material in view of the KZ1 and KF3 World Cup, that will be run in Sarno on September 6th.

In KZ2, the most important class for this WSK appointment, there have been several situations of great tension but in the end the result was positive. The "All Blacks" have been represented on the podium by the CRG Holland driver Rick Dreezen, after a thrilling final where he conquered a great third place after an heroic resistance to the repeated attacks of Marco Ardigò. The two drivers have crossed the finishing line very close, with Dreezen winning with 13 thousandths of a second. The winner of the KZ2 final was the Dutch Bas Lammers, followed by Manuel Renaudie.

Difficult race for the CRG official drivers, who started the weekend "in uphill" due to various problems in the tests or in the qualification heats. In the end, however, Jonathan Thonon and Davide Foré made great performances, both of them with the new homologated "Bad Boy" chassis. Outstanding race for the Belgian Thonon who gained a seventh place starting from the 17th position in the pre-final, as it should be considered a very good result the 9th place obtained by David Forè, who started 22nd after an incredible series of misfortunes, including the heavy disqualification for an underweight of only 200 grams at the end of the qualifying heats where he had obtained the fifth place.

Weekend to forget for the fast CRG driver "Koko" Arnaud Kozlinski, who was forced to leave the race in the second chance heat (where he had come due to an unfortunate series of coincidences) when he had left behind all the competitors with half-track of advantage.
In the final, good result also for the standard bearer of CRG Holland, the Dutch Jorrit Pex, who finished eleventh.

First KZ2 race for the LH Lewis Hamilton chassis(produced and marketed by CRG) with the young and promising driver Mirko Torsellini, assisted by Elto Racing. Mirko was penalized at the beginning of the weekend for not being able to take part in the qualification heats - together with other competitors - due to a supposed delay at the track gate, so he had to run the qualification heats always starting from the last rows. At the end of this "ordeal" the 15 years old driver from Siena crossed the finishing line of the second chance heat with a good 10th place, but this result was not able to allow him to take part in the final stages of the race. In any case, this was an important experience for him, as it was important to start the development of the new chassis in KZ2 together with the Super KF development made by the world champion Rowland.

The accidents in the qualification heats of KF2 and KF3 have created many problems to the CRG drivers but fortunately they have not suffered serious consequences. In KF2 Niccolò Schirò was the driver most damaged by the accidents, he got injured in the leg after an overturn in one of the heats, while in KF3 the Pole Jakub Dalewski has been involved in a violent accident where he has reported several contusions. Unfortunate race also for the Sardinian Giovanni Martinez and the Spanish Antonio Alarcon, who failed the qualification for the KF2 final.

In KF2, the best CRG driver was the Belgian Clemente Picariello of the team VDK, with a very good 14th place in the final after a comeback from the last position, where he was forced due to some problems in the pre-final start that obliged him to leave the race.

The winner of the KF2 race was Matteo Viganò, followed by Felice Tiene and the English Max Goff.
In KF3 the Romanian driver Robert Visoiu was forced to leave the race at the start of the second chance heat. The KF3 winner was the Russian Daniil Kvyat, after an hard fight with the Spanish Carlos Sainz and Raffaele Marciello.

Interviews

Giancarlo Tinini, President of CRG: "We had not the chance to develop the new solutions in the best way. All things considered, the weekend was positive. From a technical point of view, we have made some engine evolutions and we are carrying on the development of the new chassis. Above all we are trying to help the growth of the young drivers, who still have only a little experience, but we see improvements race after race. We will certainly have good results very soon."

Eng. Jan Witteveen, Maxter general director: "We are working very hard, but the track has not yet shown the outcomes of our hard work. From a technical point of view we are growing, it will take some time, but we will for sure collect good results. We are currently working on very interesting projects. I arrived in Maxter last October, with a medium and a long term program, but I think we will have several improvements starting from this season. "

Omar Di Gesualdo, CRG racing director: "The weekend has been influenced by the very unsettled weather between the heats and the race. We have not been able to do the tests as we would have liked, although we have noticed with great pleasure that our new "Bad Boy" chassis is very performing on the wet track, offering a very good grip. In KF2 and KF3 we had problems in the second chance heats due to the accidents caused by other competitors, that have influenced the evolution of the whole weekend. In KZ2 our drivers performances have improved during the weekend so that we have obtained good results. "

Eng. Marco Urbinati, CRG responsible of telemetry: "The changes in the weather situation have created several problems in the chassis set-up with dry conditions after the heats made on the wet track. All the drivers had to fight hard to find the best set-up. With the help of telemetry we have been able to develop some guidelines for a better running of the engine power, and even the driving styles had to change several times over this weekend. "

Jonathan Thonon: "During this race we have tested different chassis set-ups and various ratios, especially in view of the World Cup that will be disputed on this track in September. I had a technical problem in the third heat, after having won the first two heats, and this made me start a little back in the pre-final rows, then it was very difficult to recover positions. In the final I have recovered another ten positions, and I have crossed the finishing line in the seventh place so it was definitely a good result. "

David Forè: "With the penalty that I had in the official heats, it was certainly impossible for me to have the chance to get a better result. I could have been in the leading group both in the pre-final and in the final. From a technical point of view I am very happy because starting from the half of the race the chassis was extremely performing. In the first laps I had some difficulties to leave behind the group of competitors, then in the second part of the race I was very fast, so that I was able to obtain the second best time overall. I want to thank all the CRG and Maxter staff, their assistance has been very helpful. I am sure that the next race will be much better. "

Classifications:

KZ2: 1. Lammers (NL); 2. Renaudie (F) +1.606; 3. Dreezen (B) (CRG-Maxter) +2.971; 4. Ardigò (I) +2.984; 5. Puhakka (FIN) +3.549; 6. Piccini +4.186; 7. Thonon (CRG-Maxter) + 5.286; 8. Toninelli +6.103; 9. Forè (I) (CRG-Maxter) +6.240; 10. Catt (GB) + 6.827; 11. Pex (CRG-Tm) + 8.236; 12. Frasnelli + 9.939; 13. Annunziata + 13.250; 14. Verdi (NL) +14.141; 15. Knopper (NL) + 14.373.
KZ2 Championship: 1. Lammers 65; 2. Renaudie 38; 3. Dreezen 27; 4. Ardigò 21; 5. Hawksworth 15; 6. Puhakka and Piccini 12; 8. Iglesias 10; 9. Thonon and Manetti 9.

KF2: 1. Viganò (I); 2. Tiene (I) +2.058; 3. Goff (GB) +4.455; 4. Taylor (GB) +4.722; 5. Cooper (GB) +5.761; 6. Maisano (F) + 9.360; 7. Suvanto (FIN) +9.730; 8. Lock (GB) +10.522; 9. Smarrazzo (I) +10.651; 10. Ghirelli (I) +11.784; 11. D'Agosto (I) +14.819; 12. Beretta (I) +15.290; 13. Luka (B) +15.551; 14. Picariello (B) (CRG-Maxter) +17.207; 15. Szczerbinski (PL) + 17.473.
KF2 Championship: 1. Viganò 105; 2. Cooper 66; 3. Basz 54; 4. Tiene 40; 5. Taylor 32; 6. Goff 30; 7. Maisano 26; 8. Stoffel 23; 9. Lock 22; 10. Luka 18.

KF3: 1. Kvyat (RUS); 2. Sainz (E) +0.679; 3. Marciello (I) +1.092; 4. Barrabeig (E) +2.076; 5. Silva (BR) +2.234; 6. Schmidt (CH) +2.619; 7. King (GB) +2.779; 8. Agostini (I) +6.480; 9. Wernersson (S) +6.672; 10. Albon (GB) +7.454; 11. Mark (H) +8.542; 12. Adrian (E) +9.333; 13. Walsh (GB) +9.588; 14. Wolf (D) +11.585; 15. Jaminet (F) +11.709.
KF3 Championship: 1. Kvyat 105; 2. De Vries 60; 3. Marciello 51; 4. Sainz 42; 5. Wolf 32; 6. Albon 31; 7. King 29; 8. Jaminet 28; 9. Barrabeig 25; 10. Agostini and Wernersson 21.

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