Easykart World Finals, Siena, Italy, 16/17/18 October

The Italians, as it is universally recognised, know a thing or two about style. Furthermore, just look at the architecture and physical beauty of their great cities and you’ll see that they also have an ingrained affinity for the grand statement.

Not surprising then that Birel chose Siena as the venue for this year’s Easykart World Finals. Just a few miles outside one of the most important centres of the Renaissance, the circuit is surrounded by the rolling Tuscan countryside, almost unchanged since the time of Dante.

Ironically (or perhaps appropriately) the large English contingent had chosen the Hotel Montaperti as their base – located near the site of a famous medieval battle between the Guelphs (of Florence) and the Ghibellines (Siena), mentioned in Dante’s Divine Comedy.

Thankfully, the rivalry at the track was more of a sporting nature but still produced some tough racing and overall, a terrific spectacle.

With five drivers each in four of the six classes (Bambino, Cadet, Junior, Light, Heavy and Gearbox), the Easykart UK series fielded one of the strongest line-ups from the visiting nations. However, the 2008 World Final winners had all returned to defend their crowns, merely adding to the sheer depth of quality present.

Since 2006, Russia has increasingly become a force in international karting and this is certainly evident in Easykart. Last year, Robert Schwartzman won the Cadet category and returned to the peninsular to defend his crown. The Eastern European was further complimented by talented drivers from the Ukraine, Poland and the Czech Republic. Nevertheless, and perhaps inevitably, the Italians proved to have the strongest representation in each of the classes by the time of the A finals.

The Cadet entry was so large that three finals were required. Two of the five Easykart UK drivers found themselves in the C final. A mixture of bad luck and lack of experience at this level affected many drivers, not least Josh Grimston and Jordan Sanders. However, the youngsters battled gamely throughout the twelve laps and ended their Tuscan adventure in 11th and 9th places respectively.

A thirty four kart field entertained the crowd in the B Final and featured Ronan McKenzie, who started from the fourth row. Unfortunately, three crashes at consecutive corners split the field on the opening lap. Ronan held onto his eighth place starting position, but in some typical Cadet racing found himself shuffled down to tenth. As the race progressed, his motor began to sound distinctly sick and he began a slow descent down the order. To his credit, he fought hard to keep every place and an ultimate nineteenth position at the chequered flag belied a valiant performance.

By the time of the A final, it fell to the UK championship runner-up, Will Stowell and the champion, James DeHavillande to uphold British honour. Both faced an uphill task if they were to rise up the order from their twelfth and thirteenth row grid slots, but had a game-plan to work together. “My plan is to get round the first three corners and see from there,” Will said with a big grin as he looked down the long line of karts to the front row. He added, “Just to be in the A final and on the big stage is fantastic. Two tenths (of a second) covered the whole field in the warm-up, so you never know what might happen. At least I know I’m on the pace!”

DeHavillande’s nerves must have been on fire, when the field rolled away on the formation lap with his kart refusing to fire. Eight dads rushed to his aid and a collective effort - from men who in several cases didn’t speak each others language - got him underway.

A first corner crash played into their hands and they leapt up the order, but just a few corners later a coming-together with another driver saw James drop to second from last.

At the front, Mattia Drudi had got the drop on reigning champion and pole-sitter Schwartzman. Behind them, many hearts were in mouths when the Polish driver, Marcel Grudzinski let the brakes off and scythed past several karts in an astonishing piece of over-taking going into the first corner.

Running in fourth at this point was the youngest son of Ayrton Senna’s former Toleman F1 team-mate Jonny Cecotto, Jonathan. Around him was a gaggle of seven other karts who repeatedly traded places, allowing the lead pair to edge away. Just out of the top ten but moving up the order, Will Stowell was eagerly roared on by the noisy English supporters. As he took eleventh place, his supporters went bananas and it seemed to be the spur for him to begin to put daylight between him and his pursuers.

At the front, Schwartzman has re-asserted himself over Drudi, whilst Roberto Roberti had jinked out of the slipstream of Edoardo Lazzari and cleanly passed him for third place.

Having had a moment in the traffic, Grudzinski was putting in an impressive recovery drive and was now zeroing in on Stowell’s rear bumper. From front to back, it was a cracking race with separate groups squabbling over every single piece of tarmac. Showing a tremendous show of spirit, DeHavillande had clawed his way past a trio of karts and looked set to pass several more. Ahead of him, the wonderfully-named Rocco Atlante, Pawel Malczak and Cecotto ran three abreast down the start/finish straight in a nip-and-tuck battle. Rapidly catching them was the German, Michael Waldherr and Venezuela’s Andrea Cicconetti, who were about to make it, appropriately, a five-kart dice for fifth.

As the race neared its conclusion, Schwartzman re-passed Drudi, whilst Stowell had slipped to fourteenth, unable to match the pace of the karts ahead of him and keeping ahead of several others on sheer talent alone. On the last lap, Drudi launched his final bid for victory, and he and Schwartzman ran side by side as they exited the last corner and tore towards the chequered. The latter won by half a kart length whilst the fight for third was even closer. Roberti just nicked it from Lazzari. Will crossed the line in a delighted fourteenth, having thoroughly enjoyed his international debut and acquitted himself superbly. In contrast, James’ body language was somewhat phlegmatic as he took the chequered flag in twenty sixth, with just one hand on the steering wheel. He had played his part in a superb advertisement for Easykart and delivered a sterling effort throughout.

All five of our Light competitors made it through to the A final. Owen Jenman gridded up on p5, with UK double-champion Terry Langley behind him on p7. Jack Sales sat on the fifth row of the grid but on the inside line, whilst Adrian Crockett - or “Adriaaano Crock-ettaaa” as the commentator called him - occupied what would be an unlucky thirteenth spot on the grid. Five places to his rear, sat the last Englishman on the grid, Ben King.

Sales explained his race-plan prior to the off, “Just go for it and see what comes” he said with his customary smile. “I’m going to be aggressive, hold my own and then move forward as quickly as I can” said Jenman. Crocket was concerned about being in the mid-pack and off the racing line for the start, “I’ve got to go through [the pack]. This is the first time I’ve been on the outside all weekend, so I’ll just have to survive the first few corners and then see how it goes from there.”

King echoed his compatriot’s comments, “I just need to get a good start and stay out of trouble. After the first lap, I’d like to get into the top ten and work my way up from there.”

As the commentator announced the drivers’ names, the noisiest section of the crowd rhythmically chanted ‘Team UK, Team UK, Team UK’. A false started ratcheted up the fever even higher.

At the second time of asking, Langley got a screamer whilst Jenman got boxed in and dropped into the middle order. Alessandro Ruggeri emerged out of the exhaust smoke with an already impressive lead and immediately began to pull away even further. Matteo Scaioli headed the chasers, which included Sales and Langley in a gaggle of five karts. Crockett had made up three places for tenth as Jenman began to compose himself in fifteenth.

Reigning champion, Zeka Ozteknik – who took part in this year’s Kart Masters in KF2 – was having a nightmare, looking almost becalmed in the midfield. In contrast, Ruggeri had established a monster lead that looked unassailable. Daniele Messina nerfed Sales aside to take sixth from the Englishman, who clearly wasn’t happy about that. The race for second had also become somewhat scrappy with Armando Vender and Scaioli getting rather cosy.

Suddenly, Crockett’s season-long run of bad luck bit again and he fell to last place. Langley’s scrap with Alexander Kramarsky was settled when the Russian star pulled clear and began an inexorable rise to the front. With the race entering its final phase, his kart came on and he started to drive like a man possessed. Similarly, Crockett had cured his gremlins and was motoring forward at quite a rate.

By now, Kramarsky was third and flying. Langley’s tyres appeared to be going off and Sales nipped past and soon began to harry Messina. This aroused fresh passions in the English spectators who responded with a new chorus of encouragement.

Ruggeri’s previously invincible-looking lead had begun to look very shaky indeed. Scaioli was catching him hand-over-fist, with the slightly faster Kramarsky beginning to loom large over his shoulder. Scaioli went for it and passed Ruggeri with an incisive move, whilst the Russian advanced. Rattled, Ruggeri fought his way back into the lead and this played neatly into Kramarsky’s hands. He followed the Italian and a lap later, led for the first time.

Sales had moved into sixth and was clearly enjoying himself. Langley was grimly hanging on inside the top ten, whilst Jenman had become somewhat marooned in the low teens. Crockett had passed seven karts on his way to an eventual twenty seventh place. Later he rued what might have been had his spark plug lead not popped off, with a wry smile and a shrug of the shoulders.

Kramarsky was now looking comfortable and reeled out the last few laps to take a dramatic and thoroughly deserved victory. He saluted the hundreds of fans in spectacular style as he led Scaioli home, ahead of Ruggeri and Stefano Da Riz. Scaioli’s relegation to sixth – ironically not for the earlier contact with Vender but for jumping the start - promoted Sales to fifth, which in no way diminished the quality or validity of what was a superb drive from Jack.

Just writing this now, the hairs on the back of my neck are standing up. The sight and sound of the Heavy brigade charging into the first corner at the start, was indeed a sight to behold. In the thick of it, like their Light counterparts, were all the UK entrants – although Tim Hill had had to qualify via the B Final.

Prior to the start, poleman Danilo Lucchese had been seen chatting with Evgeny Smelov about not tangling in the first corner and keeping it clean. And whilst they were good to their word, a crash at Turn 2 saw several karts skittle off the circuit. Directly tucked up behind his fellow countryman, Kieran McCullough pushed William Smith through the melee. Tim Hill clearly had a tiger in his tank and was busy carving his way up from last place on the grid. Flying Scotsman, Mark Lawrence had started ten places ahead of Tim and he too wasn’t hanging around to admire the scenery.

World Finals winner in 2007 at Cervia, Barnaby Pittingale was another Brit making up ground. Having started thirteenth, he was now well inside the top ten and shadowing Smith.

After the opening exchanges had quietened down, it was evident that Lucchese was not going to lose this race barring a mechanical failure.

McCullough moved into sixth in the tight left-hand Turn 3, taking Pittingale with him into seventh. As the front section of the field streamed into the first corner, a crash behind Will Smith brought out the yellow flags. Undeterred, Carlo Mantori overtook to take second but his manoeuvre was in full view of the officials, who rightly penalised him post-race.

With the damaged kart cleared away and the green flag waved, the race quickly resumed its absolutely furious pace. At its head, Lucchese was the class of the field and had established a mighty lead. To be fair, he was helped by the almighty squabbles behind him. By now, McCullough was arguably the man to watch as he pushed and probed for any opening that would move him up a place. Pittingale patiently watched and waited while piling on the pressure on each driver he encountered in his way.

McCullough out-dragged Smelov down the long start/finish straight to take fifth, with Pittingale forming an orderly queue behind. Once Kieran had made his move, Barnaby then launched his bid for sixth. Smith and Lawrence were now engaged in an absorbing game of cat and mouse, as the Scot edged ever closer to his prey. Hill’s momentum suffered from his bruised ribs and having had to qualify via the B Final, ‘Sir’ Tim was clearly feeling the effects and began to lose ground.

As is to be predicted in Italy, expressive hand gestures are to be expected – but in a race? Christian Alessandrini was trying to attract the attention over the marshals for an unseen incident, whilst Pittingale too seemed to adopt the ‘when in Tuscany’mindset and started pointing forward at Smelov. Again, for a reason known only to the man from Mitcham.

On the penultimate tour, McCullough looked over his shoulder to see that he was clear of Smelov. In front of him, Viktor Divak was just a little too far ahead to justify a last lap challenge for the final step on the podium. Still fourth was an excellent result, whilst Pittingale, Smith and Lawrence made it four Brits in the top ten. Tim Hill crossed the line with his arms outstretched, clearly chuffed with his gritty performance.

Lucchese’s joy could be heard over the noise of his engine, as he shouted with delight and decided to do a lap of honour: illustrating just what it means to win these championships.

The large and ultra-competitive Junior field saw four of our drivers in the B Final. A DNF or poor finish in one of the two heats was often the principal reason for so many talented pilots having to go into what was effectively a repecharge, including UK champion Patrick Lay along with Christopher Waldock, Thomas Grainger and Oliver Tiernay. After sixteen often scrappy laps, Lay and Waldock had done enough to book their passage to the biggest race of their careers. They joined Brad Fairhurst, who had automatically qualified for the A final after solid performances in his heats and timed qualifying.

Nicolo Balsamo had been the talk of the paddock for his astonishing performances in the preliminaries. Looking more like a Cadet, he had taken pole and was looking quietly confidant as he sat in his kart being photographed, filmed and interviewed by the Italian media.

A largely clean getaway saw Alessandra Brena come steaming down the inside from p5 on the grid to surprise Balsamo and take the lead. Having started twenty third, Fairhurst shot up to fourteenth as Lay and Waldock jockeyed and jostled their way forward from the back.

In the mid section of the track, Balsamo relieved Brena of the lead but he untidily clipped the inside kerb and Brena gave him an almighty tap sending Niccolo sailing across to the other side of the circuit. Brena pounced down the inside but Balsamo kept his foot in and remarkably got a rim-shot out of the corner to retain the advantage. It would not be long before Andrea Fontana would join him and together the pair set about creating a breakaway.

Waldock’s race would last just seven laps before he pulled over. Fairhurst was embroiled in a battle with Soyhan Cuvalcioglu, whilst Lay was frustrated as his progress stalled at the tail end of the midfield. Enjoying a better turn of fortune, the De Vries-like Balsam had begun to put his stamp on proceedings. The karts tore into the first corner with the drivers opting for either just the merest lift of the throttle or a dab on the airbox. Moreover, they were travelling at such a lick that almost all the competitors had to put a dab of oppo’ in to keep them pointing forwards.

Fairhurst’s encounter with the Turkish North Cypriot Cuvalcioglu had become rather testy and he found himself pushed onto the marbles at Turn 3, costing him a place. Worse was to follow. Five laps from the finish, his race ended with him coasting onto the grass in front of the British supporters with a defunct motor. This left Lay as our sole runner, but he needed a miracle if he was to finish higher than twenty fifth in the remaining laps.

Balsamo lived up to the hype and sealed his triumph by leading Fontana home by an easy margin. Daniele Rosa pipped Riccardo Geltrude and Brena for third after an absorbing battle.

It’s a great shame that gearbox racing hasn’t really established itself as part of mainstream short-circuit racing in Britain. On the continent it’s hugely popular and for good reason – the karts are fabulous. The Shifter drivers royally entertained the crowd with twenty four laps of high drama, controversy, incident and eyeballs-out driving.

Jakub Glowacki and Yury Krachuk dominated the race but demonstrated markedly different styles. Glowacki’s relaxed and in control, compared to Krauchak’s more aggressive, bullish manner at the wheel. Leoardantonio Laguardia gave spirtied chase, but had nothing extra in his locker to help him get on terms with the leaders.

Danilo Scuto’s good work to catch and pass Laguardia was undone when he made his decisive move under waved yellows. This handed back the trophy to Laguardia who resisted a strong challenge from Angelo Stathakopoulos and his Gomme & Service team-mate, Federico Perdisa.

One of the cutest things I’ve ever seen was the Bambinos. Over forty drivers from five different nations took part in the ‘training’ sessions. Though they weren’t technically racing, many couldn’t help themselves and demonstrated some excellent nascent skills. Furthermore, if trophies for posing, playing to the cameras and looking every inch the future Formula One star, some of these kids have guaranteed futures and their parents will need to order very large trophy cabinets.

For some shots of the world finals look here http://tiny.cc/easykart