- Text: Guillaume Alvarez
- Photo: Alex Vernardis
The announcement that Anthony Abbasse won’t be back on track in international events in 2020, as stated in today’s announcement from Sodikart, came as a little surprise in the karting community. The 30-year-old Frenchman, who won the 2019 South Garda Winter Cup and battled hard for the title in the FIA Karting European Championship – KZ including one victory at the opening round of Wackersdorf, was expected to pursue his collaboration with Sodi in 2020. Instead, the French manufacturer has confirmed that the two-time FIA Karting World Vice-Champion – KZ won’t be seen on international circuits during the upcoming season.
At this point in time, what’s next for Abbasse? His former teammate Adrien Renaudin confirmed to us that his countryman will soon make an announcement about his future plans. According to our colleagues of the French-speaking media Kart Mag, these could well include taking on new responsibilities in a karting facility located in the south of France or getting more involved in driver coaching. We’ll keep you informed as soon as we have further information…
Abbasse, therefore, joins the list of top karting names who recently decided to call it a day with their racing duties, starting with the Italian Marco Ardigo whose announcement also caught everybody off-guard just after the FIA Karting World Championship – KZ on his home circuit of South Garda where he had reached the seventh place of the Final.
Although no official confirmation has been made yet, Kart Mag recently reported that Paolo De Conto has also retired from his racing activities. Earlier this month, five-time World Champion Davide Forè saluted his countryman on Instagram in what looked like a farewell message. Driving for the CRG Factory Team since 2015, De Conto rose to karting stardom for the past couple of seasons, winning a string of international titles including two back to back FIA Karting World crowns in KZ in 2016 and 2017, the year that saw him claim a third European Championship title after 2010 (KZ2) and 2012 (KZ1), both with the Energy Corse Racing Team. His impressive resume also includes three victories in the SKUSA SuperNationals of Las Vegas (2014, 16, 17), two wins at the “Race of Stars” in Australia (2016-17), one South Garda Winter Cup (2014) along with successes on home soil in WSK competitions.
Last but not least, the Dutchman Marijn Kremers, victorious of the recent KZ World Championship at South Garda, is also likely not be seen in international karting events in 2020 as he will make his debut in the British Formula 4 Championship with Carlin Motorsport after having gained full-season funding thanks to his win in the FEED Racing detection program.
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