Text & photos: www.iif.iamekarting.com

There was late drama as the heats came to a close in Junior and Senior. After winning six heats in a row it looked almost impossible for Joey van Splunteren (NED) to lose pole, but there would be drama in the final heat handing pole position to Ben Barnicoat (GBR).

Senior: Van Splunteren falls at final hurdle

There was drama in the Senior category with Joey van Splunteren (NED) being disqualified from his final heat. The Dutch driver had taken six wins in all six heats and just needed a clean race to secure pole position. But he would be disqualified for a ‘missing transponder’ leaving him devastated and handing pole position to Ben Barnicoat (GBR). However, with van Splunteren having such a good set of heats otherwise he has only fallen to ninth and with a Pre Final and Final is still well in contention. Joining Barnicoat on the front will be original polesitter, Gus Lawrence (GBR).

Xavier Handsaeme (BEL) will have the first of the French drivers to his outside in Yann Bouvier (FRA), who’s moved up from 24th! Behind Alessandro Ceronetti (GBR), O’Neill Muth (GER) and Thomas Turner (GBR) have all ran into problems but have done enough to be firmly in the top ten. Siim Leedmaa (EST) and Mark Kimber (GBR) will surround van Splunteren having gained 23 and 37 places each from qualifying.

Jordan Brown-Nutley (GBR) heads a competitive Final C with Mari Boya (ESP) and Clayton Ravenscroft (GBR) just behind, all with weeks they’d like to forget quickly. The winner of that race will progress into Final B where Corentin Collignon (FRA) and Jan Kalmet (EST) will be on the front row. It could be one of the best races of the weekend with many just as excited for that as the finals themselves! One to watch will certainly be Edoardo Villa (ITA) who has taken two race wins in the heats.

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Junior: Bearman wins close fought battle

There was a close battle for pole position in Juniors with Oliver Bearman (GBR), Oliver Gray (GBR) and James Wharton (AUS) split by just three points. The Australian has been particularly impressive having originally qualified 24th and a third and fourth today saw him close to taking pole position.

Behind Oliver Greenall (GBR), Marcus Luzio (GBR), Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak (THA) and Ruben Volt (EST) complete the top seven all having done well to stay out of trouble in the heats. Greenall is gaining confidence, particularly with a win today putting him comfortably fourth on the grid. Marlon Hernandez (FRA) is the first of the French drivers in eighth and there have been impressive performances fro Zach Ripley (GBR) and Josh Rowledge (GBR) who were 30th and 32nd in qualifying.

Final C and Final B come up this evening with the winner of Final C progressing into Final B and the winner of that race going into tomorrow’s Final. The most interest will certainly be around the latter with Samuel Shaw (GBR) and Tom Lebbon (GBR) on the front row.

The fight for the win will be fierce with Kyffin Simpson (USA) and Dani Prins (NED) perhaps the ones to watch having both qualified in the top thirteen. The pair have both had Top Ten-finishes, but bad luck as well and they will now start fifth and eleventh in an eagerly anticipated race!

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