Blue skies, sunshine, 26° and a little wind – conditions were ideal at the Slovak Karting Center for the Final of the Academy Trophy #2. Gilles Herman (BEL) and Joel Taipale (FIN) shared the front row of the grid ahead of Martim Barros Meneses (PRT) and Fausto Arnaudo (ARG).
Herman retained 1st place at the end of the session ahead of Meneses, who attacked him on the following lap. Nojus Stasionis was 3rd, Simba Motoda (JPN) 4th and Taipale 5th. Lilian Soares (FRA) got off to a good start, making up five places to 15th, but he quickly lost the ground he had gained and retired. The frontrunners remained closely bunched and Herman regained control. Taipale and Motoda hung on and retired on lap 6. Herman began to pull away from Meneses and Stationis, with Arnaudo 4th and Turner Brown (USA) 5th. Dan Allemann (CHE) was 7th, having moved up 11 places. At half-distance, Herman was the fastest on the track and had a 1.6″ lead over Meneses who was now trailed by Stationis. Emilio Bernd (DEU) was back in 4th place ahead of Brown. Stasionis missed his attempt to overtake Meneses and both drivers lost time. Meneses was on the defensive and was forced to give ground after Stasionis, Bernd, Brown and Allemann had passed him. Jakub Gasparovic (SVK) had moved up to 7th position. Herman’s lead grew to 5” with two laps to go, while the battle for 2nd position was in full swing. Herman won the race with the fastest lap and a 5.1″ lead over Stasionis and Bernd. Brown was back in 4th ahead of Allemann (13 places back) and Gasparovic. Meneses finished 7th ahead of Ky Burke (AUS) who moved up 16 places.
Provisional results pending publication of the final rankings.
Info Kartcom with Kartlink / Photo © KSP