N°127 - DECEMBER 2011 - 5.00 EURO (Italy only) www.vroom.it CIK-FIA WORLD KF1 CHAMPIONSHIP - SUZUKA (J) INTERNATIONAL KARTING ROTAX GRAND FINALS, AL AIN (UAE) Doubling Up in Al Ain UKYO SASAHARA, BEN COOPER, PIER-LUC OUELLETTE AND CRISTIANO MORGADO GRAB THEIR SECOND TITLE IN THE MOST ANTICIPATED SINGLE- MAKE SERIES EVENT OF THE SEASON. Graham Triumphs CIK "U18" WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP Talking to ANTONIO KEKATI XPS - EIKO Technical side CARBURETION IN 60cc PHOTO B.KALIGIS SPECIAL - CHASSIS HOMOLOGATION 2012/2018 PART 1 race ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE GRAND FINALS 2011, AL AIN (UAE) 23-26th NOVEMBER 2011 Experienced driver Ben Cooper clinches the title in Senior Max. The fast Briton beat another supreme driver with an outstanding personal score, David Sera from Australia. Japan’s Sasaki ends 3rd. 30 Vroom international magazine DOUBLING UP IN AL AIN The 12th edition of the Rotax Grand Finals is currently taking place in Al Ain Raceway (UAE). A total of 265 drivers from more than 58 countries joined in to the most anticipated Rotax event of the season. Hoping that the final results remain pleasantly exceptional for the good of the competition, the track response says that all four winners already took the title in previous editions. RepoRt s. muRtas / photos B.Kaligis, Rotax p.o. xceptionally, Al Ain Raceway will go down in Rotax Grand Finals history as the venue that saw three former Rotax World champions making it double in Al Ain in the same class: Ukyo Sasahara in Junior (champion in 2009), Ben Cooper in Senior E(champion in 2008), and Pier-Luc Ouellette in DD2 (champion in 2007 on this very same track). Cristiano Morgado, 2003 MAX champion, took the title in DD2 Masters. Sure enough, this is by no means something ordinary, and yet it could be a hint of the fact that the new kids on the block are finding it hard to beat the ‘old guys’ in an event where experience seems of huge importance. Interesting to note also that two of the four champions took the title in the Rotax Euro Challenge this aL aIN raceway (Uae) season (namely Sasahara and Cooper). Before drawing the line, www.alainraceway.com let’s wait and see what happens in next year’s Grand Finals, but in the meantime a consideration must be made. Should there be a rule imposing former champions to participate in a different category? Suggestions are welcome... Before we go into the track response of the many sessions disputed over the week, we have to quickly fast-forward to the celebration party held on Saturday night, where the venue for Al Ain Raceway, P.O. BOX: 85393, Al Ain, UAE. the 2012 Rotax Grand Finals edition was announced. In 2012, Tel: +971 (0)3 768 6662 - Fax: +971 (0)3 768 8477 Lenght: 1,400 metres the Rotax MAX Challenge Grand Finals will take place at the width: 8-12 metres Kartodromo Algarve in Portimao, Portugal, from November 27th Paddock and parking: big and fully serviced until December 1st. Vroom international magazine 31 race ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE GRAND FINALS 2011 Despite being consistenly on top in DD2, Pier-Luc Ouellette (353) has to race his boots off in order to have the better of tough customers such as Jason Pringle (355) from Australia, fellow countryman Nicholas Latifi (340), Finland’s Jari Huttunen (332) and South African Marc Murray (350). Opposite page, Junior and DD2 Masters podium winners, and the final start of Senior class, with Ben Cooper (222) firmly in command, followed by David Sera (253) and Sean Babington (217). In the chasing group Tyler Greenbury (235) leads the pack. 32 VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE The race QUALIFYING PRACTICE The Qualifying practice held on Wednsday told that Japan’s Ukyo Sasahara stopped the fastest time (57”744) in Junior, with his fellow countryman Tadasuke Makino coming 0”003 short of pole. In Senior, Briton Sean Babington stopped a very fast 56”787 for pole, with 2008 World Senior champion Ben Cooper also from the UK hitting second fastest by 0”043. In the two gearbox classes, 2007 champion Pier-Luc Ouellette from Canada pulled off a very fast 55”562 for DD2 pole – with the fi ve fastest drivers all within one tenth – and South African Cristiano Morgado stopped the time at 56”222 in DD2 Masters. ROTAX SENIOR PREFINAL ROTAX SENIOR FINAL PN Driver NAT LAPS PN Driver NAT LAPS 1 222 Cooper, Ben United Kingdom 14 in 13:19.444 1 222 Cooper, Ben United Kingdom 21 in 20:03.784 2 253 Sera, David Australia + 0.489 2 253 Sera, David Australia + 0.948 QUALIFYING HEATS 3 217 Babington, Sean United Kingdom + 3.153 3 262 Sasaki, Hirotaka Japan + 5.627 4 219 Brand, Edward United Kingdom + 3.191 4 229 Finkelstein, Alexandre France + 6.511 On Thursday and Friday the racing was 5 262 Sasaki, Hirotaka Japan + 3.351 5 255 Nekeel, Stepanova United States + 6.819 tough, with lots of exciting battles on track 6 235 Greenbury, Tyler Australia + 3.727 6 281 De Maio, Josh Australia + 7.079 7 230 Forman, Jiri Czech Republic + 4.056 7 230 Forman, Jiri Czech Republic + 7.535 for the qualifying heats. In Junior, Makino 8 255 Nekeel, Stepanova United States + 4.566 8 225 Dileo, Marco Canada + 9.956 9 260 Riener, Stefan Austria + 5.996 9 269 Talvar, Aavo Estonia +10.091 with two wins and a 2nd place was sided 10 229 Finkelstein, Alexandre France + 6.743 10 241 King, Andy United Kingdom +10.301 11 223 Correia, Joao Portugal + 6.802 11 274 Zenkin, Alexander Russia +10.455 by fellow Japan driver Sasahara on the 12 280 Dabski, Karol Poland + 8.742 12 239 Jurkovic, Matija Slovenia +12.544 13 281 De Maio, Josh Australia + 9.039 13 243 Komnos, Nikolaos Greece +12.676 front row, the latter with two wins and a 3rd. 14 243 Komnos, Nikolaos Greece +11.031 14 280 Dabski, Karol Poland +13.590 15 272 Van Den Brand, Mats Netherlands +11.112 15 223 Correia, Joao Portugal +13.652 Mawson from Australia (one win) and Morin 16 274 Zenkin, Alexander Russia +11.276 16 240 Kancsar, Ferenc Hungary +13.737 17 264 Sirvio, Jan-Mikael Finland +12.055 17 263 Sekioka, Toshiki Japan +16.064 from Sweden (once 3rd as best result) were 18 268 Szigeti, Steven Canada +12.761 18 260 Riener, Stefan Austria +16.273 sitting on row 2. Big disappointment for 19 232 Frost, Ryan South Africa +13.832 19 271 Van Beurden, Chad South Africa +16.403 20 239 Jurkovic, Matija Slovenia +17.066 20 257 Pagliarani, Claudio Italy +16.625 British driver Barlow, who despite a 2nd and 21 256 Orueta, Maximiliano Chile +17.415 21 258 Picot, Nicolas France +16.997 22 258 Picot, Nicolas France +17.549 22 277 Claes, Nicolas Belgium +17.860 a 3rd had to start from 8th after fi nishing 17th 23 240 Kancsar, Ferenc Hungary +17.656 23 264 Sirvio, Jan-Mikael Finland +21.518 24 269 Talvar, Aavo Estonia +17.713 24 268 Szigeti, Steven Canada +21.698 in heat 1. Another potential protagonist was 25 263 Sekioka, Toshiki Japan +17.734 25 232 Frost, Ryan South Africa +22.844 26 226 Faria, Jose Pedro Portugal +17.776 26 235 Greenbury, Tyler Australia +26.002 Australia’s Pierce Lehane, who took a 4th 27 247 Lindgren, Linus Sweden +19.425 27 272 Van Den Brand, Mats Netherlands -5 R 28 257 Pagliarani, Claudio Italy +23.217 28 217 Babington, Sean United Kingdom -11 R and 2nd ruined by a dead last place in the 29 231 Friedrich, Christopher Germany -2 L 29 266 Spaulding, Kiel United States -14 R 30 266 Spaulding, Kiel United States -5 L 30 226 Faria, Jose Pedro Portugal -14 R conclusive heat to start 20th on prefi nal grid. 31 241 King, Andy United Kingdom -9 L 31 247 Lindgren, Linus Sweden -19 R In Senior, 3 British drivers in the fi rst 32 225 Dileo, Marco Canada -13 L 32 256 Orueta, Maximiliano Chile -20 R 33 271 Van Beurden, Chad South Africa -13 L 33 231 Friedrich, Christopher Germany ----- 6 positions, with Cooper (two wins and a 34 277 Claes, Nicolas Belgium -13 L 34 219 Brand, Edward United Kingdom ----- VROOM INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE 33 race ROTAX MAX CHALLENGE GRAND FINALS 2011 PARTYING, The Tyre Changing Competition during the Welcome party. Not only tough racing action to keep drivers and mechanics busy, also some WHILE YOU ARE AT IT... chilling-out sessions at the three parties organized Not only track time for the 265 drivers and their family and friends who stayed in Al Ain. A total of three parties 2nd place) and Babington (two wins and shared row 2, all with one heat win. Row 3 have been thrown to make everyone a 5th place) taking advantage of front row. was fi lled by Finland’s Huttunen and Belgian feel the Rotax spirit. On Sunday prior Australia’s David Sera (two 2nd and a 3rd Mathias Detige. Final win hopefuls also to the event, the Welcome Party with place) sided by Andy King (one 2nd as best included Nicholas Latifi and Xen de Ruwe food and drinks, made even more result) on row 2, and Sasaki from Japan both with one win, yet starting 9th and 17th exciting by the classic Tyre Changing sharing row 3 with Britain’s Ed Brand. respectively due to one bad heat result. contest where the mechanics had to Bad luck for Poland’s Karol Dabski who is In DD2 Masters, Morgado carried on show all their skills in mounting a set forced to start 10th as a result of a 22nd his superb weekend by taking the win in all of tyres on the AMV Tiger rims in the place in heat 2 after a win and a 2nd place.