In securing pole position for Race 1, the Finn Miika Kunranta created something of a surprise at Essay where the finale of the Super KF Championship of Europe (the principal category of karting) is taking place. So far as the three contenders for the title are concerned (Aaro Vainio, Jason Parrott and Manuel Renaudie), they can still overcome the bad luck that came their way today. In KF2, the qualifying races are still not finished, but those raced this Saturday confirmed that the number of contenders for glory is very high.

The qualifying races of this third and final round of the Super KF European Championship (the top class in karting), being held this weekend at Essay (France), produced plenty of surprises. Quickest in qualifying practice, Oliver Rowland (LH-Maxter) suffered mechanical problems in the first of the three Super KF qualifying races. Unable to regain the form shown in qualifying, the Briton dropped to 8th place in the intermediate classification. He will therefore start in this position on the grid for Race 1.

The best effort of the day came from Miika Kunranta (Birel-Parilla). Third in qualifying, the 19 year old Finn proved himself fast and consistent to secure his first pole position in karting’s top class. “I knew that the rhythm was good” he confirmed during the Press Conference with characteristic calm of a Finn. “But it is true that to find myself on pole is a little surprising. But I do not feel any additional pressure. I have no more additional expectations for the Championship and I am just going to try my best in the two races”.

Alongside him on the front row Miika Kunranta will be accompanied by the Belgian Yannick de Brabander (Intrepid-TM), who had to find a solution to the carburettor problems which prevented him doing any better than 9th in qualifying practice. An excellent surprise of the day was British driver Richard Bradley putting his Maddox chassis to the forefront by securing 3rd place on the grid. Good progress for this make which only appeared for the first time at the beginning of the season.

And the contenders for the Title? All three of them have had the disappointment of a bad race in one of the qualifying heats. After good results in the first two races, the young Finn Aaro Vainio (Maranello-Maxter) and the Frenchman Manuel Renaudie (Gillard-Parilla) limited the damage from a bad qualifying heat 3 and found themselves in 4th and 5th positions in front the of Finns Aleksi Tuukkanen (Birel-Parilla) and Simon Puhakka (PCR-TM). As for the third contender, Jason Parrott (Birel-Parilla) suffered mechanical problems in his first race. As a result it will be only back in 9th place that the Briton will start Race 1 this Sunday at 14.15.

Another class being raced this weekend at Essay, the finale of the KF2 European Championship, is equally fascinating. The qualifying races are not yet finished (3 more must be raced this Sunday morning), but certain contenders for the title have already seen their chances compromised, an example being the Frenchman Clement Bluy (Tony Kart-Vortex), 2nd in qualifying practice and a race winner, but also suffering a non finish in one race and having problems in another.

On the other hand, the Italian Felice Tiene (Kosmic-Vortex) seems to have confirmed his promise with two victories and a second place. Good efforts also from the Finn Joni Wiman (Maranello-Maxter), the 2008 KF3 Vice-Champion of Europe, who produced a fine improvement (a victory, a second place and a third place) after having been only 18th fastest in qualifying practice.

Among the other heat winners was the Italian Aniello Smarazzo (Tony Kart-Vortex), the Dane Nikolaj Moller Madsen (Energy-TM) and the Swede Mans Grenhagen (Energy-TM). This Sunday the 34 drivers who qualify (from the 79 entrants) will race the Pre-Final, which will then determine the starting grid for the Final. Decision Time then, because this single race will determine who is crowned European Champion! In short, the tension will be at its utmost at the start of this Final, scheduled for Sunday at 15.30!