KF1 World Championship Main Contenders
-
Marco Ardigo IT- TonyKart/Vortex
Ardigo is the red-hot favorite driver to take the World Title.
He is arguably driving the best kart TonyKart/Vortex, and he is
entering the championship on the back of a dominant display in
the CIK KF1 European Championships. He won the first four rounds,
and finished 2nd behind Gary Catt in the final two races to guarantee
TonyKart finished 1-2 in the overall championship. However Ardigo
has never won the World title, even though he has always been
tipped to win. This is definitely his best opportunity, but can
he handle the pressure?
Gary Catt GB- TonyKart/Vortex
Catt won the Open Masters in KF1 this year, and is a very highly
regarded driver. He has never been one to get the luck at International
level, but he's always had the pace to dominate. He is on the
same package as Ardigo, and TonyKart will be confidently expecting
one of their drivers to take the top step of the podium. He is
probably second favorite to take the title behind Ardigo, so expect
a close battle between the two for the win.
David Fore IT- Maranello/ IAME Parilla
One thing you learn about karting is never to write off four
times world champion Davide Fore, no matter what form he is in.
Last year he took the title after Antinucci's exclusion, but it
was still a well-deserved win. Fore, in recent years, has never
seemed to click over a multi-round European style championship,
but when it comes to the one off World Championship he just turns
it on and delivers. This year is slightly different as he is with
his new team – Maranello/IAME. He will be looking to get
one over on his old team TonyKart. The IAME engine package has
looked competitive, but even Fore has admitted the Vortex has
some serious grunt. Expect him to be ‘there or thereabouts’
at the end of the final...as always!
Kazeem Manzur GB – Zanardi/IAME Parilla
Kazeem Manzur has had a competitive year, and has achieved a
podium at the KF1 European Championships. It's his first year
at this level, and he has yet to score a major win, but he will
be one to watch throughout the weekend.
Check out our Kazeem Manzur Interview when he competed in JICA>>
Michael Christensen DK - Gillard/IAME Parilla
PDB Racing is a very strong team, winning the world title in
2005 with Oli
Oakes. They also won the first ever KF1 race at the Winter
Cup with IAME powered motors. However, Christensen will be hoping
that the 'Winter Cup Winners Curse' doesn't bite. He has a decent
shot at the title, but it will be hard for him to overhaul the
TonyKart/Vortex packages.
Jason Parrot GB - Birel/IAME Parilla
Parrot was having a hugely successful run in the KF1 European
Championships this year, however, going into the last round he
had a shot at maybe getting 3rd in the championship but it didn't
go to plan. Unfortunately his KF1’s ‘Touch and Go’
element wouldn't do the ‘Go’ bit in the last two races
and his championship aspirations were all over. However, he is
looking super strong, and no doubt his confidence will be high.
He is powered by IAME and has an outside chance of making an impression.
Mark Litchfield GB- TonyKart/Vortex
Mark Litchfield has had a year to forget. His PFi team’s
venture into Europe powered by TM didn't work and they were significantly
off the pace. His British championship didn't go much better either,
losing out to team mate Chris Rogers in the title race. Even though
he has been as fast as ever, his luck hasn't been there. He goes
into the championship on a Tonykart chassis powered by a Vortex
engine. He knows how to win titles, and will be there at the end.
Expect Litchfield to spring a surprise.
Armand Convers F- PCR/PCR
PCR have shown that it's not only the big guns Vortex, and IAME
that can deliver at least one good KF1 engine. Convers has been
competitive this year with the PCR, and he has proved he has the
pace. The Vortex, and IAME packages are coming on strong during
the year however, and Convers has lacked a little of the ultimate
pace. Expect a top 5 result.
Arnaud Kozlinski F- CRG/TM
Kozlinski has saved some of TM's blushes. TM has had, up until
now, a disastrous year, being significantly off the pace of the
other engine manufactures. However recent form suggests they could
be a threat to the big guns. No one expects Kozlinski to mount
a strong challenge, and this may work to his advantage.
The Vortex KF1 is arguably the fastest KF1 motor
on the grid. It won all 6 rounds of the European Championships.
You would be a brave person to bet against it winning.
IAME Parilla were always going to build a strong
motor. It's been successful in the hands of many drivers this
year, but the ultimate pace of Vortex may be hard to overhaul
After starting the year really badly TM have
slowly got into gear. Don't expect them to have the ultimate pace,
but they won't be far off.
Convers has been very fast with the PCR package,
but he is one of only two drivers using this engine. It will be
hard for them to take the title, but they should do OK.
Maxter have been hit really hard this year.
They have hardly competed at all this year and when they have
they have been way of the pace. Don't expect them to win or to
make an impression.
You can watch the World Championship FInal LIVE on 
at 12.45pm (UK Time) 23/07
Alan Dove
