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However with all the manufacturers catching up
with the excellent TonyKart and Vortex packages this year the 2008
World Karting Championship is as unpredictable as ever (just the
way we like it). We take a look at some of this years contenders
for the title -
Davide Fore - Maranello/Maxter
Earlier this year Fore decided to make the jump
from IAME engines to Maxter in a search for greater performance.
This proved to be a well thought out move as Fore made a string
of excellent results.
A strong 3rd Round of the European Championships
has placed Fore as one of the favorites for the 2008 world title.
With everyone playing catch up to TonyKart and their superb data
set up, Maranello have chosen to go with AIM Data Products to try
and cut the gap to their fierce Italian rivals.
When it counts Fore always delivers. He will come
into the World Champs as a favourite, if not the favourite to take
his 5th world title.
Marco Ardigo - TonyKart/Vortex
Marco Ardigo finally won the World Champion in
2007 for which he had threatened for many years. It is arguable
that the TonyKart/Vortex package played a massive hand in him winning
this title, so the pressure will be on this year to prove he really
is the best driver on the planet.
Ardigo is in strong form after winning his 4th
straight European championship. He is the man at the moment everyone
wants to beat!
Arnaud Kozlinski - CRG/Maxter
Kozlinski was the surprise package of last year
putting TM on the map after a disastrous maiden season in KF1. He
once again has a superb chance to deliver another fantastic result.
KF1 engine development seems to have 'relatively' settled down and
everyone is in with a fair shot of the title. He is now on the quick
Maxters and is one to keep an eye on over the weekend.
Gary Catt - TonyKart/Vortex
Catt has had a decent season behind the wheel of
his TonyKart, but he will be disappointed not to grab the European
Championship after leading the points table going into the final
round. After playing second fiddle to Ardigo last year at the worlds
he will probably be the most determined driver on the grid.
He goes into La Conca with a good chance, but he
will have to step up and take control away from Ardigo if he wants
to have a chance of outright victory
Mark Litchfield - Maranello/IAME
Litchfield has had a very disappointing European
season. A decent result in the WSK championship at Angerville can't
hide the fact he hasn't been happy with his outings this year. With
good engines hard to come by it's been very difficult for him.
During the domestic scene he changed from the TonyKart
chassis to Maranello which seemed to improve his situation.
He will go into the world champs on a high after
regaining his British Championship crown, and may pose an outside
threat. He has delivered on this level before, and if he can nail
everything he might produce a surprise.
Will Stevens - TonyKart/Vortex
Stevens started the year so well, and was leading
the WSK Championship at the early stage. His year only got better
when he was signed up by Honda F1. From then on the year hasn't
been so great for him. With this World Championship looking to be
his last major kart race before a move to cars he will be determined
to leave on a high note.
He unquestionably has the talent to go out there
and win it, but his lack of experience at this level may hinder
his quest. He is one to keep an eye on over the weekend and should
be a top 10 contender at least!
Sauro Cesseti - Birel/IAME
Like Fore, Cesseti is from the oldskool. He hasn't
had the most exciting few years, but Birel's faith in him paid off
when he took the WSK KF1 crown this year! He is peaking just at
the right time, and it really wouldn't come as a shock if he is
contending for victory come Sunday afternoon. At this level, and
with the pressure so high, his experience will count massively against
his young fierce competitors!
The Rest
The Karting World Championship has always thrown
up some surprises in the past, it's almost impossible to predict
who will win (with the exception of 2007)! Te Braak, Jason Parrot,
Allessando Manetti, Yannick de Brabander, Armand Convers and more
all could spring a surprise. That's what makes the Karting World
Championship such an exciting event because no one knows who the
hell is going to win!
 Watch
the Karting World Championship live on British Eurosport at 13:30-14:15
UK time
Alan Dove |
