The Superkart begins its season 2018, if the British open the ball at Snetterton (March 17) for their various national categories, the first major European confrontation takes place in the framework of the French Open Championship of Superkart on the circuit Paul Ricard, the 30, 31 March and April 1st. Remember that the FFSA French Championship has all the standards of an validated International Championship and registered on the international calendar (FIA-Karting). It is included exceptionally in the first “rendez-vous” of the Historic Tour, a real championship of vintage sporting vehicles that attracts all nostalgic fans of beautiful mechanics.
The Castellet is therefore the maiden race of a French Championship including 5 events. This will be the first time that competitors will discover the circuit. Only two drivers know the track a priori. The German Peter Elkmann who participated last year in an round of endurance of the VdV series with a LMP3, while a newcomer, the Iranian Meisam Taheri drove with a Porsche 991 Cup during the 24 h series 2016. In Superkart, all competitors will have to tame a track just improved because if the Superkart has already occurred at Paul Ricard it was on the old circuit more than 20 years ago !
The comparison may seem daring, but the Superkart is like the F1, back in the Var the same year as the major discipline after such a long break. The field is consistent, 28 competitors are expected from several corners of Europe (Germany, Belgium, Finland, G-B, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland ...).
Favorites:
The favorite will undoubtedly be the outgoing European Champion (titled in 2008 and 2017) Peter Elkmann (Anderson/VM) -former driver of F3, the year of Di Resta, Vettel, Grosjean, etc ...- . After an exceptional year with several lap records, the German already 4 times French Champion consecutively will seek to continue his grip on the discipline. The Belgian Yannick De Brabander (MSKart/VM) former European vice-champion in traditional Karting (KZ1) discovered the discipline in 2016, immediately immersing himself among the leaders. He will try a bet, because the outcome of this race will probably depend on the rest of his season. Another German Andréas Jost (Anderson/VM) vice-champion of France 2017 will give him the reply. His year 2017 allowed him to fight at the forefront (notably double winner in Dijon). The main team is Dutch but brings together various protagonists such as Leo Kurstjens (MSKart/VM), probably the most assiduous of the Dutch drivers but also relies on Finland's V.Lethinen and Rookie Meisam Taheri strong experience of Lamborghini or European Nascar (Whelen Euro Series).
Among the Francophones, the hopes of podium rest mainly on two candidates both with Anderson/DEA package: Alexandre Sebastia (Champion of France 2013), the driver of Borne-les-Mimosas will finally have the opportunity to run almost at home and Julien Goullancourt (vice-champion of France 2015, 2016 and 3rd in 2017) who can start his season in better conditions than last year (he was injured in the beginning of 2017).
In the French Championship, the four-strokes are a path of development, several sets are engaged in particular Teddy Legendre (MSKart/KTM).
