IKWC 2010 - Day 2: Grooten Continues to Lead!
July 29, 2010
News Report provided by IndoorKartingNews.com
July 28, 2010 (Phoenix) - The quest for a world title continued for the best indoor karters on Thursday (July 29), with day two of the Indoor Kart World Championship at F1 Race Factory in Phoenix, Arizona.
With a full-day of racing under their belts, the impressive and talented field of drivers returned to action in day two's two additional 30 minute races, seeking valuable points toward a place in the Finale. Seven more races remained to unfold at the challenging indoor racing facility.
First up was Race 3A, with day one leader Matthias Grooten from Belgium heading the charge. Converting the pole position (24.242) into a third win in three races, the 2008 Heavy class World Champion proved his great form and remained the driver to beat in Arizona. That being said, Logan Calvin of the USA, and Brazil's Carlos Nadaes were nearly as impressive, holding station in second and third to the checkered flag.
Race 3B marked the first real technical drama of the event, as the initial qualifying run featured a timing error with one of the karts, resulting in the field running a second qualifying session. This proved to be particularly unlucky to Colombia's Andres Prieto, who went from an original P2 on the grid to P8. Diego Morales from Colombia, who unfortunately is not running the entire event due to other commitments, made the most of the opportunity, capturing the pole with a lap of 24.09, ahead of Austria's Fredi Fuchs and America's Aaron Downs. The Netherlands Ruben Boutens had other ideas come race time however, advancing from fourth on the grid to score the win over Morales and Prieto. Of note, Brazil's Beto Rossi was penalized 30 seconds for forcing another racer into the barriers.
American Miles Calvin was the man to watch in Race 3C. Starting from the pole (23.985), the Dromo 1 standout ran a superb race to score his second win of the event, taking the checkered flag over 2008 Light class World Champion Gregory Laporte of Belgium, who started third, and P7 starter Francisco Jansley from Brazil. American Brandon Lax, having started P2 for the 72-lap race, fell to seventh at the stripe.
Race 3D featured yet another karter converting the pole position into a race win. Belgium's Kenny Geldhof, starting P1 (23.937), was still out front when the checkered flag waved, earning his second 2010 IKWC victory. P5 starter Mats De Jong from Belgium was next to the line, followed by third place starter Ian Pierce of Jamaica. Brazil's Felipe Assumpcao, having started on the front-row, was fifth at the stripe.
The stage was set for a strong showing by the host USA contingent in Race 4A, as Logan Calvin earned the pole position (23.976), and was joined on the front-row by Morales. Things did not go quite as planned however, as Laporte worked his was from third on the grid to take his first win of 2010. In addition to edging the duo, who ended up fourth and fifth, the victory ended Grooten's win streak, with the former champion finishing second ahead of Florian Holzinger of Austria.
IKWC history was made in Race 4B, with a female driver taking top honors for the first time ever. Miles Calvin started P1 (2.842), but he was unable to hold the top spot when the checkered flag waved, as Germany's Tanja-Carina Muller advanced from third on the grid to capture the historic win over Calvin and P6 starter Geldhof. Front-row starter Ed Cordeiro of Brazil fell to sixth in the 72-lap affair. As the only woman in the field, Muller already captured the Women's class Title. The victory however served to prove that she is the real deal, and can drive as fast as any of the top Indoor Kart World Championship drivers.
Race 4C featured yet another strong showing by the always potent Belgium line-up. Robin Borremans, having won once in day one, doubled his tally by converting the pole position (23.525) into a win. American Tony Rolfson advanced from fourth on the grid to edge front-row starter Boutens at the stripe. Downs having started third, was sixth when the checkered flag waved.
Day two ended with an impressive showing by a pair of Americans in Race 4D. Reigning U.S. National Champion Jon Kimbrell started from the pole (23.663), and ended the race in the same place, leading row two starter Mike Davila of the USA to the checkered flag. De Jong, losing one place in the race, completed the top-three.
After two days of great on-track action, former World Champion Matthias Grooten still unofficially leads the way, having won three of four races. Leading the home country charge, Miles Calvin is currently P2 in the points chase, ahead of Mats De Jong, Kenny Geldhof and Gregory Laporte.
The 2010 Indoor Kart World Championship continues on Friday (July 30), with races five and six for the four groups at F1 Race Factory in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Indoor Kart World Championship
F1 Race Factory - Phoenix, Arizona
July 29, 2010
Day Two - Top 3 Results (podiums)
Race 3A
| Pos. | Driver (Nation) | Fast Time |
| 1. | Matthias Grooten (Bel) | 23.630 |
| 2. | Logan Calvin (USA) | 23.825 |
| 3. | Carlos Nadaes (Bra) | 23.959 |
Race 3B
| Pos. | Driver (Nation) | Fast Time |
| 1. | Ruben Boutens (Ned) | 23.717 |
| 2. | Diego Morales (Col) | 23.751 |
| 3. | Andres Prieto (Col) | 23.730 |
Race 3C
| Pos. | Driver (Nation) | Fast Time |
| 1. | Miles Calvin (USA) | 23.627 |
| 2. | Gregory Laporte (Bel) | 23.778 |
| 3. | Felix Jansley (Bra) | 23.719 |
Race 3D
| Pos. | Driver (Nation) | Fast Time |
| 1. | Kenny Geldhof (Bel) | 23.571 |
| 2. | Mats De Jong (Bel) | 23.693 |
| 3. | Ian Pierce (Jam) | 23.585 |
Race 4A
| Pos. | Driver (Nation) | Fast Time |
| 1. | Gregory Laporte (Bel) | 23.556 |
| 2. | Matthias Grooten (Bel) | 23.522 |
| 3. | Florian Holzinger (Aut) | 23.502 |
Race 4B
| Pos. | Driver (Nation) | Fast Time |
| 1. | Tanja-Carina Muller (Ger) | 23.428 |
| 2. | Miles Calvin (USA) | 23.520 |
| 3. | Kenny Geldhof (Bel) | 23.399 |
Race 4C
| Pos. | Driver (Nation) | Fast Time |
| 1. | Robin Borremans (Bel) | 23.197 |
| 2. | Tony Rolfson (USA) | 23.273 |
| 3. | Ruben Boutens (Ned) | 23.474 |
Race 4D
| Pos. | Driver (Nation) | Fast Time |
| 1. | Jon Kimbrell (USA) | 23.210 |
| 2. | Mike Davila (USA) | 23.251 |
| 3. | Mats De Jong (Bel) | 23.461 |
News Report provided by IndoorKartingNews.com
IKWC 2010 - Day 1: Grooten leads with 2 wins! | Back to News | IKWC 2010 - Day 3: Grooten Still Leads!
