A crash denies Max the podium in CIK-FIA North European Trophy

Published on 04 May 2011 by Niels Hendrix

CRG Official Team missed the podium, but this is the only stain in an otherwise spotless performance. A podium could have given the team full satisfaction for the result of the first 2011 international event of the CIK-FIA Championships, in the two qualifying races of the KF2 and KF3 European Championships. The two races took place last 1st May on the international circuit of Brandon in England (for North-Eastern Europe) and on the Jean Brun circuit of Varennes sur Allier in France (for South-Western Europe).

The result of the qualification was fully achieved by the CRG drivers running on the British circuit, even though this time they could not rejoice for getting on one of the steps of the podium: it would have been a good way to put a final seal on the good results obtained in the race.

Most of the disappointment comes from the result of the KF3 final, with Max Verstappen who had been regarded as the driver to beat throughout the whole weekend. He had left five hundredths of a second to the English Russel only in the time trials; then, in the qualifying heats, the Dutch driver was simply – and as usual – unbeatable on his CRG, winning all the four qualifying heats. Eventually, in the final, he took an early lead starting from the pole position, but in the last laps he was reached by his pursuers.

There was an awesome tussle for the victory, with frequent changes at the lead of the race. With few curves to go, Verstappen, who was third at the moment, in an attempt to regain at least the runner-up position, tried to overtake the English Scott who "shut the door" on his face. The two collided, putting an end to their race. So, it was the Norwegian Dennis Olsen who won the race.
Despite this unfortunate episode, Max Verstappen qualified for the European Championship final, due next 24th July in Zuera.

Niels Hendrix