Max Verstappen is the new European CIK-FIA KZ champion!

Published on 01 July 2013 by Niels Hendrix

Spectacular success for CRG in Genk's second and decisive round of the European KZ Championship. After the victory in the first round of Wackersdorf, Max Verstappen on CRG-TM dominated also in Belgium securing in this way the European KZ Championship without giving any space to rivals.

No difficult calculations were required to decide the winner of the 2013 edition of the European KZ Championship as Max Verstappen simplified all the CIK-FIA maths with a double success that does not leave any doubts: after the win in the first round at Wackersdorf in Germany he put the hammer down also in Belgium and brought home another European title for CRG after the one obtained last year by Jorrit Pex.

The Dutch champion - passionately supported by his father, former F1-driver Jos Verstappen, who prepares TM engines for the son - managed to put in an authoritative win in its first full season in the category despite his young age (Max will turn 16 next 30 September) and to get the second title of the year in KZ after winning the WSK Euro Series title early in June.

Max Verstappen: "I am really happy on getting my first CIK-FIA title! CRG chassis has been great! I would like to thank my dad for the preparation of the TM engine. We worked hard to get this European title. My start from the front row in the final was good; the grip is higher on the outside therefore I immediately got the second place. Then I got the lead and I focused on driving without looking back. When I actually turned back I realized that I had quite a lot of advantage and I was surprised. In the final laps I tried to nurse the kart to avoid problems. It has been tough but great to win in such a competitive category. I am really happy! Luckily I did not have too much pain to the left hand that I hurt on Saturday's second heat. Now I will have it checked by a doctor as it turned blue..."

Euan Jeffery, team manager CRG: "It has been a really exciting weekend. We hit the target on all fronts and the whole team worked unite hunting the victory. Max Verstappen has been absolutely phenomenal, he run a stunning race. We fully deserved the European KZ Title."

Results of Genk's final, 2nd round of the CIK-FIA European Championship KZ:
1. Verstappen (CRG-Tm); 2. Thonon (CRG-Maxter); 3. Leclerc (ART GP-Tm); 4. De Conto (Birel-Tm); 5. Ardigò (Tony Kart-Vortex); 6. Abbasse (Sodi-Tm); 7. Pex Jorrit (CRG-Tm); 8. Forè (CRG-Tm); 9. Dreezen (Tony Kart-Vortex); 10. Toninelli (Birel-Tm).

Final classifications of the European Championship KZ:
1. Verstappen (CRG-Tm) points 50; 2. Ardigò (Tony Kart-Vortex) 16; 3. Abbasse (Sodi-Tm) 23; 4. Thonon (CRG-Maxter) 22; 5. Lammers (Intrepid-Tm) 20; 6. Leclerc (Art-Tm) 20; 7. Jorrit Pex (CRG-Tm) 19; 8. De Conto (Birel-Tm) 18; 9. Forè (CRG-Tm) 16; 10. Toninelli (Birel-Tm)

Niels Hendrix