Jorrit Pex on CRG-Tm got the title of CIK-FIA KZ World Champion proceeding Paolo De Conto in a sprint to the flag. Pedro Hiltbrand on the podium of KZ2 but excluded at the end of the race due to a verbal reaction to a 5 seconds time penalty he had been handed.

The KZ and KZ2 World Championship in Le Mans has been quite tight until the last lap, thanks to the competitiveness of the drivers on track that was very high in the world CIK-FIA event and to the mixed weather that changed from wet to dry challenging technicians further in finding the right setup of karts, but also due to stewards interventions that enlivened a bit the final classifications.

One thing is certain, the KZ World Champion 2015 is Jorrit Pex, the quick Dutch driver that has recently returned to the “CRG family” together with his team Pex Racing that includes also his brother Stan Pex, who was on track in the International KZ2. The weather also eventually smiled to the event of Le Mans and, following the rain fallen on part of the Saturday’s programme and Sunday morning, the most awaited sun came out for the final stages of the KZ and KZ2 championships.

KZ, ONE-TWO FOR CRG WITH JORRIT PEX AND PAOLO DE CONTO 

Jorrit Pex, on CRG pushed by TM engine prepared by Jos Verstappen and Franco Drudi, after winning the Prefinal ahead of Paolo De Conto, put in a great race in the Final keeping himself behind the Italian driver of CRG-Maxter first and then moving an irresistible attack at the final lap, inflaming the numerous fans present in Le Mans that lived a very exciting moment.

The fight for the world title has involved Paolo De Conto, who led the race from lap three to the penultimate lap with Jorrit Pex on his tail. Exiting world champion Marco Ardigò was the third contender after a great comeback. The duel that involved De Conto, Pexand also Ardigò at the last lap originated a melee that ended up with the victory going toPex, while De Conto fought with all his energy Ardigò’s attack closing second in Pex‘s slipstream.

At the end of the race, Ardigò lost the third place due to a 10 seconds time penalty for the dropped nose cone after a contact with Arnaud Kozlinski, who inherited the third place.

Among the other CRG drivers, Andrea Dalè was back into the top ten of KZ on CRG-Tm, in ninth place. Davide Forè ended 26th due to a contact, while Simo Puhakka had to retire.

GIANCARLO TININI’S TITLE DEDICATION

“I am really happy on the victory obtained by Jorrit Pex – declared CRG Spa President Giancarlo Tinini – also because he came back with us especially for this CIK-FIA World Championship after having already won the KZ1 European Championship in 2012 with out material. Paolo De Conto would have also deserved the win, but in the end we scored a great one two and we are happy for this. I would like to dedicate this CRG win to my mother-in low Rachele who passed away last week. She even had more passion that I do and I emotionally want to dedicate this 12th world championship in CRG’s history to her memory.”

THE FINAL SPRINT OF JORRIT PEX

The comment of the new KZ World Champion Jorrit Pex: “ We won a lot a lot in the past: 4 times the German Championship, WSK Championship, Euro Series, the European KZ1 Championship, the Grand Finals Rotax junior, but the world championship was the only thing that was missing and in 2015 we took it so I am really happy with it. For all the race the gap between me and Paolo was the same and a was waiting for a mistake by him, but he would not make it and I was only catching millimeters and centimeters. Then he went again and I closed in again. With six laps to go I said now I have to make a move or he is gone and then I went over the limit and with one lap to go I was very close to Paolo, he felt I was there and he started closing the gaps and we lost a lot of speed and then there was a gap for me to go inside and I took the inside line we nearly stopped. Meanwhile, Marco Ardigò closed in on us. He was on the outside, the next corner was to the left and I was in a good line for the chicane and out we came and I knew I was first and I knew no-one could take it from me”.

SPECTACULAR CRG AND JORRIT PEX 
AT THE WSK CHAMPIONS CUP

Good victory in KZ2 for Jorrit Pex in the second round of the WSK Champions Cup. Positive finish for Dionisios in KF. An incident stopped Martinez in KF Junior. Victory and 60 Mini title to team Gamoto Racing and Muizzuddin.

A solid spectacle made of strength and competitiveness was offered by CRG and Jorrit Pex in the second round of the KZ2 WSK Champions Cup round of Muro Leccese (Lecce, Italy), that was the second and last act of the early season International series run in two rounds.

CRG AND PEX TRIUMPHANT IN KZ2
The young Dutch driver in force at CRG Holland conceded himself the luxury of beating fair and square the rivals on his CRG-TM. Once he got to the lead, at lap 7 out of 20, Jorrit run a race on his own league managing at best the CRG chassis and TM engine that supported him all the way to the triumphant crossing of the finish line.

Thanks to this victory and the unlucky ninth place of the previous round, Jorrit Pex secured the third position in the classification where he closed behind the winner Hanley and Camponeschi. This result gave CRG and Jorrit a good confidence boost for the continuation of the season.

Jorrit’s younger brother, the 15 years old Stan Pex, was also among the protagonists of this second round of the Champions Cup as he put in a very good debut in KZ2 where he finished 13th absolute after securing the 9th place in the Prefinal.

CRG, Jorrit Pex celebrates the third title in the German KZ2 Championship at Genk

In the fifth and final round of the German Championship held in Genk, Jorrit Pex strenghtened his first place in the final standings of KZ2 with a podium in race-2. Davide Forè unlucky in both finals after an excellent start in qualifying and heats. 

Jorrit Pex celebrated in the best possible way his third consecutive title in KZ2 of the DKM Deutsche Kart Meisterschaft during the final round of the German Championship held at the Circuit of Genk. The driver in force at team CRG Holland got the mathematical certainty of being a champion one race early in Hahn and strenghtened his lead with a good second place in Final-2 after leading the way in qualifying and heats.

Another success that enriches CRG’s 2013 showcase as the Italian firm dominated the season throughout winning several titles in KZ and KF of the European CIK-FIA Championship, in the KZ World Championship, in KZ1 of the WSK Euro Seriesand in KZ2 of the WSK Masters Series.

After the four rounds held in Ampfing, Wackersdorf, Kerpen and Hahn, Jorrit Pex has been among the main protagonists also in Genk together with the German driver Kevin Illgen of team Adac Sachsen, who ended third in the championship and Davide Forè that ended sixth on the kart linedup by DTK. In the top ten with CRG chassis were also Stefan Ott, tenth ahead of the two team mates at CRG Holland Finn Kooijman and Jorrit’s brother Yard Pex.

JORRIT PEX THE QUICKEST

Jorrit Pex got the satisfaction of obtaining the fourth pole position of the season in Genk confirming himself to be very quick in all the circumstances on his CRG chassis powered by TM. Pex also won two qualifying heats and therefore he was on the front row of the first final but on a soaking wet race track his start was not perfect and the CRG drivers was pushed to the back. He later on recovered on the dry tarmac, putting the hammer down and started a series of very quick laps (he also set the fastest lap of the race) until reaching the second place behind De Conto who also won the first final. Thanks to the points harvested in Genk Jorrit Pex confirmed his leadership with 188 points, followed by Paolo De Conto (Birel) at 138 and Illgen (CRG) at 110.

“I am happy on my performance at the last DKM race in Genk – said a glowing with happiness Jorrit Pex – as in the first day I got the pole position and won both my heats. In the first final the heavy rain spoiled a bit my race and I lost a few positions in the first lap but then I recovered up to the sixth place. In the second final weather conditions were better and I ended second. I am really proud on being the KZ2 German Champion for the third year in a row!”

Zondagochtend tijdens de vrije training, was er even een moment van angst toen Jorrit door een olievlek in de bocht rechtdoor ging en met hoge snelheid onder een hek doorschoot. Gelukkig bleek zijn nekblessure mee te vallen en wisten ze het kart te herstellen zodat Jorrit later die ochtend toch kon deelnemen aan zijn eerste serie van die dag. Ondanks zijn nekblessure finishte hij toch op een derde plek. Tijdens de tweede serie zondag startte hij vanaf de derde plek. Hij wist deze serie als winnaar over de finish te komen. Door deze overwinning, startte hij in de finale omstreeks drie uur vanaf pole position. Na de tweede ronde nam Max de leiding van Jorrit over, maar in de derde ronde werd de wedstrijd stilgelegd door een rode vlag situatie. Hierdoor vond er een herstart plaats. Tijdens deze start viel Jorrit terug naar een vierde plaats, maar hij wist na enkele felbevochten rondes de derde plek terug te pakken van Paulo De Conto. Vervolgens zette hij de achtervolging in op Ben Hanley die op de tweede plek reedt, maar helaas was de afstand te groot om nog een aanval te kunnen doen. Jorrit kwam dus als derde over de finish, Ben Hanley werd tweede en Max Verstappen haalde de overwinning binnen. Een mooi podium voor de eerste wedstrijd van de WSK Euro Series 2013.

In de KF3 klasse was Stan tijdens de trainingen heel snel. De kwalificatie was helaas iets minder. Dat bracht ook het feit met zich mee dat tijdens de series het moeilijk was om de vele crashes te ontwijken. Zijn laatste serie maakte het echter allemaal weer een beetje goed. Stan reed zeer sterk naar de 3^e plaats. Een 15^e startplek in de B-finale, en deze plek wist hij te waarborgen. Gelukkig een plaatsing voor de uiteindelijke finale. Weliswaar van een 30^e startpositie, maar dat de drive was er niet minder om. Na een aantal mooie acties wist Stan als 15^e te finishen in deze finale.

Als KZ1-kampioen van de WSK Euro Series en vice-KZ1-kampioen van de WSK Master Series, mocht Jorrit die avond twee bokalen in ontvangst nemen van niemand minder dan ex-Formule 1 coureur Jean Alesi. Daarnaast kregen de WSK kampioenen ook een prachtig fotoboek met daarin alle highlights van het afgelopen WSK seizoen.

Max Verstappen, zoon van oud-F1-coureur Jos, kende een minder gelukkig seizoen. Regelmatig toonde hij zijn pure snelheid maar pech en aanrijdingen weerhielden hem van vele overwinningen. Toch pakte de Limburger de winst in de WSK Master Series KF2.

Drie maanden na de 1-2 van Jorrit Pex en Davide Fore in het Europees KZ1-kampioenschap, pakte Jordon Lennox-Lamb op Sarno de World Cup in de KZ2. Het wereldkampioenschap in de KF2 werd een nog groter succes met liefst een 1-2-3. Dit historische feit werd behaald door kampioen Felice Tiene, voor Max Verstappen en Lennox-Lamb.

Op vrijdag 7 december vond het CRG Grand Gala plaats. Tijdens dit jaarlijkse gala komt de hele CRG familie samen en worden de kampioenen gehuldigd.

Tijdens het diner werden de rijders die, binnen de WSK Master Series , WSK Euro Series, CIK kampioenschappen en het Duits kampioenschap een podium plaats behaalden in de bloemetjes gezet. Elke rijder werd apart naar voren geroepen om zijn prijs in ontvangst te nemen en kreeg de mogelijkheid om teamleden, mekaniekers,… te bedanken.

De kampioen kregen een IPad en de vice-kampioenen kregen een IPad mini van het team cadeau.
Jorrit werd gehuldigd voor het behalen van 3 van de 4 belangrijke titels in de KZ1 klasse. Hij wist het Europees kampioenschap, de titel van de WSK Euro Series en het Duits kampioenschap op mijn palmares te schrijven.