Fashionable electric karting Will it invade the planet?
In December 1993, the first edition of "Masters Karting" Paris-Bercy were launched around the world fashion karting inside. The duel between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna at the helm of these small shoots fireballs the limit had lasted a few laps, but it was enough to inspire a momentum of popularity vital to this type of competition.
Last weekend, after ten years of interruption of this appointment, the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy again vibrates to the sound of machines kart ... But in fact his, it was very different from what had been proposed between 1993 and 2001 since the first large, it is in control of electric karts that pilots were brought to battle.
Twenty pilots international palmares usually well stocked in more than ten junior pilots had been invited. Thirty machines (six reserve who served a lot!) Had been prepared for the occasion, equipped with two batteries made of nickel, cobalt and manganese. In the end, go karts developping 30 hp, making it the most powerful discipline for this comparison since the essence of 125cc machines is to grant between 22 and 28 hp.
Under the eyes of a more sparse than expected, Sebastien Loeb, F1 drivers Adrian Sutil, Paul Di Resta, Romain Grosjean, Jerome D'Ambrosio public, the former DTM champion Gary Paffett or the french stars Sebastien Bourdais , Stephane Sarrazin and Sebastien Ogier were well on the most celebrated.
If multiple drivers tells us that getting used to driving an electric vehicle was not easy (lots of torque but less speed), the show was all the same a good level, but lack of engine noise and power differences of the other kart let us think that this type of technology still needs some development before becoming popular.
At the grand finale on Saturday, two reserve drivers in Formula 1 steals the show. Jules Bianchi (third Ferrari driver in 2011) and Jean-Eric Vergne (who will be the reserve driver for Red Bull in 2012) have realized twice before Stephane Sarrazin. Qualifies first, Sebastien Ogier had to give up after a collision, as well as Canadian Robert Wickens. Returned the same morning the awards ceremony of the FIA in India, Sebastien Loeb finished eighth. In the category of Junior drivers, Monegasque Charles Leclerc (14 years) flies over the debates. The Canadian Lance Stroll ended sixth.
Sunday success of D'Ambrosio and Vergne to the driver Julien Jousse Endurance, ahead of Paffett at the end of a race or accrochqges were numerous. Flying a little competitive kart, Wickens had failed to qualify. Many incidents also in the race for juniors, Lance Stroll being sent into the wall three laps of the term when he was the victory at hand. The Monegasque Charles Leclerc won a second consecutive victory.
The Trophee Andros ice racing was also in action last weekend. On the trail of the Principality of Andorra, Alain Prost (Dacia) has prevailed. Jacques Villeneuve, who is playing the entire season on a Skoda, finished sixth.
