Kiwi Zach Tucker has won the first ever FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup (Senior) after a dramatic finale held at the LYL International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
On lap 14 the Malaysian weather turned in dramatic style. A dry race had turned into a deluge of rain within moments and with six karts all spinning off the track at Turn 3, including local hope Daniel Haris Jaeggi. With chaos unfolding the Race Director, Pasquale Lupoli, declared a red flag and therefore the end of the Senior Final with over 75% of the race completed.
As he came into Parc Ferme, Kiwi Zach Tucker was initially unaware that the race would not be resumed and he had won the FIA Karting Arrive and Drive World Cup (Senior).
50 nationalities have been represented at this World Cup which has welcomed new competitors to FIA Karting from every region, thanks in large part to the format of the event which significantly reduces financial and technical barriers to entry.
Kiwi Tommy Hart second in Junior Class
Starting on pole position for the junior A-final, Tommy Hart was overtaken by Japanese driver Motoda who took the early lead but an intense and relentless battle begun to emerge at the front of the race with no early breakaways.
Troy Ferguson from the USA, tipped as an early favourite had a perfect start to his race and quickly gained five positions as he looked for a strong finish and even the prospect of a podium. As the race progressed the top five were separated by less than a second with Galimberti and Micah Vino Satrio leading the tightly squeezed pack as all was still to play for.
Galimberti later found himself under investigation, adding to the great uncertainty on how this race would end as he led the race into what will become an unforgettable final lap. As the leading pack begun to close Motoda went for a late lunge, forcing Galimberti to defend which closed the gap behind them resulting in no fewer than nine karts heading into the hairpin, all still in contention of victory.
The scrap that unfolded resulted in Motoda, the polesitter from Saturday’s Qualifying Practice, retaking the lead and Troy Ferguson of the USA capitalising on the unfolding chaos to place himself in P2. The sprint to the line gave a few moments to comprehend the dramatic final lap as Motoda took the chequered flag and made his way to Parc Ferme.
However, when waiting to be weighed, the FIA scrutineers identified a front-fairing discrepancy on the Japanese driver’s kart resulting in a 5-second time penalty that handed the victory to Troy Ferguson, who had unbelievably begun this race in ninth and was in sixth place on the penultimate lap.
The podium positions were completed by Tommy Hart in second place and Tomasz Cichoracki in third place, with three continents represented on the podium in a true reflection of the global nature of the competition.
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