Second in new Super X30 Euro Series final
Rinus van Kalmthout takes second in new Super X30 Euro Series final at Casteletto
Rinus van Kalmthout put in an impressive performance during the inaugural weekend of the new IAME Super X30 Euro Series at the Italian track of Casteletto. Having qualified on pole, he won all three of Saturday’s heats, in the process taking fastest lap in each of them. However, things didn’t quite go to plan in Sunday’s pre-final, in which he finished fourth. In the final the KNAF Talent First driver was back to his usual form, charging from fourth to second.
Having taken part in the Rotax Max Euro Challenge at the same track in the Italian lakes district last week, Van Kalmthout was up for the new IAME Super X30 Euro Series’ season opener this weekend. “I tried out the powerful engine of this new machine for the first time at Spa-Francorchamps a couple of weeks ago, and I was suitably impressed. The Super X30 engine has 175cc and boasts 43hp, which allows it to be two seconds quicker than a Rotax Max at Casteletto. It feels great to have so much power at my disposal”, said a smiling Van Kalmthout. Both free practice and qualifying showed that the 15-year-old karter is very much capable of handling such an amount of power, resulting in pole position.
Saturday started with three heats. Having started from pole, Van Kalmthout was immediately put under pressure by Swede Viktor Oberg, but the Hoofddorp resident managed to keep ahead of his 23-year-old rival to win the first race. In the second heat, both Oberg and Taylor Greenfield got in front at the start but Van Kalmthout fought back in the second part of the race to also win this one. Greenfield then initially grabbed the lead in the third heat but Van Kalmthout responded instantly by passing the Peruvian and leading all the way to the chequered flag.
Van Kalmthout not only won all three heats but also took fastest lap in each of them. Even though this magnificent performance didn’t gain him any championship points, it did get him pole position for the pre-final.
The Dutchman started out well in the pre-final but was put under immense pressure, at one time during the opening laps dropping back to sixth. “I had a bit too much nerves and put myself under too much pressure. That is why I failed to properly set up my carb in the early stages”, Van Kalmthout admitted.
Having found the right set-up, Van Kalmthout gained back two positions and grabbed fastest lap again, but he ran out of time to challenge for the win. After his strong form in the heats, Van Kalmthout could not be satisfied with fourth position.
In the final, Van Kalmthout got away well and took third behind Greenfield on the opening lap. He then put pressure on the Peruvian, looking for a gap to pass him. For four laps Greenfield managed to keep Van Kalmthout at bay but on lap 5 the unleashed Dutchman found a way past. Immediately opening up a gap to Greenfield, he found that race leader Oberg was in front by 1.4 seconds. Each lap, Van Kalmthout shaved off two tenths but at the point when he had closed the gap to Oberg to 0.2 seconds he had used up most of his tyres’ grip and fell short of actually attacking Oberg for the lead. Viktor Oberg thus won the 20-lap final by 0.3 seconds over Van Kalmthout, with Taylor Greenfield finishing third.
Van Kalmthout is now third in the Super X30 standings, trailing Greenfield by one point and Oberg by five points. “I’m not satisfied. Third in the championship is a disappointing result after Saturday’s perfection. Still, I learned a lot this weekend”, said Van Kalmthout, closing off a string of very busy weeks.
The next round of the IAME X30 Euro Series takes place at Zuera in Spain on 14-17 July. Van Kalmthout’s next race meeting is the second round of the BNL International Karting Series at Ostricourt on 1-3 July.
This season, Rinus van Kalmthout is supported by Jumbo Supermarkten, Ford dealer Ardea Auto, Stern, Total, Goedkoopdrank.nl and Lease Performance.