Briton Tom Joyner took victory in both of today’s CIK-FIA World Karting Championship Races, as the LH Racing Team driver showed his strong form at the Kartódromo de Coloane in Macao. Italian Flavio Camponeschi retains Championship lead heading into tomorrow’s two championship-deciding races following an expert drive from last place to second on the podium in the second race of the day.  Camponeschi, having qualified second, was unable to start Race 1 after a mechanical problem.

Drivers representing 16 countries from across Macao, the Asia-Pacific region and Europe are battling it out over the final four races of the eight-round CIK-FIA World Karting Championship to crown the 2012 champion in Macao. The first four rounds of the championship were held earlier this May at Suzuka.

With just two races remaining of the chase for the 2012 CIK-FIA World Karting Championship remaining, seven drivers remain mathematically in contention for the title.  Along with Camponeschi, Japan’s Daiki Sasaki, Joyner, Italians Felice Tiene and Davide Fore, Briton Jordon Lennox-Lam and Dutchman Max Verstappen are all championship contenders.

While Camponeschi arrived in Macao as the championship points leader, it was Verstappen who impressed in today’s qualifying practice earning pole position for Race 1. In the 21-lap race, Verstappen was overtaken early, reclaimed the lead, but was overtaken again on Lap 9 by eventual winner Joyner.

Said Joyner: “I’m really happy – it’s my first win of the year! At the start, when I saw that Camponeschi couldn’t start, it was a bit of a relief because everyone knows he was really fast and to be honest I didn’t have the pace.  But our consistency was good and we managed to look after the tyres, and I’m really happy.” Verstappen finished second in Race 1, with Spaniard Pedro Hiltbrand rounding out the podium.

In Race 2, Joyner made the most of pole position advantage and held the lead until he was overtaken by Verstappen on Lap 4. Joyner, however, reclaimed the lead to pull off a double victory, while Verstappen was hampered by an ignition problem and retired.

The story of the race, however, belonged to Camponeschi, who expertly ploughed his way through the field from last place on the grid and up to second.  Making up 15 places on the opening lap alone, the title pretender was on fire.  Briton Jordon Lennox-Lamb finished third in Race 2.

“In Race 1, I had a problem with my engine and I couldn’t start the race,” Camponeschi said. “In the second race, I had a good start and then I went very, very fast and I arrived second.  I’m very happy for this result and for the championship – I hope tomorrow I have the same result as I had in [Race 2].”

The final Races 3&4 are scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday).

In the 2012 CIK-FIA Asia-Pacific KF3 Championship, Indian Jehan Darvuala continued the strong form he showed in yesterday’s non-qualifying practice sessions, posting the quickest times in both of today’s qualifying heats. The third and final qualifying heat will take place Sunday morning, ahead of the Pre-Final and championship-crowning Final.

Attending guests of yesterday’s prize presentation ceremony included: Mr. José Tavares, Vice President of the Macao Sport Development Board, Mr. Charles Lo, Chairman of the General Assembly of Automobile General Association Macao-China, Mr. Olivier Steveny, Executive Secretary of CIK-FIA, Mr. Chong Coc Veng, Preseident of the Board of Directors of Automobile General Association Macao-China and  Mr. Micheal Waltisperger, Race Director of CIK-FIA.