The sun was shining in Auvergne for the second European meeeting of the season, which is a fact worth mentioning considering how many races have been hit by inclement weather this season. European championship races always attract a good crowd who look forward to some dazzling displays by some of the continent's top drivers. This is especially true on the Jean Brun circuit in Varennes-sur-Allier, which is the fastest track in France. As already happened in the 1st round in Ugento, there was a fine turnout for Julie in all three race categories, for which the elite of the karting world was present.

All four FFSA Karting Team France drivers demonstrated their staunch support for the Julie Tonelli Children's Foundation. Alban Varutti was undoubtedly the best performer of the weekend. The 22-year-old from Nantes is rediscovering his best form now that he has joined Sodikart. Alban has been a dedicated Julie supporter right from the start; he has done a lot to promote her cause amongst the younger foreign drivers he meets on the international circuit. He was doing brilliantly in Varennes during qualifying, and then finished 3rd in race 2, but after that he got himself disqualified. Anthony Abbasse also had to sit out the finals in the stands because his engine was just not performing well enough for him to reach the final stages. Very frustrating for a driver of his class! Mike Courquin continued to progress in the Europe KF1 class, climbing from 31st in the time trials to 13th place in race 2. Jean-Philippe Guignet is at last starting to see some return for all the hard work he has put in on engine development, with some better placings. In the KZ1 category, which is the highest level for 125cc/gearbox karts, our very own French national treasure, Thomas Mich, made a great leap forward. In race 1, Thomas was desperately trying not to let the pack get away in lap 1. So, after mounting a ripple kerb, his kart took off and literally flew through the air a metre from the ground! You would have thought he was going for the world altitude record for high-flying karts! Fortunately, he touched down safely and went on to land himself a 2nd place on the podium. A prang in race 2 when he was sitting in the lead put paid to any chance of another podium place although he would have amply deserved it. Jérémy Iglesias got caught up in the same incident, just when he was making good progress up through the field. Pierre Ragues put in his best performance of the season by finishing 4th after a brilliant drive in a race that was full of surprises. So, after Varennes, we have the following final placings in the Europe KZ1 class: Iglesias 4th, Mich 5th and Ragues 10th.

The field for the KZ2 class was the biggest of the meeting in Varennes, with 60 karts entered. The rookies continued to show their teeth in defiance of the old hands in the category. Hugo Valente demonstrated that he is not out of place amongst the leaders by putting in a faultless performance up until race 2. He came 2nd in qualifying, was lying 3rd after the heats and then came 4th in race 1. Sadly though, Hugo got caught up in two prangs in the final race. Enzo Zéférini, another of the very young drivers taking part in the race, managed to stay in the limelight with two fine 7th places in the final stages. Morgan Weber, who had just heard about Julie Tonelli, decided there and then to race with her stickers on his kart. The 19-year-old French driver races on an Austrian licence which he can do this because his sponsors are in Austria which, he says, gives him greater exposure. Morgan caught the karting bug from his father when driving rental karts and then went into mini-kart racing. He has come through the ranks, racing successively in the Minime, Junior, ICA, N125 and KZ2 classes. He has raced all over the Ile-de-France and Belgium and has taken part in FFSA Grand Prix and European championship races. Here in Varennes he finished in the top half of the table. He came 13th in race 1 but was unable to do better in race 2 after picking up a 10-second penalty.