Julie Tonelli drivers always play the game and occasionally pick up some winnings. This weekend they got one victory in the aptly-named Espoir (the "hopefuls") class, and no less than three 1-2-3 podium places in other categories !

The French version of Wikipedia describes the Sologne - the region in which Salbris is situated - as "a land of wonder, wood and water, with a royal hunting past" which, if you stretch your imagination, are terms which might apply to the kart track itself. Whatever, despite a slight fall in attendance for the 3rd round of the French championship season, Julie's pink stickers were more in evidence than ever. You would have thought they were reflecting the light of the flowering heather bushes that grow on the heathland where the track is situated. Although he is currently living in Belgium, Michaell Ryall is as British as they come, so we suppose it was only natural that he was totally at home racing his KF2 steed in the rain! But what he did was well beyond the call of duty - it was on a par with a hole-in-one in golf! Michael started the race from right back in last place on the grid after having had trouble getting his engine started. Ten laps later he was sitting in the lead and that's where he stayed. Impressive! As modest as ever during the press conference, he thanked his team for having done a good job, pointed out that the set-up was good, etc. etc. But we'd like to add that the guy sitting behind the wheel was pretty good, too.

There were podium places for Tonelli in the Junior class. Sébastien Bailly from Belgium, come-back man Christopher Quillet (who is an FFSA KartingTeam France driver) and David Rambeau from Portugal were all up there. Young Guillaume De Ridder was out of luck this week-end but still managed to hold on to 5th place in the standings. Now in his fifth season in karting, the Belgian PCR driver is competing in the French, Belgian and Italian championships. This summer he will be taking on Europe. He started off in 4-stroke rentals in his home country before graduating to Mini and Cadet class races. It was driving a Birel in the Junior class that propelled him onto the international scene in 2006, a season in which he says he served his apprenticeship. Now with Sitco and driving a PCR/Windfire, Guillaume admits he has set his sights higher in 2007. Not only is Guillaume a talent waiting to explode, he is also a very personable young man, always open and smiling. He heard about Julie from a Belgian friend who had raced in France. Guillaume says he sports Julie's colours on his kart, and wears his favourite Julie T-shirt, simply because it's cool to show support for Julie's family and close friends. He just wants to support a good cause, that's all.

Traditionally dominated by experienced drivers who already have a career in 100cc racing under their belts, the 125/KZ2 class is currently in the hands of young drivers who have chosen to go more or less straight away into the gearbox class. While it is true that Thomas Mich is not exactly a newcomer, he is still young for a 125cc driver. But this weekend he had to see off a couple of impressive rookies. Firstly, Enzo Zéférini, 17, who is acquiring the race maturity which, combined with his speed at the wheel, is turning him into a potential winner. And Hugo Valente, a surprise package in 3rd place on his 15th birthday!

The karting elite was out in force for the KF1 racing. Mike Courquin picked up his first win ahead of Anthony Abbasse, a fellow Team France driver. Nathanaël Berthon mounted the 3rd rung on the podium to complete a great pink day for Julie. Slipping almost unnoticed into the elite was Denis Kittic, whose 100% amateur status is unusual at this level of competition. He says that nothing would have been possible without the help of his sponsor, mechanic, electrician and chauffeur of a dad! He is clear-headed enough to know that victory is out of the question, but he is hoping to pick up enough top ten points to get the B licence that will open the door to other international races. It was through Philippe Kalmès that he got to know about Julie, whose colours he now proudly bears. Having pranged his Zanardi chassis on the Saturday, he raced a CRG on the Sunday, but not before the family had spent most of the night doing car mechanics! Amazing what you can do if you have the bug.