The first FFSA Grand Prix Open Karting kept its promises on the exciting track of Varennes sur Allier. The French Karting Championship continued on a positive momentum thanks to the high level of both participants and competition. There were different winners on Saturday and Sunday and overall six drivers made it to the highest step of the podiums. The French season looks to be very promising.

The weather remained nice all day on Saturday. There were quite a few surprises and in the end it was Paolo Besancenez who conquered a great victory in KF3, while Alex Baron took the first step of the podium in KF2 and Morgan Weber was the fantastic and surprising winner of KZ2.

KF3: Premiere for Besancenez
Esteban Ocon (FA Kart/Vortex) dominated time qualifying as well as the pre-final. The final was particularly hard fought, with several leaders in succession. Ocon saw his supremacy challenged. Paolo Besancenez (Sodi/Parilla) remained in the leader's - Alex Palou (FA Kart/Vortex) - wake and attacked him on the last few bends. Palou secured his second position and Ocon made it to the third step of the podium.

KF2: Baron Makes it in the End
Victor Sendin (Tony Kart/Vortex) was undeniably the man to beat in the category, but after conquering the pole in time qualifying and winning the pre-final, he was pushed out of the track at the start of the pre-final. Léo Roussel (Sodi/Parilla) was his designated successor with the second best time in time qualifying and his second place in the pre-final, but it was Alex Baron (Sodi/Parilla) who imposed himself at the end of an epic battle with Enzo Guibbert (FA Kart/Vortex), second. Victor Compère (FA Kart/Vortex) was third.

KZ2: The Boss is Weber
Morgan Weber and his Merlin chassis with TM (Tec-Sav) engine were not expected at such extraordinary levels. He conquered the pole in time qualifying, and won the pre-final and final. Yan Pesce (BRM/TM) was second and Yuri Lucati (BRM/TM) fought hard to keep his third position.

The weather became overcast on Sunday and it started to rain during the last final, in KZ2, won by Thomas Mich. Previously, Valentin Moineault had won the KF3 final race and Léo Roussel had conquered KF2.

KF3: Moineault Reaches His Goal
Clean race for Valentin Moineault and his Sodi/Parilla from Team Ludo Racing, against some formidable opponents such as Spaniards Fran Rueda and Alex Palou on FA Kart/Vortex. Esteban Ocon (FA Kart/Vortex) was back to 5th in the pre-final and concluded with a second position in the final, while Rueda finished with a third place in his pocket.

KF2: Roussel Wins the Final
Victor Sendin (Tony Kart/Kart) dominated time qualifying and kept the momentum in the pre-final against Léo Roussel (Sodi/Parilla). The track became slightly slippery in the final race. Roussel took off on the very first lap and nobody was able to catch him up. Sendin went up from 7th to 2nd, while Kenny Vermeylen (Tecno/Parilla) concluded in 3rd position after a very heated duel.

KZ2: Mich In the Rain
Young Charly Bizalion (Intrepid/TM) set the pole in time qualifying, but Mathieu Gaillard (Energy/TM) won the pre-final vs. Yan Pesce and Yuri Lucati on BRM. Regardless of relentless rain, Thomas Mich (Birel/TM) left everybody behind in the final and it was another Birel, this time driven by Christophe Benoit, which followed suit in second place, while Tony Lavanant (PCR/TM) was third ahead of Anthony Abbasse (Sodi/Maxter) and Hugo Valente (Birel/TM).