The third and mid-season round of the French Karting Championship 2011 will be held next weekend, before the summer break. It is usually then that time gaps grow bigger and attacks are launched. Sendin is now the solid leader of KF2, but the situation is less clearly defined in KZ2, where Mich could soon have to try and resist an attack launched by Abbasse, while Boccolacci is hot on Ocon's wheels in KF3. The task of participants will be made more complicated by the presence, for the first time, of Belgian Championship drivers, in what promises to be a highly spectacular GPO.

A large group of competitors is expected at the Ostricourt GPO in northern France on 28 and 29 May. It is indeed the first time that the French Championship gathers at the same meeting drivers from the Belgian and Benelux Championship in KF3, KF2 and KZ2. Drivers of the "Nationale" category will also compete on the Métropole circuit, for the first of the three meetings of their French Championship, during a sporting weekend which is going to be very intense.

After the Angerville GPO, Victor Sendin (Tony Kart/Vortex) has put a dominant stamp on the French KF2 Championship provisional standings. The TKF driver is taking advantage of his busy international programme to make significant progress at all levels. Behind him there is a very heated duel and lately there has been a reversal of the situation after an attack by Belgian Kenny Vermeylen (Tecno/Parilla), now installed in second place. Léo Roussel (Sodi/Parilla) has all the chances to rock the boat of the leading duo, while Pascal Belmaaziz (DR/Parilla) is heading very rapidly to the top after his victory in Angerville.

In KZ2, the category of powerful 125 gearbox karts, Thomas Mich (Birel/TM) has taken control over the Championship thanks to his impressive achievements at the second GPO, while Morgan Weber (Merlin/TM) is hot on his heels after replicating the same excellent performances he showed on season debut. But Anthony Abbasse (Sodi/Maxter) is not out of the game yet after his sensational recovery, following his dominant stamp on the latest meeting. The man in best form at the moment could change the cards on the table on a track like Ostricourt, which is very fast. In any case, it is going to be a hard fight, even more so considering that gaps are still narrow between drivers such as Mathieu Gaillard (Energy/TM), Charles Fiault (Sodi/Maxter) and Yan Pesce (BRM/Maxter).

KF3 remains the most open category thanks to a bunch of young drivers, all very talented. For the time being, Esteban Ocon (FA Kart/Vortx) remains the leader, but young Dorian Boccolacci (Birel/BMB) has developed an appetite for victory at the previous GPO after a remarkable double success that propelled him to second place. Currently 7th, Etienne Mordret (Zanardi/Parilla) has greatly improved and is now a credible outsider. But a fierce reaction can be expected from Paolo Besancenez, Valentin Moineault or Florian Latorre, all three on Sodi/Parilla. Benjamin Gérard (Tony Kart/Vortex) has shown impressive speed and remains a formidable opponent. Finally, Hubert Petit (Sodi/Parilla) took a spectacular 21-place step forward in the standings thanks to his excellent results and has no intention of stopping there.

Next meeting will be held at the Métropole circuit, in Ostricourt (59), starting on Friday 27th with official free practice and then Saturday morning, for the first of the two racing days of this third GPO 2011.