It was a combative, determined and wilful Max Defourny who competed on the karting circuit of La Conca, at the first major international meeting of 2013: the WSK Master Series, which consists of four rounds. Behind the wheel of his Kosmic-TM, the Luxemburg driver was on his way to the podium in the KF-Junior final when an unfortunate incident pushed him back to 8th.
Still very young (14 years old), Max Defourny has just begun a new season in the category from where most of the best car drivers emerge. “After a few seasons spent in France in Mini, and then in Belgium in Cadet, I have learnt a lot from my debut on the international scene in KF3. 2013 will be my first season in the Junior class and I am going to show what I am capable of”, Max said.
Max Defourny, who was already known for his determination and speed, used his first race of the season to fight at the front and show that he had every intention to take the pack under control, in a category, KFJ, where packs are often very agitated. “The tests I performed before the opening of the WSK Master Series made me feel confident. I really felt capable of taking a good result“. Though a carburettor problem prevented Max from setting the expected time during official timed qualifying (35th), he took advantage of the qualifying phase, and especially of the pre-final, to move up through the field.
“Despite an incident due a driver’s “enthusiasm”, who tore off a rim valve when he hit me, I moved up to 16th at the end of the qualifying heats. My pre-final was excellent. I made a good start and managed to get back to 4th. My best lap in race was faster than that of the drivers who preceded me!”
Fully confident, Max Defourny kept the momentum going in the final and remained in second place for quite a while. “Unfortunately my chassis became slightly less effective towards the end of the race. And the British driver Norris lapped me. I was steadily in third place on the last lap when the driver behind me hit me. I span 360 degrees, but I managed to start again, though I was only 8th at the end“.
“Of course missing a podium in the WSK series is disappointing, but I am very satisfied with my performances during the weekend and this makes me very optimistic about 2013. With the European and World Championships, the WSK meetings and perhaps a few competitions in France and Belgium, there are still many opportunities to do something good! A big thank you to all my partners, to Alain Boumal for his support and to Frédéric Dettings from GKS for his engine preparations!“
