International Success for Abbasse and Sodi Sigma
The new 2012 Sodi range has definitely started under the best auspices.
After the successes achieved in KF by the Celesta and in Mini-Cadet by the Delta, this time it was the new Sigma KZ chassis that allowed Anthony Abbasse to take an important victory in KZ1, at the WSK Euro Series meeting in Val d’Argenton against the best international teams, with another important achievement in a season full of excellent performances on all the circuits.
Changing weather conditions - from dry weather to showers in just a few seconds - complicated the situation, but Anthony Abbasse could rely on the qualities of his Sigma chassis to stand out from his rivals during the WSK Euro Series. «Val d’Argenton is known for being one of the most technical circuits », explained the Sodi Racing Team driver. «Here, you need a very good chassis to go fast without destroyingyour tyres. We were already very fast during practice, and we repeated our excellent performances in the races». Abbasse started by setting the fastest time among the drivers who started with slick tyres in timed qualifying, when it began to rain. He then conquered the two qualification heats in quick succession on Saturday, in dry weather, with a very comfortable lead, which was all the more impressive considering that his rivals were the best international drivers.
In Final 1, Anthony took again the lead alone during the 16 laps of the race. Victory was the logical reward for this excellent driver, as well as for the long development work done this winter by the French company. Sodi was proud to offer its engine preparer Tec-Sav its first international success of the season. «The Sodi Racing Team has been working a lot recently. We are on the track every week to perform many tests, and this also enables us to continue to develop our chassis. We have acquired a good knowledge of our new chassis, which we exploit at best in all conditions. At Val d’Argenton, for example, we had a double advantage over our competitors: we were the fastest, but at the same time we preserved our tyres».
In Sunday’s final, Abbasse started again on the front line as the favourite, after his stunning performances during the weekend. «I did not take an excellent start», Anthony confessed at the end of the race.
«I was boxed in on the outside of the first bend and I lost some time. Then I realised that everything was still going fine and that I could regain the lead. But on a kerb, the engine moved back and the chain jumped off. I had to go back on freewheel». «These things happen! For us, the most important thing is to be ready to catch the opportunity, and climbing onto the top step of the podium in WSK Euro Series is excellent evidence of that. We are confident for the European Championship, to be held at Wackersdorf in a month’s time. The German circuit has some similarities with that of Val d’Argenton... We will be ready!»
