Walilko in Top FInal in KF3 WORLD CUP BRAGA 2010

Last weekend on Kartódromo Internacional de Braga (Braga/Portugal) with the temperature over 30 degrees of Celsius, the most important karting event took place. WORLD CUP 2010. In KF3 category Igor Walilko was the only who represented his country (Poland).

Tests began on Thursday and just after few laps it become obvious that the driver will have a lot of problems, the track were a complete mystery for Walilko and the pavement was unpredictable and also KSB RACING management picked another engine tuner (STM), who was known from his reading of BMB motors for Birel’s junior team. Another made a few more problems was returning to a Dunlop tires from a Vega tires that are used in Germany and Poland. Within hours it wasn’t so scary as the team expected and both of Birels in their specially made for this occasion colors started to appear in the first TOP TEN DRIVERS.

But the moment of truth came on Saturday morning, where during the 8 min. time attack, Walilko tried to do his best to have fastest time. Unfortunately Igor with every lap had to over take one or more drivers, what gave him in the end 12 place for 78 drivers (he was 0,1s behind the fastest lap time). Very optimistic were the inner times and so called “ theoretical lap” read from telemetry in Walilko’s card, Igor already knew that if he gets to the Sunday final in KF3, the result can surprise him and the others. Upcoming 4 heats session brought to mind rather driving with an egg on a plate than racing – only time mattered. 13 year old driver took 7th, 4th, 11th and 13th place in heats, winning great pole position no. 13 for pre-final. Things got complicated after the start, when Igor after perfect start were on 8th position and after getting thru Swedish driver from private Birel’s Team he got pushed out of the track and dropped to the 24th position. But after all, Walilko made it just 16th on the finish line.

Before the Final Race, all the participants were invited for a presentation, where every driver were given a gift, everything was surrounded by the beauty Portuguese hostesses that wore a nations plates.
After the mentioned presentation, the preparation to the Final began. The whole final got a delay of 30 minutes. For a 20 lap final race Polish driver, began his challenge in well know style and just after 2 turns Igor was on 11th position. On turn no. 5 driver on Zanardi kart during the slowdown moment made this turn without any brakes and thanks to that he hit Igor’s kart with the full speed. The force of that hit were so big, that it turned Igor’s kart and another driver who were before Walilko for about 360 degrees! Then another driver from Tony Kart also with the pedal pushed to the metal hit the karts on a track, just after that his kart were kicked in the air and he landed on Igor’s head, by hitting him with the front bumper.
The whole race were automatically paused by “SLOW” procedure. Igor Walilko had injured his cervical spine vertebrae (but not a serious injury) and now he’s under the medical control.
Igor’s helmet got broke in 9 places and it’s useless right now – it was with no doubts one of the most dangerous crash in Igor’s career. Any further starts due to the injury were suspended. The World Champion In KF3 in 2010 season went to Alexander Albon from Interpid Team.

Igor’s comment to „WC” BRAGA 2010:

(...) In Portugal we were really fast and I gave all my best but it I didn’t make it. I regret that none of my rivals from Poland didn’t come for the most important karting event in this season – here you can realy find out, how much are you worth. Talking about the crash, I can say just one thing: I’m looking forward for the next race!...(…)

Rafał Waliłko comment to „WC” BRAGA 2010:

(…) To get to the top you need to have talent and luck. My son with no doubts belongs to the Worlds top KF3 drivers in this season. He’s not winning as he could have because something or someone is disturbing him permanently. I don’t wish even to my closest enemy, to fight with so many opposites as Igor had – but the real fighter gets stronger thru those failures and if the fate won’t have any more ideas to poison your life, then you will win everything…(…)