OPPORTUNITY MOVES STARS OF KARTING CHAMPION TOWARDS F1 DREAM

Reigning Pro Gearbox (KZ2) Champion Chris Hays (Pic: AF Images/Budd)

Reigning CIK Stars of Karting Series Champion Chris Hays has received an opportunity of a lifetime with Energy Corse Team, which is endorsed by the Lotus F1 Team as its junior outfit, in Europe.

The Gold Coast teenager will line up with the Formula One-linked team at the upcoming two-round CIK-FIA European KZ2 Championships, as he chases his dream of becoming one of the stars in the world of motorsport.

Hays’ opportunity came about following his Pro Gearbox (KZ2) victory in Ipswich ahead of 2011 World Cup Champion Joey Hanssen from the Netherlands.

It will be the second time Hays has raced overseas against the world’s best gearbox kart drivers. He made his debut with the Italian-based Energy Corse team at the SuperNationals in Las Vegas, America last November courtesy of a $10,000 scholarship he received from winning the Australian Championship in the category.

“It’s a pretty amazing opportunity and I’m certainly going over there with a very open mind and aiming to make the most of it,” said Hays, who is an apprentice mechanic with Renault Australia.

“It is one thing to go and race over in Europe with a factory team but when that factory team has got a direct link to a Formula One Junior team, it is just something else.

“The opportunity really came out of nowhere, my budget this year limited me to racing here in Australia so when this came up I’ve grabbed it with both hands and we’re doing everything possible to make it a success. You never know where it might lead to.”

Chris Hays leading Joey Hanssen during Round One of the 2013 CIK Stars of Karting Series (Pic: AF Images/Budd)

For Energy Corse boss Michele Panigada, having Hays join the Energy Corse outfit alongside current KZ2 European Champion Simas Juodvirsis for the two-round CIK European KZ2 Championships is a reward for the Australian’s results in the Italian-made product over the past 18 months.

“Year after year, Energy Corse has always kept true to the mission of investing in young unknown talents to help them grow into international karting champions and thanks to the collaboration with the Lotus F1 Junior Team this mission is now stronger than ever,” said Panigada.

“When we re-launched in Australia at the start of last year Chris was one of the first drivers we announced as a part of our team Down Under, since then he has been instrumental in our success in Australia.

“At the end of last year Chris joined us for the SuperNationals in Las Vegas. The way he handled the pressure of lining up against the world’s best drivers on a circuit that he had never driven before was very impressive.

“All of the reports I’ve heard from the opening round of the Stars of Karting Series was that he has once again stepped his performance up even more. It was following this event when we were able to put together the opportunity for him to join us for the European Championships.”

The opening round of the CIK-FIA European KZ2 Championship will be held at the Wackersdorf circuit in Germany on May 16-19 followed by Round Two at Genk in Belgium on June 27-30.

Hays’ next event in Australia will be Round Two of the CIK Stars of Karting Series presented by Castrol EDGE at South Australia’s Bolivar Raceway on April 27/28. After one round, he is currently leading the championship on 141 points, three clear of Hanssen. Hay’s fellow Gold Coaster Troy Bretherton is third (107) ahead of Bundaberg’s Kel Treseder (102) while Gladstone’s John Grother is fifth (99) to make it four Queenslanders inside the top five.

Chris Hays Statistics
Age: 18
Lives: Gold Coast, QLD
Occupation: Apprentice Mechanic, Renault Australia
Career Achievements
2012 CIK Stars of Karting Champion – Pro Gearbox (KZ2)
2009 Australian Champion – Junior Clubman
Seven-time State Champion

Energy Corse Statistics in European Championships
CIK-FIA European Championships
2003 – KZ2 – Max Colombo – 2nd
2004 – KZ2 – Ricardo Van Der Ende – 1st
2005 – KZ2 – Danny Bleek – 2nd
2006 – KZ2 – Ernst Behrens – 1st
2007 – KZ2 – Danny Bleek – 2nd
2008 – KZ2 – Tony Lavanant – 1st
2010 – KZ2 – Paolo De Conto – 1st
2011 – KZ2 – Joel Johannson – 2nd
2011 – KZ1 – Paolo De Conto – 1st
2012 – KZ2 – Simas Juodvirsis – 1st

WSK Euro Series
2010 – KZ2 – Paolo De Conto – 1st
2011 – KZ2 – Joel Johannson – 1st
2012 – KZ2 – Simas Juodvirsis – 1st

Manufacturers Champions – 2010, 2011 and 2012