Grapevine: Schumacher wins go-kart challenge

Seven-time Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher showed he has lost none of his speed and skill by winning the International Challenge of Go-Kart Champs at the Ingleses Kart Track in Florianopolis, Brazil

Starting fourth in race one, he charged to the lead in two laps where he remained to take victory. This meant he started race two from eighth position, thanks to the GP2-style reverse grid for the top eight finishers.

This proved little impediment, and he was soon fighting for second with Thiago Camilo when his kart lost performance and he settled to just finish the race, dropping to sixth.

However, this was still enough to give him the overall victory by two points ahead of Luciano Burti, with Lucas di Grassi a further two points behind.

"I told Felipe I was worried of getting the last place," Schumacher said after the race was over, having taken the win on his first visit to the track. Speaking about his race two dramas, he said: "When I realized I had no brakes, I just tried to finish the race."

Second-placed Burti was pleased with his result: "For someone who has been racing in Stock Car Brazil for some years, it was a great result," having spent his earlier years in single-seaters, including a stint in Formula One.

Despite failing to repeat last year's victory, event organiser Felipe Massa was still happy despite only finishing fifth: "I knew it would be hard to win again, because of the high level of the drivers that came here today, even higher than last year."

After taking the victory, Schumacher said he would be happy to return to the event next year, which saw an immediate offer from Massa and an immediate acceptance from Schumacher to return to defend his title.

Race 1:

Pos  Driver                 Time
 1.  Michael Schumacher     21:59.406 
 2.  Nelsinho Piquet        +   5.687
 3.  Luciano Burti          +   5.737
 4.  Rubens Barrichello     +   8.147
 5.  Lucas Di Grassi        +   8.218
 6.  Marcos Gomes           +   9.090
 7.  Felipe Massa           +  16.328
 8.  Thiago Camilo          +  16.548
 9.  Ricardo Zonta          +  18.736
10.  Tony Kanaan            +  19.107
11.  Enrique Bernoldi       +  22.220
12.  Vitor Meira            +  22.616
13.  Ricardo Mauricio       +  29.499
14.  Caca Bueno             +  34.065
15.  Popo Bueno             +  34.252
16.  Tarso Marques          +  36.523
17.  Roberto Pupo Moreno    +  36.703
18.  Xandinho Negrao        +  1 lap
19.  Gil de Ferran          +  1 lap
20.  Antonio Pizzonia       + 10 laps
21.  Felipe Giaffone        + 10 laps
22.  Rodrigo Sperafico      + 12 laps
23.  Alexandre Barros       + 31 laps

Fastest lap: Rubens Barrichello, 40.681 seconds

Race 2:

Pos  Driver                 Time
 1.  Lucas Di Grassi        22:12.328
 2.  Luciano Burti          +   3.506
 3.  Felipe Massa           +   4.579
 4.  Rubens Barrichello     +   4.775
 5.  Marcos Gomes           +   6.674
 6.  Michael Schumacher     +   7.087
 7.  Felipe Giaffone        +   7.273
 8.  Antonio Pizzonia       +  11.157
 9.  Tony Kanaan            +  16.198
10.  Vitor Meira            +  21.943
11.  Enrique Bernoldi       +  23.248
12.  Rodrigo Sperafico      +  24.042
13.  Ricardo Zonta          +  29.616
14.  Roberto Pupo Moreno    +  30.973
15.  Luca Badoer            +  31.273
16.  Popo Bueno             +  31.416
17.  Nelsinho Piquet        +  1 lap
18.  Ricardo Mauricio       +  1 lap
19.  Tarso Marques          +  1 lap
20.  Thiago Camilo          +  2 laps
21.  Caca Bueno             + 12 laps
22.  Alexandre Barros       + 13 laps
23.  Gil de Ferran          + 14 laps
24.  Xandinho Negrao        + 23 laps

Fastest lap: Michael Schumacher, 40.956 seconds

Final standings:

Pos  Driver                Points
 1.  Michael Schumacher      35
 2.  Luciano Burti           33
 3.  Lucas di Grassi         31
 4.  Rubens Barrichello      26
 5.  Felipe Massa            24
 6.  Marcos Gomes            21 
 7.  Nelson Piquet           20
 8.  Tony Kanaan             13 
 9.  Ricardo Zonta           12
     Enrique Bernoldi        
     Vitor Meira             
12.  Felipe Giaffone          9 
13.  Thiago Camilo            8
     Antonio Pizzonia        
15.  Ricardo Sperafico        4 
16.  Ricardo Maurício         3 
17.  Caca Bueno               2
     Roberto Pupo Moreno      2 
19.  Popo Bueno               1