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Last weekend the King of Europe-season came to an end at the shores of Heraklion, Crete. Dotz teamrider Adam Kerenyi was just a glimpse short for the overall title. 
Like last year Europes best drifter gathered for the final race of the King of Europe-series in Crete.
36 contestants came to the port of Heraklion, where the weather conditions took care of a little bit more challenge.
The thrilling starting position for the overall standings attracted thousands of fans to the Aegean.
But before the tyres got burning, the way for 2012 has been paved: Dotz brandmanager Gerry Samer and King of Europe-organizer Mike Proceur came to a deal for Dotz sponsoring the series the upcoming year.
Ahead of the first drift round the overall standings again: Dotz teamrider Adam Kerenyi with his BMW E36 was 40 points short of Italian Diego Quaranta and 20 points ahead of fellow countryman Marco Blasutta.
So a thrilling decision was guaranteed when on time for drivers presentation the rain poured down over Heraklion.
Weather conditions finally distressed some of the drivers.
Dotz teamrider Sebastien Cornec for example: he had two engine blow-ups this year and a transmission failure and was dogged by bad luck in Crete as well: the head gasket ended up in smoke at one of the first training runs.
So the chances for Dotz to win the team assessment narrowed. Cornec and Kerenyi were 60 points short of team Grav ahead of the finals.
Europes best drifters then carried on to qualify for the best 32 racers of the weekend to go ahead to the tsuiso contests.
Most important qualifying rule: get the most accurate drift alongside three control points.
Dotz teamrider Adam Kerenyi finished the qualification at rank three. Afterwards Kerenyi battled himself parallel to title rival Quaranta to last four,...
...where both of them finally met. More experienced Kerenyi despite of a horsepower-disadvantage went through to the finals after a tight battle against the Italian. Should Kerenyi win and Quaranta finishing third, the Hungarian – thanks to double points at the last race – could crown himself again as King of Europe. © Michel Truong
Quaranta then took care of staying within the title race: the Italian could finish third just in front of Roman Kolesar from Slovakia. So the final had to prove who the best drifter of the year is. © Michel Truong
The big final was the match of Kerenyi against local hero Vassilis Zidianakis. After two tight battles the Greek was according to the jury’s decision just a bit better than Kerenyi and so made Quaranta to the King of Europe 2011. © Michel Truong
Quaranta was finally just a mere 20 points ahead of Kerenyi. Quarantas fellow countryman Marco Blasutta took third place.
posted: 17.10.2011