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The activity on the track continues for the tenth edition of the WSK Champions Cup on the South Garda Karting circuit in Lonato. After the first day of Friday, in which the qualifying and the first elimination heats took place, all the remaining heats for the seven categories present at the first round of the season took place on Saturday: KZ2, OK, OKJ, MINI Gr. 3, MINI Gr.3 U10, X30S and X30J. The two MINI classes and the OKJ also completed the pre-finals (scheduled for Sunday morning for the other categories) and the starting grids for their finals on Sunday were therefore decided.

KZ2: Freddie Slater continues to amaze

• If you didn't know him and you observed him driving his Birel ART, one could easily think that he is a KZ2 veteran. Then he would find it hard to believe the reality of the facts: it is his first kart race with the gear in hand. After demonstrating his talent with yesterday's pole position, making his absolute debut in the premier class of karting, today Freddie Slater (Birel ART Racing Team – Birel ART – TM) is even more surprising. Although he loses some ground in the starts, the 2020 OKJ world champion expresses a disarming coolness and always recovers in style. This is how the young rookie wins his two heats and sets the fastest lap in both, maintaining the leadership in the general standings and preparing to start from pole in tomorrow's Prefinal A.


• A true veteran of the category is Adrien Renaudin (DR – DR – Modena Engines), who puts all his experience into play to gain four positions compared to qualifying and hoist himself into second place overall. The 2018 KZ2 European champion seems at ease with his new colors, so much so that, thanks to a victory and a second place, tomorrow he will start from pole in Prefinal B.


• Cristian Bertuca (Birel ART Racing – Birel ART – TM) also confirmed his competitiveness, collecting two second places and finding himself third overall. The Birel ART Racing team standard bearer loses the lead of the race in his last heat because his kart remains "accelerated" in some stretches of the track, but the Italian driver is able to manage the problem and in any case finish in second place, thus ensuring the start next to his teammate in the front row of Prefinal A.


• The path of Matteo Spirgel (CPB Sport – Sodi – TM) is equally constant, finishing his two heats in third place after having fought for the victory in both. The CPB Sport team standard bearer occupies the fourth position in the general standings and is a candidate for the leading role for tomorrow, in which he will join Renaudin on the front row of Prefinal B.


• The fresh winner of the Winter Cup Viacheslav Putiatin (LA Motorsport – Falcon – TM), fifth overall and third in heat A-B, Tim Gerhards (CPB Sport – Sodi – TM), sixth, Maximilian Paul (DR – DR – Modena Engines), seventh, Yevan David (CPB Sport – Sodi – TM), eighth, Paul Rieberer (Dorr Motorsport – KR – IAME), ninth, and Flynt Schuring (CPB Sport – Sodi – TM), tenth.


• They recover ground compared to qualifying thanks to excellent performances by Ivan Ekelchik (Leclerc by Lennox Racing – Birel ART – TM), 11th overall, Jannik Julius Bernhart (Dorr Motorsport – KR – IAME), 13th, and Felix Arnold (Maranello SRP Factory Team – Maranello – TM), 14th.


• On the other hand, they lose a few positions compared to qualifying despite Artem Severiukhin (Racing Line – Birel ART – TM) giving encouraging signs, 12th overall after being relegated from eighth place to 14th in heat B-C by a five-second penalty due to the nose in incorrect position, Luis Laurin Speck (TBKART Racing Team – TBKART – TM), 15th, Juliano Holzem (CPB Sport – Sodi – TM), 18th after being relegated from 15th place to 18th in heat A-B by a penalty of five seconds due to the nose in an incorrect position, and Daniel Stell (Dorr Motorsport – KR – IAME), 22nd and retired from his last heat following a contact at the start.

OK: Dmitry Matveev holds the reins

• Dmitry Matveev (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME) wants to avoid leaving room for misunderstandings: he is the man to beat. With two victories and a second place in his three heats, the reigning WSK Final Cup vice-champion maintains his lead in the general standings. The KR Motorsport team driver expresses his maturity and tomorrow he will be the favorite in Prefinal A, in which he will start from pole.


• David Walther (Koski Motorsport – Tony Kart – Vortex) also reiterates his leading role, collecting two victories and a third place. The standard-bearer of the Koski Motorsport team proves to be very fast, maintaining his second position overall and therefore preparing to start from pole position in tomorrow's Prefinal B.


• Martin Molnar (Energy Corse – Energy Corse – TM) proves equally competitive, obtaining a victory, a second place and a third. The fresh winner of the Winter Cup thus hoists himself into third place overall and tomorrow he will join Matveev in the front row of Prefinal A, relaunching the challenge after finishing heat A-D right behind him, just two tenths behind him.


• An excellent Tomass Stolcermanis (Energy Corse – Energy Corse – TM) gains fourth place in the general standings, recovering ground in all his heats. Thanks to a second place and two quarters, the reigning WSK Open Cup champion will start next to Walther in the front row of Prefinal B, ready to prove his worth.


• Kiano Blum (DPK Racing – KR – IAME) also shows excellent potential, fifth overall and with two placements in the top three, Emanuele Olivieri (IPK Official Racing Team – IPK – TM), sixth and second in heat B-C, Zhenrui Chi (Beyond Racing Team – KR – TM), seventh and third in heat B-C, and Marcus Saeter (Ward Racing – Tony Kart – Vortex), eighth.


• Enea Frey (Beyond Racing Team – KR – IAME) slips into ninth overall position, delayed by a retirement in his first heat. The Beyond Racing Team rider reacts in style to a bitter start, winning his next heat and crossing the finish line of his last heat in third place. The young Swiss is the only driver able to finish a heat with the wheels ahead of Matveev and is therefore a candidate for the role of main actor for tomorrow's day.


• Miroslav Mikes (Premysl Mikes – MS Kart – IAME), tenth in the general standings, are also authors of convincing performances and Dinu Sabin Stroescu (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME), 12th despite being relegated from sixth place to ninth in heat B-D from a five-second penalty due to an incorrect nose position, Giulio Olivieri (Maurizio Olivieri – Tony Kart – IAME), 15th, and Joel Bergstrom (DPK Racing – KR – IAME), 16th thanks to an extraordinary comeback of 19 positions compared to a disappointing qualifying.


• On the other hand, they lose some positions compared to qualifying despite encouraging signs from Gustaw Wisniewski (Forza Racing – Exprit – TM), 11th, Guillaume Bouzar (Koski Motorsport – Tony Kart – Vortex), 14th and retired from his first heat following a contact, Vasileios Michailidis (Forza Racing – Exprit – TM), 20th and retired from his first heat to then be relegated from sixth place to eighth in heat A-C by a five-second penalty due to the nose in the wrong position, and the pink quota Emma Felbermayr (TB Racing Team – KR – IAME), 29th and retired from two heats.


• A bittersweet journey also for Tereza Babickova (TEPZ Racing Team – Tony Kart – TM), another exceptional pink quota as well as participant in the 2022 W Series. After taking a sixth place and a second in her first two heats, the TEPZ Racing Team she is forced to retire in her last heat following a contact and thus finds herself 13th overall. You even accuse another protagonist such as Maksimilian Popov (Koski Motorsport – Tony Kart – Vortex) of two withdrawals, respectively caused by a contact and by the breaking of the chain. The reigning vice-champion of the WSK Champions Cup slips to 30th overall position after taking third place in his first heat.

OKJ: Flawless symphony by Lewis Wherrell

• Lewis Wherrell (Forza Racing – Exprit – TM) had only offered a taste of his potential with yesterday's pole position. The Forza Racing driver dominated all of his three heats and even Prefinal A, completing every lap in first position. The young Englishman thus maintains his leadership in the general standings and will start from pole position in the final tomorrow, determined to remain unbeaten.
  


• Dries Van Langendonck (Energy Corse – Energy Corse – TM) also highlights his talents, taking second place overall. The bearer of the Energy Corse team collects three second places in the heats and a fifth in Prefinal B, thus ensuring the start next to Wherrell in the front row of the final.
  


• If yesterday he amazed with a capital performance in qualifying, today Filippo Sala (Sodikart – Sodi – TM) is even more solid. After collecting a sixth place in his first heat, the young rookie finishes second both in the other two heats and in Prefinal B. The Sodikart team driver thus obtains the third overall position, re-candidating himself for the leading role.
  


• The reigning WSK Super Master Series champion Oleksandr Bondarev (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME) also confirmed his presence at the top of the standings thanks to remarkable performances, fourth overall and winner of Prefinal B, Lev Krutogolov (Borsch Racing – Tony Kart – IAME), fifth and extremely consistent with four third places between heats and Prefinal A, Stepan Antonov (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME), sixth and second both in his first heat and in Prefinal A, Taym Saleh (Sauber Academy – KR – IAME ), seventh and winner of heat B-D, but then relegated from second place to sixth in Prefinal B by a four-place penalty due to an incorrect manoeuvre, and the fresh Winter Cup champion Niklas Schaufler (DPK Racing – KR – IAME), eighth and winner of his first heat, but then relegated from seventh place to 13th in heat B-C by a five-second penalty due to an incorrect nose position.
  


• They recover positions compared to qualifying and give encouraging signs Mees Houben (Ward Racing – Tony Kart – Vortex), ninth overall, the pink quota of the Mercedes Junior Team Luna Fluxa (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME), tenth, Iacopo Martinese (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME), 12th and author of both a victory and another placement in the top three in the heats, but then retired from Prefinal A following a spin on the formation lap with four new tires and temperatures close to zero, You De Lu (Beyond Racing Team – KR – TM), 14th, and Kian Fardin (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME), 15th and with two third places in the heats, but then retired from Prefinal A.
  


• Instead, they lose ground compared to qualifying due to some hitches, but still demonstrate their competitiveness Jindrich Pesl (IPK Official Racing Team – IPK – TM), 11th overall, Ethan Lennon (Forza Racing – Exprit – TM), 13th °, Guy Albag (Forza Racing – Exprit – TM), 16th, Sebastian Lehtimaki (Koski Motorsport – Tony Kart – Vortex), 17th and third in Prefinal B, and David Cosma-Cristofor (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME), 19th.
  


• The comebacks of Simon Rechenmacher (TB Racing Team – KR – IAME), 25th in the general standings, are worth mentioning. The TB Racing Team standard bearer does not complete even one timed lap in qualifying due to an accident, but rolls up his sleeves in the heats. Although he was forced to retire in Prefinal A as well, the young German showed his speed.

MINI Gr.3: Impressive comeback by Iskender Zulfikari

• Iskender Zulfikari (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME) demonstrates how important it is to believe in one's abilities even when facing obstacles. The fresh winner of the Winter Cup expresses all his stubbornness to climb to the top of the general classification, recovering 25 positions compared to a disappointing qualifying. After taking three victories and a fifth place in the heats thanks to a series of brilliant comebacks, the reigning WSK Open Cup and WSK Final Cup champion was relegated from third place to 11th in Prefinal A by a five-second penalty due to the nose in the wrong position, but not even this hitch is enough to deprive him of pole position for tomorrow's final.
  


• The comebacks of Bogdan Cosma-Cristofor (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME) are equally remarkable, recovering 25 positions compared to qualifying and earning second place overall. With two victories in the heats and a third place in Prefinal A, the driver of the Team Driver Racing Kart will join his former teammate on the front row of the final.
  


• Consistency pays off and Dean Hoogendoorn (Kidix Driver Performance – Alonso Kart – IAME) seems to understand this well. The reigning vice-champion of the WSK Super Cup by MINI and of the WSK Final Cup obtained a victory and two other placements in the top three during the heats, to then secure second place in Prefinal A and third overall.
  


• It's a bittersweet journey for Keelan Harvick (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), fourth overall. After collecting one victory and three second places in the heats, the Babyrace Driver Academy driver crosses the finish line of Prefinal B in second place and thus assumes the leadership of the general classification. However, the son of Kevin Harvick, winner of the Daytona 500 in 2007 and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2014, sees pole for the final fade away because he is demoted to tenth position by a five-second penalty due to an incorrect maneuver.
  


• Also authors of exceptional performances are Noah Baglin (IKART – KR – IAME), fifth overall after winning heat D-E and Prefinal B, the reigning vice-champion of the WSK Open Cup Vladimir Ivannikov (Gamoto – EKS – TM), sixth and always among the top three in the heats, Pietro Bagutti (AV Racing – Parolin – TM), seventh after taking both a victory in heat C-E and another placement in the top three in heat C-D and second place in Prefinal B, Bosco Chavarri Arias ( Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME), ninth and winner of heat C-D, Luuk Taal (CRG Racing Team – CRG – TM), tenth and second in heat B-C, and Zeyu Shen (AV Racing – Parolin – TM), 11th and winner of Prefinal A.


• The drivers who lose positions compared to qualifying due to a few hitches, but still express excellent potential are Ilia Berezkin (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME), eighth overall and author of three third places between the heats and Prefinal B, but relegated from third place to eighth in heat A-D from a five-second penalty due to jump start, Teoh Travis (Kidix Driver Performance – Alonso Kart – IAME), 14th and third in heat B-C, Mariano Lopez (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME ), 16th and with two third-place results in the heats, Samuele Cecchetto (Novalux – Lenzokart – LKE), 17th and second in heat C-E, Riven Esteves (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), 20th, Melvin Kalousdian (Ward Racing – Tony Kart – TM), 25th and third in heat C-E, Bruno Angelo Blanco (CRG Racing Team – CRG – TM), 26th, Max Endacott (Kidix Driver Performance – Alonso Kart – IAME), 27th, Devin Walz (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), 28th, and Michael McGaughy (Baby race Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), 38th and not even qualified for the final.


• Also noteworthy are the performances of Zdenek Babicek (TEPZ Racing Team – Parolin – TM), 12th in the general classification, Dario Francois Kerdal (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME), 13th and relegated from first position to tenth in the heat B-E from a five-second penalty due to overtaking under the yellow flag, and William Calleja (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin – TM), 15th and third in heat B-E.

MINI Gr.3 U10: Monologue by Oleksandr Legenkyi

• Oleksandr Legenkyi (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME) proves to be impeccable in race management and wins both his three heats and Prefinal A. The driver of Team Driver Racing Kart thus climbs to the top of the general classification and prepares to leave from pole in tomorrow's final.


• Albert Tamm (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME) also demonstrates his competitiveness. Strengthened by one victory and three second places between the heats and Prefinal B, the bearer of the Babyrace Driver Academy hoists himself into second place overall and tomorrow he will join Legenkyi in the front row of the final.


• The third overall position is the prerogative of an excellent Leonardo Gorski (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME). Just like his teammate, the young Pole collects one victory and three second places between the heats and Prefinal A.


• Equally remarkable are the performances of Antoni Ociepa (Gold Kart Racing Team – Righetti Ridolfi – IAME), fourth in the general classification after taking two third places in the heats and the victory in Prefinal B, Maximus Unt (Ward Racing – Tony Kart – TM), seventh and always in the top five between heats and Prefinal B, and Lorenzo Leopardi (LGK Racing Kart – Birel ART – TM), tenth and third in his first heat.


• The poleman on Friday Antoine Sylva Venant (Kidix Driver Performance – KR – IAME) loses positions compared to qualifying, but still confirms his presence in the absolute top ten, fifth after winning his first heat and closing Prefinal B in third place , Maxim Bobreshov (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), sixth after gaining second place in heat B-D and third in Prefinal A, Henri Kumpen (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), eighth with two placements in the top three in heat, and Wiktor Stalmach (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME), ninth and third in heat B-C.


• They lose ground compared to qualifying despite also giving encouraging signs Alessandro Truchot (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin – TM), 12th overall and third in heat A-D, Niccoló Perico (Energy Corse – Energy Corse – TM), 13th, and Achille Rea (CRG Racing Team – CRG – TM), 14th.


• The fresh vice-champion of the Winter Cup David Moscardi (AV Racing – Parolin – TM), 11th, and Branislav Rentka (EL.ZET – EKS – TM), 15th, make their way into the absolute top 15 thanks to convincing performances.

X30S: Hat-trick for a relentless Brando Pozzi

• Brando Pozzi (M2 Racing – Tony Kart) expresses a special feeling with the Lonato circuit. The M2 Racing team rider starts third in each of his heats and wins them all in great style, thus taking the reins of the general classification. The young Italian will therefore appear undefeated for tomorrow, in which he will start from pole in Prefinal A.
  


• Elie Goldstein (TBKART Racing Team – TBKART) is also the author of extraordinary comebacks, recovering 12 positions compared to qualifying to climb into second place overall. Strengthened by one victory and two third places, the TBKART Racing Team rider will start from pole in Prefinal B.
  


• Pacome Weisenburger (Nicolas Martins – Redpseed) is confirmed as the protagonist, third overall. Friday's poleman demonstrates his maturity in collecting two second places and a third, which will allow him to join Pozzi in the front row of Prefinal A.
  


• David Locatelli (Zanchi Motorsport – Kosmic) also reaffirms his role at the top of the standings, earning fourth place overall. Thanks to a victory, a third place and a sixth, the Zanchi Motorsport team driver will start next to Goldstein in the front row of Prefinal B.
  


• Even Andrea Giudice (Marra61 Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart) wins one heat, rising to fifth position in the general classification and showing excellent potential.
  


• The extraordinary pink quota Erika Lavazza (Virus Racing – Tony Kart) returns to the top of the standings thanks to convincing performances, sixth overall thanks to a third place and two fourths, Federico Rossi (PRK – Tony Kart), seventh and second in his first heats, and Matteo Giaccardi (Thomas Giaccardi – LN Kart), eighth.
  


• They complete the absolute top ten and are both authors of a remarkable comeback compared to qualifying by Federico Albanese (Modena Kart – Parolin) and Maximilian Schleimer (CVPG – KR), third in his first heat.
  


• On the other hand, they lose positions compared to qualifying despite encouraging signals from Cristian Comanducci (PRK – Tony Kart), 12th overall and with two second-place results, but forced to retire in his first heat following a chain break, Petra Babickova (TEPZ Racing Team – Tony Kart), 18th and delayed both by a penalty in his first heat and by other subsequent hitches, Riccardo Cirelli (Nicolas Martins – Redspeed), 19th and second in his last heat, but forced to forfeit in heat A-C, and Emmanouil Lioudakis (TBKART Racing Team – TBKART), 26th.
  


• The performances of Luca Griggs (Falcon Racing Team – Falcon) are also worth mentioning, despite the fact that he finds himself only 22nd in the general standings. The Falcon Racing Team rider inexplicably returns to the pits on the last lap of heat A-D while he is contending for victory with Pozzi. Having been the only rider able to attack the dominator of the heats, Griggs is a candidate for the role of main actor for tomorrow's day.

X30J: An excellent Riccardo Ferrari dominates (Sub Judice Standings)

• Whether there is a great advantage to manage or to face a heated tussle, Riccardo Ferrari (Zanchi Motorsport – Tony Kart) proves to be ready and shrewd. The Zanchi Motorsport team driver scores the hat-trick, winning all the heats of the X30 Junior and thus taking the lead in the general classification. Although the classification remains sub judice due to the appeal presented to the marshals at the end of qualifying following the disqualification of poleman Alberto Fulgori Jr. (Alberto Fulgori – Kosmic), Ferrari will certainly start from pole in tomorrow's prefinal, the day in which as an undisputed favourite.
  


• An excellent Tiziano Kuzhnini (Team Driver Racing Kart – Tony Kart) will be alongside the dominator of the heats in the front row of the prefinal, who reaffirms his leading role and earns second place overall. With two second places and a third, the Team Driver Racing Kart driver is the only driver capable of attacking Ferrari during the heats and will relaunch the challenge for tomorrow.
  


• Maintains his third overall position Sacha van't Pad Bosch (Nicolas Martins – Redspeed), who shows his competitiveness with a second place and two thirds.
  


• Rocco Coronel (Nicolas Martins – Redspeed) also confirmed at the top of the standings thanks to convincing performances, fourth overall despite being delayed by two five-second penalties due to the nose in an incorrect position, Christian Romeo (Giovanni Romeo – Tony Kart), fifth, Fabio Reale (LA Motorsport – Falcon), sixth, and Lorenzo Ingles Gomes Campos (Team Driver Racing Kart – Tony Kart), seventh.
  


• Clovis Nougueyrede (Nicolas Martins – Redspeed), Hugo Martiniello (Stephen Nuvolini – KR) and Paolo Tizzano (DK Racing – IPK) complete the top ten and are authors of remarkable comebacks compared to qualifying.
  


• On the other hand, they lose positions with respect to qualifying due to some hitches despite still giving encouraging signs Angelo D'Ortensio (Carlo D'Ortensio – IPK), 11th, Oscar Repetto (DR – DR), 12th, and Friday's poleman Alberto Fulgori Jr. (Alberto Fulgori – Kosmic), 13th.

©Photo: Sportinphoto