Next weekend, the new season of the German Kart Championship is going to start on the South Garda Circuit in Lonato (Italy). The four grade series are heavily filled up with 180 participants and make for a record. The races are going to be accompanied again by an extensive live-stream and a DKM magazine on MOTORVISION TV.

Immediately after the start of registrations for the four grade series German Kart Championship (DKM), German Junior Kart Championship (DJKM), German Shifterkart Championship (DSKM) and the DMSB Shifterkart Cup (DSKC) the fields of participants filled up rapidly and now 180 drivers from more than 25 nations are going to start at the kick-off in Italy.

It is going to be the second time on the 1.200m long South Garda Circuit for the DKM. Last year the season ended there and the premiere was a great success. All in all, the racing calendar consists of five events spread over Germany, Italy and Belgium. After the season kick-off in Lonato, the next stops are Wackersdorf, Ampfing and Kerpen. The season finale is going to take place at the end of August (25th-26th) in Belgian Genk.

All four classes are manned with top-class drivers. At the DKM the reigning Vize Junior Kart European Champion Harry Thompson (Ricky Flynn Motorsport) as well as the German Junior Champion Kas Haverkoort (Zanardi Racing Team) are going to start. Dane Nicklas Nielsen (KSM Schumacher Racing Team) starts into the fight for the title as well. At the DJKM with the youngest drivers, the cards are going to be dealt anew. Last year’s winners have risen and made way for new talents. During the season preparation Simon-Connor Primm (Team NKS) and Jonas Ried (Solgat Motorsport) were able to make themselves known with victories at the ADAC Kart Masters.

The shifterkarts belong to the highlights of this year’s season again. The two Pex-brothers Jorrit and Stan are going to start again. The duo (CRG Holland-Team) are among the big favorites. Jorrit Pex won his sixth DSKM title in 2017. The 2015 Champion Alexander Schmitz delivered an impressive performance during the winter months and could achieve a German success in the top class once again. The program is going to be completed by the DMSB Shifterkart Cup. Due to the fact that the first five drivers of last year are not allowed to start again, there is definitely going to be a new winner this year. 33 drivers make for a completely booked field of participants in its third year as well.

DKM live show on Friday evening

At 7pm on Friday evening, hosts Jenny Wade and Rene Köhler are going to give a preview of the new season. Various interlocutors are going to be available. Series coordinator Stefan Wagner and press officer Björn Niemann are going to give a preview of the upcoming races, various team leaders are going to talk about their expectations for the 2018 season and the new Light-Marschall-system is going to be introduced.

The German Kart Championship is going to be accompanied by television partner MOTORVISION TV in 2018 again. The automobile-, engine- and motorsports-channel has been covering the DKM since 2016 and is going to report on the events of the highest and strongest kart racing series in Germany in the new year as well. The kart racing fans can also look forward to an extensive live stream. The broadcast is going to start on Saturday at 10:50am with qualifying. On Sunday, it is already going to start at 9:30am with the first final race of the juniors.

Sebastian Vettel continues as patron

Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel has been patron of the German Kart Championship for several years now. At the beginning of his career, Vettel was successful at the grade series of the DKM himself and speaks about the development of the DKM in an exclusive interview. This can be viewed several times within the framework of the DKM live broadcast throughout the course of the weekend.

Eight final races and lots of action
After the free trainings on Friday, the kick-off to the racing events is going to be on Saturday. The drivers are going to fight for their starting positions for the heats during qualifying. All classes drive three heats. The best 34 respective drivers directly qualify for the final races. These take place on Sunday from 9:40am with the juniors.

All information regarding the kick-off, links to live-timing and live-stream as well as the up-to-date timetable and lists of participants can be found on www.kart-dm.de.