[Translated with ChatGPT]

Almost three months after the conclusion of the European Championship, the gearbox kart categories return to the track at the Franciacorta Karting Track in Castrezzato (Italy) for the most important event of the season: the FIA Karting World Championship (for KZ), the FIA Karting World Cup (for KZ2) and the FIA Karting International Masters Super Cup (for KZ2 Masters). There are 53 title contenders in the premier KZ class, 125 in KZ2 and 71 in KZ2 Masters.

On Friday, the usual qualifying sessions took place, followed by the first heat races, which will conclude on Saturday afternoon.

KZ: David Trefilov immediately takes the lead

Tyres: LeCont

• David Trefilov (Formula K SRP Factory Team – IPK – TM Kart) took pole position with a time of 44.847 seconds, set in the second group. The German driver thus establishes himself as one of the main contenders for the weekend.
• In second place, but with the fastest lap in the first group (44.914 seconds), is Riccardo Longhi (Birel ART Racing – Birel Art – TM Kart), fresh off his recent triumph in KZ2 in the Italian ACI Karting Championship.
• Alessio Lorandi (Sodikart – Sodi – TM Kart) secured third place. The Italian driver, who returned to karting this year after a four-year absence, has only competed in two races in 2025 but immediately demonstrated strong pace and speed.
• Matteo Spirgel (Sodikart – Sodi – TM Kart) finished fourth, ahead of Kimi Tani (LA Motorsport – Parolin – TM Kart), fifth, after taking second place in KZ2 at Round 2 of the Champions of the Future Shifters, held just last week.
• Sixth place went to Giuseppe Palomba (Maranello Kart – Maranello – TM Kart), the reigning KZ world champion.
• In seventh was Senna Van Walstijn (Sodikart – Sodi – TM Kart), followed by Paolo Ippolito (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME), 2023 world champion, in eighth. Completing the top ten were Danilo Albanese (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME) and Lorenzo Travisanutto (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin – TM Kart).
• Further back, but ready to recover in the heats, are other major international karting figures: Viktor Gustafsson (CRG – TM Kart), 2022 world champion; Pedro Hiltbrand (Birel ART Racing – Birel Art – TM Kart); Daniel Vasile (CL Racing Team – Birel Art – TM Kart); Cristian Bertuca (Birel ART Racing – Birel Art – TM Kart), 2024 FIA Karting World Cup champion; Tom Leuillet (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex); and Marijn Kremers (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex), 2019 world champion.

Results

KZ2: Maksim Orlov opens the show with pole position

Tyres: LeCont

• Maksim Orlov (CPB Sport – Sodi – TM Kart) claimed pole position in KZ2 with a time of 44.860 seconds, set in the first qualifying group.
• The second-best time went to Maximilian Schleimer (CPB Sport – Sodi – TM Kart), who clocked 44.946 seconds in the third group. Timo Jüngling (CPB Sport – Sodi – TM Kart) completed the qualifying podium with 45.004 seconds in the second group, sealing an impressive 1-2-3 for the French CPB Sport team.
• In fourth place was Noah Wolfe (VAR by Birel – Birel Art – TM Kart), stopping the clock at 45.038 seconds in the fourth group. Matheus Morgatto (CL Racing Team – Birel Art – TM Kart) took fifth with a time of 45.121 seconds, followed by Arthur Lehouck (Doerr Motorsport – KR – IAME) in sixth with 45.110 seconds.
• Seventh position went to Marek Skřivan (IPK Factory Team – IPK – TM Kart), ahead of Jayden Thien (CPB Sport – Sodi – TM Kart) in eighth. Completing the top ten were Dion Van Werven (CPB Sport – Sodi – TM Kart) and Jay Urwin (Birel ART Racing – Birel Art – TM Kart), ninth and tenth respectively.
• Among the notable drivers are Anatoly Khavalkin (Modena Kart – Parolin – TM Kart), 11th; Genis Civico Espona (CL Racing Team – Birel Art – TM Kart), 12th; Robert Kindervater (Formula K SRP Factory Team – IPK – TM Kart), 13th; and Elie Goldstein (TBKart Racing Team – TB Kart – TM Kart), 14th.
• Further back were Markus Kajak (Formula K SRP Factory Team – IPK – TM Kart), 31st, and Paavo Tonteri (CRG – CRG – TM Kart), 69th.

Results

KZ2 Masters: Davide Forè prevails ahead of everyone

Tyres: Le Cont

• Davide Forè (IPK Factory Team – IPK – TM Kart) took pole position with a time of 45.545 seconds, set in the first qualifying group. The Italian driver thus opens the FIA Karting International Masters Super Cup weekend as the absolute protagonist.
• Riccardo Nalon (Erre Esse Motorsport – Parolin – TM Kart) secured second place with a time of 45.707 seconds, recorded in the second group, followed very closely by Angelo Lombardo (Maranello Kart – Maranello – TM Kart) in third.
• Among the frontrunners are also Andrea Spagni (KCS – Birel Art – TM Kart) in fourth position, Luciano Medeghini (Magik Racing Team – Magik – TM Kart) in fifth, and Kristijan Habulin (TBKart Racing Team – TB Kart – TM Kart) in sixth.
• Daniel Bray (Modena Kart – Parolin – TM Kart) finished seventh, while Manuel Cozzaglio (Birel ART Racing – Birel Art – TM Kart), Julien Guéant (CRG – CRG – TM Kart), and Alessio La Martina (KR Motorsport – KR – TM Kart) completed the top ten.

Results

©Photo: Sportinphoto