WSK Final Cup rd 1, Lonato: heats and prefinals – The leaders are Bertuca (KZ2), Coluccio (OK), Van Langendonck (OKJ), Esteves (MINI Gr.3), Perico (MINI Gr.3 U10), Rossi (X30S) and Saareks (X30J)

[translated with Google]

The activity on the track continues for the first round of the WSK Final Cup, now in its twelfth edition on the South Garda Karting circuit in Lonato. After the first day on Friday, in which the qualifications and the first preliminary heats took place, on Saturday all the remaining heats were held for the seven categories present in the first of the two rounds of the championship: KZ2, OK, OKJ, MINI Gr.3, MINI Gr.3 U10, X30S and X30J. The two classes of the IAME X30 brand have also completed the pre-finals (scheduled for Sunday morning for the other categories) and the starting grids for their finals on Sunday have therefore been decided.

KZ2: A relentless Cristian Bertuca is back in the lead

Tyres: LeCont

Cristian Bertuca (Birel ART Racing – Birel ART – TM Kart) puts on a great show in the heats and gains seven positions compared to qualifying to take the reins of the general classification. The reigning champion of the WSK Super Master Series and winner of the WSK Champions Cup at the beginning of the season took just one lap to take the lead in the first heat, while he took three in the second heat and in both cases maintained the lead until the flag chess. The reigning Italian vice-champion will therefore appear as the favorite tomorrow, a day on which he will start from pole in Prefinal A.
The path of Matteo Zanchi (Zanchi Motorsport – CRG – TM Kart) is equally remarkable, considering that he also recovers seven positions compared to qualifying to climb into second place overall. Strengthened by a fourth place and a second, the owner of the Zanchi Motorsport team will start from pole in tomorrow's Prefinal B.
However, Alex Maragliano (Renda Motorsport – Sodikart – TM Kart) maintains his third position in the general classification and confirms his competitiveness. The driver of the Renda Motorsport team expresses his consistency with two third places and tomorrow he will join Bertuca in the front row of Prefinal A.
Markus Kajak (KH Racing Team – Birel ART – Modena Engines) also reiterates his leading role, rising to fourth place overall. Thanks to a fourth place and a third, the young Estonian will find himself next to Zanchi in the front row of Prefinal B.
Even Daniel Stell (Dorr Motorsport – KR – IAME) returns to the top of the standings, fifth overall and second in his first heat, but penalized from third place to ninth in heat A-C by a five-second penalty due to the nose cone being in the incorrect position. and Menyhert Krozser (TB Racing Team – KR – IAME), seventh.
The authors of notable comebacks compared to qualifying were Ken Oscar Algre (Maranello SRP Factory Team – Maranello – TM Kart), sixth overall, the reigning Italian champion Maksim Orlov (Modena Kart – Parolin – TM Kart), ninth despite being slowed down by a daring start in heat A-C, Maximilian Paul (DR – DR – Modena Engines), tenth, Marek Skrivan (Sumako IPK Racing – IPK – TM Kart), 11th despite him also being slowed down by the agitated start of heat A-C, Vladimir Verkholantsev ( Sumako IPK Racing – IPK – TM Kart), 12th, and Lenny Ried (Lanari Racing Team – KR – TM Kart).
However, Friday's poleman Artem Severiukhin (Racing Line – Birel ART – TM Kart) lost positions compared to qualifying despite showing excellent potential, eighth overall and demoted from sixth place to 11th in heat A-C by a five-second penalty due nose in incorrect position, the winner of heat A-C David Trefilov (Maranello SRP Factory Team – Maranello – TM Kart), 14th in the general classification and forced to retire in heat A-B, Sandro Holzem (CPB Sport – Sodikart – TM Kart), 15th overall and demoted from 11th place to 17th in heat B-C by a five-second penalty due to the nose cone being in the wrong position, the reigning OK European vice-champion Gabriel Gomez (CRG Racing Team – CRG – TM Kart), 23rd, and Dominik Reuters (Dorr Motorsport – KR – IAME), 31st overall after missing his first heat.
Tom Leuillet (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex) also slips back in the ranking, 18th overall. Stopped by a technical problem in his first heat while occupying third place, last year's European KZ2 champion crossed the finish line of heat A-B in second position, expressing an exceptional pace in the second part of the race and thus applying for the role of main actor for tomorrow.
However, Alessandro Minetto (CRG Racing Team – CRG – TM Kart), stopped by pain in his ribs, and Egor Nosov (Sumako IPK Racing – IPK – TM Kart), who suffers pain in his hand following a accident occurred in heat A-C. Best wishes for a speedy recovery from TKART.

Results

OK: Luigi Coluccio takes the reins

Tyres: LeCont

Luigi Coluccio (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex) uses all his experience to climb to the top of the general classification. After winning his first heat in style complete with a fastest lap, the 2021 world vice champion seems less explosive in his second heat, but still manages to climb into third position and set the fastest lap again. The Italian's overtaking of Dmitry Matveev (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME) on the penultimate lap of the last race of the day is crucial and it is precisely thanks to this maneuver that tomorrow the Tony Kart Racing Team driver will start from pole in the Prefinal A.
After dominating his first heat, Dmitry Matveev slipped to fifth place in his second heat and thus found himself second overall. The poleman from Friday still retains first place on the grid because tomorrow he will start from pole in Prefinal B.
Sebastiano Pavan (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex) proves to be mature, collecting two second places to secure third place overall. The young Italian scores the same number of points as Matveev, but remains behind him because yesterday he obtained a worse result than his opponent in qualifying and will therefore join his teammate at the start of Prefinal A, completing a Tony Kart front row .
The perseverance of Ean Eyckmans (Leclerc by Lennox Racing Team – Birel ART – TM Kart) was also rewarded, as he made up ground in both his heats to obtain a second place and a third. The representative of the Leclerc by Lennox Racing Team thus climbs to fourth position in the general classification and tomorrow he will start next to Matveev in the front row of Prefinal B.
Salim Hanna Hernandez (Prema Racing – KR – IAME) is also constant, continuing to perform admirably in his first experiences in OK. The Prema Racing team driver recovered three positions in both of his heats to finish them in fourth place and thus earn fifth place overall.
Gustaw Wisniewski (Koski Motorsport – Tony Kart – IAME) puts a cherry on the cake to his day, however, who wins the last race of the day thanks to a comeback of four positions and an excellent pace. After being forced to recover from the back of the grid to 14th place in his first heat following an accident on the first lap, the representative of the Koski Motorsport team is a candidate for the role of great protagonist for tomorrow.
Oleksandr Bondarev (Prema Racing – KR – IAME) also remains among the main players, seventh overall. After taking third place in his first heat, the reigning European OKJ champion finished a more exciting second heat in eighth place and continued to show his abilities in his absolute debut in the premier class of single-speed karting.
Closing the top ten thanks to convincing performances are Simone Bianco (CRG Racing Team – CRG – IAME), eighth in the general classification, Gerasim Skulanov (DPK Racing – KR – IAME), ninth in his first appearance in OK despite a five-second penalty due to the nose cone incorrect position causes him to drop from seventh place to tenth in his last heat, and the reigning world champion and fresh winner of the WSK Euro Series Kirill Kutskov (DPK Racing – KR – IAME), tenth.
However, Jiri Becicka (Sumako IPK Racing – IPK – TM Kart), 15th overall, lost positions compared to the qualification due to some problems, while the reigning vice-champion of the WSK Euro Series in the OKJ category Taym Saleh (Sauber Academy – KR – IAME ), 17th, the reigning OKJ European vice-champion Thibaut Ramaekers (VDK Racing – KR – IAME), 23rd after being forced to retire in his first heat due to a technical problem and having secured sixth place in his second heat , and the winner of the early season WSK Champions Cup David Walther (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex), 28th after retiring from his first heat following an accident at the start and finishing his second heat in seventh square.
Giving encouraging signals and completing the top 15 are Jakub Kamenik (DCR Motorsport – Tony Kart – TM Kart), 11th in the general classification, Dante Vinci (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME), 12th, last year's European OKJ champion as well as fresh vice-champion of the WSK Euro Series Anatoly Khavalkin (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin – TM Kart), 13th, and Enea Frey (VDK Racing – KR – IAME), 14th.

Results

OKJ: Dries Van Langendonck makes himself heard

Tyres: Vega

Dries Van Langendonck (Forza Racing – Exprit – TM Kart) demonstrates once again why he managed to become world champion just over a month ago. The representative of the Forza Racing team achieved sensational comebacks in all his heats and managed to climb to the top of the general classification thanks to three victories, a third place and a fourth. The young Belgian will therefore start from pole in tomorrow's Prefinal A.
The path of Sebastian Lehtimaki (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex) is equally remarkable, as he takes four victories to climb to second place overall. The Finnish driver only suffered a complicated heat, in which he was demoted from fifth position to 14th by a three-second penalty due to an incorrect manoeuvre, but he still expressed an excellent feeling with his package in his first appearance with the colors of the Tony Kart Racing Team and tomorrow he will start from pole in Prefinal B.
The consistency of Jack Iliffe (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin – TM) is exemplary, finishing all his heats in the top three and finding himself third overall. Strengthened by a victory, the young American will join Van Langendonck in the front row of Prefinal A.
Excellent performances also from Iacopo Martinese (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME), who collected two victories and two other top three placings to secure fourth position in the general classification. Despite being demoted from third place to fifth in heat C-E by a five-second penalty due to incorrect maneuvering, the fresh champion of the WSK Euro Series will start next to Lehtimaki in the front row of Prefinal B.
Christian Costoya (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin – TM) showcases his maturity, finishing all his heats in the top five and boasting four second places. The reigning vice world champion took fifth place overall.
Also still showing great potential are Roman Kamyab (Ricky Flynn Motorsport – LN Kart – TM Kart), sixth overall and winner of heat A-D, and Elliot Kaczynski (Ward Racing – Tony Kart – Vortex), ninth and author of three top three placings .
They lose ground compared to qualifying, but Niklas Schaufler (DPK Racing – KR – IAME) remains among the protagonists, seventh in the general classification and winner of two heats, but demoted from seventh place to 13th in heat C-E by a five-second penalty due to nose in incorrect position, the winner of heat C-E David Cosma-Cristofor (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME), eighth overall and second in heat D-E, Arjen Kräling (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME), 12th overall and second in heat A-E, but relegated from second place to seventh in heat A-D by a five-second penalty due to incorrect maneuvering, Friday's poleman Ludovico Busso (Ward Racing – Tony Kart – Vortex), 14th, and the winner of the WSK Champions Cup at the start season as well as heat E-F Lewis Wherrell (Forza Racing – Exprit – TM Kart), 15th in the general classification and forced to withdraw from heat C-F following an accident at the start.
The reigning Italian vice-champion Xiaoyu Sun (Ward Racing – Tony Kart – Vortex), 22nd overall, and Kit Belofsky (Sodikart – Sodikart – TM Kart), 49th, also encountered various obstacles.
On the other hand, the reigning vice-champion of the WSK Super Master Series Filippo Sala (Ricky Flynn Motorsport – LN Kart – TM Kart) and the vice-champion of the WSK Open Series in the ), tenth and 11th in the general classification respectively. Both young drivers achieved two top three finishes.
They boast at least one top three placement, but are slowed down by some setbacks Freddie Lloyd (Ricky Flynn Motorsport – LN Kart – TM Kart), 13th overall, Lorenzo Campos (AKM Motorsport – KR – IAME), 16th, Matt Corbi (VDK Racing – KR – IAME), 17th and able to recover 32 positions compared to qualifying, and Firhand Qarrar (KR Motorsport – KR – IAME), 20th.
After completing only two laps in qualifying due to a smudge that forced him to end the session prematurely, Scott Kin Lindblom (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex) showcased a series of extraordinary comebacks, which also saw him obtain two third places. Despite the Tony Kart Racing Team representative retiring from two heats, he moved up to 35th place overall and gained 34 positions compared to qualifying.

Results

MINI Gr.3: Riven Esteves holds onto the lead

Tyres: Vega

If yesterday he had offered a taste of his potential, today Riven Esteves (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME) decidedly stepped it up a notch. After winning his first two heats, Friday's poleman seems to struggle a little more in his last heat, but fourth place is enough to keep the reins in the general classification. The Team Driver Racing Kart driver will therefore start from pole in tomorrow's Prefinal A.
Cristian Blandino (CRG Racing Team – CRG – TM Kart) also maintains the same position compared to qualifying, second overall. After finishing an exciting first heat in eighth place, the CRG Racing Team driver recovered in style, dominating his other two heats. The young Italian is the only driver other than Esteves capable of achieving two successes and thus gets the start from pole for tomorrow's Prefinal B.
Daniil Kutskov (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME) competes for the victory in all his heats, capable of taking two second places and a seventh. The reigning vice-champion of the WSK Super Master Series in the MINI Gr.3 U10 category thus climbs to third place overall and tomorrow he will join Esteves in the front row of Prefinal A.
After being demoted from second place to sixth in his first heat by a five-second penalty due to incorrect maneuvering, Kacper Rajpold (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME) maintains his cool and secures fourth position in the overall standings. Strengthened by a second place and a fourth, the Babyrace Driver Academy standard bearer will start next to Blandino in the front row of Prefinal B.
The debut in MINI Gr.3 of Oleksandr Legenkyi (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME) continues on a positive note, fifth overall. With a fourth place and two thirds, the reigning champion of the WSK Champions Cup and the WSK Super Master Series in the MINI Gr.3 U10 category expresses his consistency.
Remarkable performances also by Devin Walz (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), sixth in the general classification and second in heat C-D, and his teammate Mariano Lopez (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), seventh overall and winner of heat C-D, but relegated from fifth place to 13th in heat B-C by a five-second penalty due to the nose cone being in the wrong position.
The winner of the A-D heat Pietro Bagutti (Gamoto – EKS – TM Kart), eighth in the general classification, Mark Pilipenko (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), ninth, Ilie, recover several positions compared to the qualification and boast at least one top three placement. Tristan Crisan (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex), tenth, and William Calleja (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), 11th.
They achieve excellent results, but are slowed down by some setbacks Gioele Girardello (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin – TM Kart), 12th overall and third in heat C-D, the Italian champion and champion of the WSK Open Series in the MINI Gr.3 U10 category Leonardo Gorski ( Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex), 13th, Ludovico Mazzola (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex), 15th overall and third in heat B-C, and Albert Tamm (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), 16th in the general classification and third in heat B-D.
It is an even more complicated path for two other Friday protagonists such as Oliver Sini (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex), 34th overall and who retired from his last heat, and Michele Orlando (DR – DR – TM Kart), 53 ° after retiring from all his heats.
Encouraging signs, however, from Andrea Manni (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), who recovers six positions compared to qualifying to climb to 14th place in the general classification.

Results

MINI Gr.3 U10: Two victories for a faultless Niccoló Perico

Tyres: Vega

Niccoló Perico (Energy Corse – Energy Corse – TM Kart) is increasingly a constant protagonist in the category, showing all his qualities on the Lonato circuit to take the lead in the general classification. With disarming coolness, the Energy team representative wins two of his three heats and finishes second in the other. The young Italian is the only driver capable of achieving two successes and thus earns the start from pole for tomorrow's Prefinal A.
He loses one position compared to qualifying, but remains one of the main candidates for the final victory with second overall place being Daniel Mirón Lorente (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME). Strengthened by a success, a second place and a third, Friday's poleman is the only driver capable of beating Perico in the heats and awaits the challenge with his Italian rival tomorrow, a day in which the fresh champion of the WSK Euro Series will start from pole in Prefinal B.
Making his absolute debut in a WSK competition, Blazej Kostrzewa (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME) continues to amaze. The new driver of the Babyrace Driver Academy collects a second place and a fourth and then puts the icing on the cake to his day with the victory in his last heat. The young Pole thus climbs to third place overall and tomorrow he will join Perico in the front row of Prefinal B.
Jason Kosmopoulos (Cosmorally Kart Academy – Energy Corse – TM Kart) is also a candidate for the role of main actor, winning his first heat to collect two third places in his other two heats. The Greek driver thus secures fourth place overall and will start next to Mirón Lorente in the front row of Prefinal B tomorrow.
After being demoted from third to eighth in his first heat due to an early start, Mark Loomets (Energy Corse – Energy Corse – TM Kart) recovered admirably with a victory and another third place. The representative of the Energy Corse team thus finds himself in fifth place in the general classification, ready to compete for the final success tomorrow.
Excellent performances also by Henri Kumpen (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), sixth overall and second in heat B-D, and Jean Poujol (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), seventh and able to recover four positions compared to qualifying.
Even Lucas Bonhomme (Moni Nicolas – Exprit – Vortex) made a great comeback compared to qualifying, ninth overall and third in heat C-D but relegated from ninth place to 14th in heat A-C due to a five-second penalty due to the nose cone being in the incorrect position. and Mason Brooks (Fusion Motorsport – KR – IAME), tenth and able to gain at least ten positions in each of his heats.
Equally noteworthy are the comebacks of Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), 13th in the general classification despite a retirement and thanks to two second places, Alessandro Nanni (Gamoto – EKS – TM Kart), 14th, and Sebastian Riedel (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME), 15th.
However, Lorenzo Leopardi (LGK Racing Kart – Birel ART – TM Kart), eighth overall, Daniel Pasquali (King Racing Team – KR – IAME), 11th, and Ksawery Dudkowski (KidiX) lost ground compared to qualifying due to some penalties. Driver Performance – KR – IAME), 12th overall and third in heat B-D, but relegated from second place to 11th in heat A-D by a five-second penalty due to overtaking under the yellow flag regime.
Also slipping back in the general classification are Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), 13th overall and capable of obtaining two second places, but forced to retire in his second heat, and Gabriele Iacomelli (Drago Corse Racing Team – EKS – TM Kart), 24th.

Results

X30S: Federico Rossi rimane at the front

Engine: IAME X30 / Tyres: MG Tires

Determined to consolidate his leadership, Federico Rossi (PRK – Tony Kart) wins two heats and also prevails in the pre-final. The vice-champion of the WSK Champions Cup at the beginning of the season was only beaten in the second heat, which ended in second place, and thus earned the start from pole for tomorrow's final.
His biggest opponent of the day will be right next to Rossi in the front row of the final: Federico Albanese (Italcorse Racing Team – Italcorse). After losing a breathtaking duel in the first race of the weekend, the Italian OK-N champion prevailed in the second heat, but was then forced to retire in the third due to a broken chain, which occurred while he was in the lead. The Italcorse Racing Team rider remains confident and relaunches the challenge to Rossi in the pre-final, crossing the finish line in second place just 73 thousandths behind his rival and maintaining the same position in the general classification.
Despite being relegated from seventh to tenth place in the pre-final due to a five-second penalty due to the nose being in the incorrect position, Emmanouil Lioudakis (Martins Nicolas – KR) retains his third place overall and is a candidate for the role of absolute protagonist for tomorrow after finishing all of his heats in the top three.
Giulio Olivieri (Zanchi Motorsport – Tony Kart), fourth overall and third in the third heat, and Louka Desgranges (Helias Jonathan – Tony Kart), fifth in the general classification and able to compete for the lead in the first, make up ground compared to qualifying thanks to excellent performances. part of the prefinal, and Leon Hedfors (DR – DR).
However, some positions were lost compared to qualifying due to some problems: Francisco Paredes (MLG Racing – Parolin), seventh overall and thanks to third place in the pre-final, Carl Gustav Luthradt (Kartshop Ampfing – Drago Corse), eighth, and Theodore Eklund (AD Motorsport – Energy Corse), tenth.

Results

X30J: A stoic Fred Saareks is still in the lead

Engine: IAME X30 / Tyres: MG Tires

After dominating the first two heats, Fred Saareks (AD Motorsport – Energy Corse) had to give in to the fury of Bogdan Cosma-Cristofor (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR) in the third heat. However, Friday's poleman remains focused and delivers a monologue in the pre-final to maintain the reins of the general classification. The AD Motorsport team driver will therefore start from pole in tomorrow's final.
Joining Saareks in the front row of the final will be the only driver who was able to beat him: Bogdan Cosma-Cristofor. The reigning champion of the WSK Euro Series and the WSK Open Series in the MINI Gr.3 category finishes all his races in the top five, and thanks to the victory in the third heat, he climbs to second place overall.
Luka Malbasa (Team Driver Racing Kart – Tony Kart) also made up ground compared to qualifying, third overall. Although he was demoted from sixth to seventh place in the second heat by a three-second penalty due to incorrect maneuvering, the Team Driver Racing Kart driver showed excellent potential with second place in both the first heat and the prefinal.
The driver of the Alpine Rac(H)er program Angelina Proenca (Jana Racing – Exprit), fourth overall and twice third in the heats, Jonathan Landstrom (AD Motorsport – Energy Corse), fifth overall and third in the prefinal, and Konstantin Titze (Dorr Motorsport – KR), seventh.
Lyuboslav Ruykov (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR) moved up to sixth place in the general classification, boasting two top three placings in the heats, but lost ground in his first race and in the pre-final due to some penalties.
Nicolas Cortes (LA Motorsport – Falcon), tenth overall, and Leonardo Dondi (Dondi Riccardo – Tony Kart), 13th, also encountered various obstacles and slipped back from qualifying.

Results