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On-track activity continues for the first round of the WSK Open Cup on the South Garda Karting circuit in Lonato. After the first day of Friday, in which the qualifying sessions and the first qualifying heats took place, on Saturday all the remaining heats for the four categories competing in the race were held: KZ2, OK, OKJ and MINI. The starting grids for Sunday's pre-finals were therefore decided, and rain is expected to come. This could shuffle all the cards.

KZ2: Giuseppe Palomba remains in the lead, but it's a tight battle

• Consistency pays off and Giuseppe Palomba (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing) knows it well. Thanks to a victory, a second place and a third, the poleman on Friday maintains the leadership in the standings and consequently wins the start from the first place on the grid for the pre-final.


• Senna Van Walstijn (CPB Sport - Sodikart - TM Racing) and Stan Pex (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) obtained the same exact results and consequently the same number of penalties (5), respectively second and third in the general classification. In a situation of equal merit, the order is defined based on the results of the qualifying and for this reason the three drivers find themselves like this, but all three have signed a fast lap each during the heats and it will therefore be interesting to see the comparison. tomorrow, even if the rain could upset everything.


• In fourth place is an excellent Andrea Dalè (Nuova 3M - CRG - TM Racing). The European KZ2 champion in 2014 conquered the top five in the first heat following a comeback of 13 positions, and then finished the other two heats in eighth and fifth place respectively. The comeback of Norton Andreasson (Ward Racing - Tony Kart - Vortex) is also noteworthy, who thanks to two sixth places and an eighth place grabs fifth place in the general classification. The standard bearer of the Ward Racing team thus gains 11 positions compared to qualifying and shows his improvements during these first races in the category with the gearbox.


• If yesterday Nicola Rossini (SGrace - BRM - TM Racing) was surprising, today it was even more so. At his first appearance of the season in the WSK series, the Italian driver proves to be competitive and gets sixth place at the end of the heats, recovering six positions with respect to qualifying.


• After setting the fifth best time in qualifying, Alessandro Buran (Renda Motorsport - Birel ART - TM Racing) ends the first heat in 18th position, thanks to a complicated first lap. However, the standard bearer of the Renda Motorsport team makes up for it with two fourth places in the next two heats and takes seventh place in the overall standings.


• Genis Civico (DPK Racing - KR - IAME), Moritz Ebner (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing) and Laurens Van Hoepen (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing) complete the top ten after a positive day that sees them recover positions with respect to qualifying.


• Seventh in qualifying, Leonardo Marseglia (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) is forced to abandon the first heat prematurely, but in the second he recovers 21 positions to conquer the top ten and gains another two in the last heat to finish seventh. The KR Motorsport driver thus finds himself 12th in the overall standings, just behind Thomas Imbourg (CPB Sport - Sodikart - TM Racing), who climbs up the standings after printing the 19th best time in qualifying.


• Fourth in the first heat following a comeback of six positions, Adrien Renaudin (Sodikart - Sodikart - TM Racing) parades second in the start of the second heat, but touches Palomba as he tries to take the lead and is forced to retire. The standard bearer of the CPB Sort team recovers 18 positions in the last race of the day to close in the top 15 and finish 15th in the general classification, behind Jacob Bergmeister (SRP Racing Team - Maranello - TM Racing) and Daniel Vasile (DR - DR - Modena Engines), who respectively gain nine and three positions compared to qualifying thanks to some good performances.


• David Trefilov (SRP Racing Team - Maranello - TM Racing) retires in the first heat, but recovers 17 positions in the second to win the top 15 and five in the last to finish ninth. The SRP Racing Team driver is thus 16th in the overall standings, just ahead of the KR Motorsport duo made up of Emilien Denner (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) and Danilo Albanese (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME). After finishing the first heat in sixth place, in the second heat Denner exits the scene on the second lap, but in the third race he gains 17 positions to finish 16th. Albanese, on the other hand, was slowed down by a five-second penalty due to the incorrect position of the nose in the first heat and a retirement in the second, while in the third he crossed the finish line in 17th place thanks to a comeback of 13 positions.


• Brando Badoer (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing) closed a good first heat in KZ2 in seventh position, only to be relegated to 13th by a five-second penalty due to the nose being in the wrong position. The Parolin Motorsport driver is then forced to retire in his second race, but in the third he recovers 13 positions and finishes 18th, thus finding himself 21st in the overall standings, just ahead of Viktor Gustavsson (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing ). After having crossed the finish line of the first heat in fifth place, the winner of the WSK Champions Cup he is disqualified because he is underweight to the checks. The standard bearer of the Leclerc by Lennox Racing team is not discouraged and in the second heat he is the author of an impressive comeback, which sees him gain 26 positions to conquer the seventh place, only to be relegated to 16th place by a penalty of five seconds due to nose in incorrect position. Gustavsson recovers eight more positions in the last race of the day and crosses the finish line in eighth place, but is then relegated to 11th by a five-second penalty due to the nose being in the wrong position.Results

OK: Joe Turney takes the reins

• Joseph Turney (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) shows all his experience and competitiveness. Thanks to two wins and a second place in his three heats, the Tony Kart Racing Team bishop takes the lead in the general classification and will then start from pole in Prefinal A.


• Immediately behind Turney is another rider from the OTK group, poleman Luigi Coluccio (Kosmic Racing Department - Kosmic - Vortex). With a victory, a second place and a third, the bishop of the Kosmic Racing Department wins the start from the first place on the grid for Prefinal B.


• He gets a victory, preceding Turney and Coluccio at the finish line, a second place and a third also Artem Severiukhin (Ward Racing - Tony Kart - Vortex), who confirms himself as a protagonist with the third place overall.


• Tuukka Taponen (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), fourth, McLaren driver Ugo Ugochukwu (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), fifth, and Tymoetusz Kucharczyk also reaffirm their presence at the top of the standings after a positive day (Birel ART Racing - RK - TM Racing), sixth.


• Thanks to a fourth and two seventh places, Cristian Bertuca (Birel ART Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing) climbs to seventh place overall, thus recovering nine positions compared to qualifying. Bruno Del Pino (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) recovers five of them, who finds himself eighth.


• Nikola Tsolov (DPK Racing - KR - IAME) retires on the first lap in his first heat, but takes the victory by force in his other two heats, complete with a fastest lap in both. The standard bearer of the DPK Racing team thus earns ninth place in the overall standings and precedes an excellent Matteo De Palo (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), who closes the top ten on his debut in OK.


• The top 15 is completed by Mark Kastelic (Forza Racing - Exprit - TM Racing), another newcomer in the category, Flavio Olivieri (Praga Racing Team - Praga - IAME), Ricardo Gracia (Forza Racing - Exprit - TM Racing), Herolind Nuredini (KSM Official Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) and Zachary David (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), slowed down by a retirement in the last heat.


• After setting the second best time in qualifying, Rintaro Sato (Ricky Flynn Motorsport - Kosmic - Vortex) has a problem in the reconnaissance lap of his first heat and is forced to start last, detached from the group, to then recover up to 12th position . The Ricky Flynn Motorsport driver finishes fifth in his second heat, but retires in the third and thus finds himself 19th in the overall standings.


• Two retirements also for Martinius Stenshorne (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), 28th overall, Pedro Hiltbrand (Leclerc by Lennox Racing - Birel ART - TM Racing), 31st, and Arvid Lindblad (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), 34th.

OKJ: James Egozi holds onto the leadership

• An almost perfect day for Friday's poleman James Egozi (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), who wins his first four heats and finishes third in the last. The bishop of the Tony Kart Racing Team thus remains in command of the general classification and will therefore start from the first box on the grid in Prefinal A.


• The performances of Enzo Deligny (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing), second overall, are impressive. After finishing his first heat in fourth place, the Parolin Motorsport driver takes victory in all his other four heats, recovering four positions in each. The young Frenchman will therefore start from pole in Prefinal B.


• Martin Molnar (Revesz TRT KFT - KR - IAME) continues with excellent performances, conquering two victories and confirming his third place overall.


• Dmitry Matveev (Koski Motorsport - Tony Kart - Vortex) also reaffirms his competitiveness, always among the top four in his five heats and fourth in the general classification. The Koski Motorsport standard bearer precedes Jan Przyrowski (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex), who gains 15 positions compared to qualifying thanks to his remarkable comebacks.


• Akshay Bohra (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME) wins three heats and signs four fastest laps, but two penalties in his other two heats make him lose some ground and thus finds himself sixth overall.


• Douwe Dedecker (SP Motorsport - KR - TM Racing) wins seventh place in the overall standings, gaining six positions compared to qualifying. The winner of the WSK Euro Series Harley Keeble (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) recovers 22 of them compared to the qualification, eighth overall.


• Freddie Slater (Ricky Flynn Motorsport - Kosmic - Vortex) is slowed down by a retirement in his third heat: after slipping fifth at the start and receiving a ten-second penalty for early start, the fresh European champion imposes an impressive pace and in a few laps overtakes all the opponents in front to take the lead, only to be forced to retire with two laps to go. However, thanks to two victories and two second places, the reigning world champion is ninth in the overall standings.


• Enzo Tarnvanichkul (Tony Kart Racing Team - Tony Kart - Vortex) closes the top ten, confirming his ability to adapt to his debut in the category.


• The top 15 is completed by Rashid Al Dhaheri (Ali Al Dhaheri - KR - IAME), Ean Eyckmans (Kosmic Racing Department - Kosmic - Vortex), Anatoly Khavalkin (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing), Maciej Gladysz (Forza Racing - Exprit - TM Racing) and Tiziano Monza (Sauber Orlen Karting Team - KR - IAME), another excellent rookie in the category.


• Day with some hitches for Kean Berta Nakamura (Forza Racing - Exprit - TM Racing), sixth in qualifying and now 20th, Rene Lammers (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing), tenth in qualifying and now 21st, Luka Sammalisto (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), 11th in qualifying and now 22nd, Kai Sorensen (Forza Racing - Exprit - TM Racing), 15th in qualifying and now 23rd, Mercedes driver Alex Powell (KR Motorsport - KR - IAME), 16th in qualifying and now 24th, and Enea Frey (Ricky Flynn Motorsport - Kosmic - Vortex), eighth in qualifying and now 26th.


• In 25th place overall is Tomass Stolcermanis (Energy Corse - Energy Corse - TM Racing), who recovers 23 positions compared to qualifying and even signs the fastest lap in two heats.

MINI: Niklas Schaufler is almost unbeatable

• Second in qualifying, Niklas Schaufler (Emme Racing - EKS - TM Racing) closes his first heat in third place and then collects four consecutive victories in his other four heats. The bishop of the Emme Racing team thus takes the lead in the general classification, winning the start from pole for Prefinal A.


• Christian Costoya (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing) confirms himself fast and intelligent, second overall thanks to three wins and two second places. The WSK Euro Series champion will therefore start from the first box of the grid in Prefinal B.


• Emanuele Olivieri (Formula K Serafini - IPK - TM Racing) boasts four victories, just like Schaufler, and reaffirms his role as absolute protagonist with third place in the overall standings.


• Two victories in assets also for Dries Van Langendonck (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing), who moves to fourth overall position and proves to be extremely competitive.


• Davide Bottaro (AVracing - Parolin -TM Racing) wins his first heat, but then gets a sixth place and three seconds in the remaining heats, thus finding himself fifth in the overall standings.


• David Cristofor Cosma (Gulstar Racing - KR - TM Racing), Filippo Sala (Team Driver Racing Kart - KR - IAME), who won even his first heat thanks to a comeback of nine positions, Dean Hoogendoorn (Kidix - Alonso Kart - IAME), who signs the fastest lap in three heats, Jindrich Pesl (Babyrace Driver Academy - Parolin - IAME) and Kin Scott Lindblom (Gamoto - EKS - TM Racing) gain positions with respect to qualifying and complete the top ten. Waiting to find rain tomorrow, it is natural to give Pesl, winner of the first round of the WSK Euro Series here in Lonato on a wet track, among the favorites.


• The top 15 is closed by Filippo Pancotti (AVracing - Parolin - TM Racing), Oleksiy Yaremiy (Formula K Serafini - IPK - TM Racing), Lewis Wherrell (Team Driver Racing Kart - KR - IAME), Kosei Oguma (Babyrace Driver Academy - Parolin - IAME) and Iacopo Martinese (Team Driver Racing Kart - KR - TM Racing), who lost ten positions with respect to qualifying. Romeo Haag (Revolution Motorsport - Energy Corse - TM Racing) loses 12 with respect to qualifying, also thanks to a ten-second penalty in one heat.


• Day with some hitches also for Pietro Bagutti (Bagutti Corse - Energy Corse - TM Racing), 11th in qualifying and now 21st, Lorenzo Campos (Energy Corse - Energy Corse - TM Racing), fourth in qualifying and now 29th, and Oliver Kinnmark (Parolin Motorsport - Parolin - TM Racing), eighth in qualifying and now 32nd.


• Alfie Slater (Energy Corse - Energy Corse - TM Racing) finishes all his first four heats in the top six, but is forced to retire in the last heat and finds himself 23rd in the overall standings.

©Photo: Sportinphoto