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More than a month after the last round of the Super Master Series, WSK Promotion turns the spotlights back on in Muro Leccese on the second edition of the WSK Super Cup by MINI. Further supported by the title of MINI ACI Karting National Trophy, the event dedicated to the youngest protagonists of the paddock is enlivened by a large turnout of drivers in both categories present in the race: 38 in the MINI Gr.3 Under 10 (reserved for drivers from 8 to 10 years) and 37 in the MINI Gr.3 (reserved for drivers aged 10 to 12), for a total of 75 participants.

The usual qualifying sessions took place on Friday morning and the day will continue with the heats, which will end in the late afternoon.

MINI Gr.3: Iskender Zulfikari still sets the pace

• Although he has already reached an excellent level for some time, Iskender Zulfikari (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME) seems to have the ability to continue to outdo himself. The fresh winner of the Winter Cup and of the WSK Super Master Series sets the best time in group 2, gaining the absolute pole position with a 52.170.


• The reigning champion of the WSK Open Cup and of the WSK Final Cup slips 73 thousandths off his teammate William Calleja (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), who confirms his competitiveness with second place in the group and third overall after winning the last round of the WSK Super Master Series in Cremona.


• Completing a trident signed Babyrace Driver Academy is Keelan Harvick (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), third in the group and fifth in the general standings. Strengthened by the place of honor obtained in the Winter Cup at the beginning of the season, the son of Kevin Harvick, winner of the Daytona 500 in 2007 and of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2014, expresses his potential after making his debut in the WSK scene precisely on the occasion of the WSK Super Cup by MINI from last year.


• To establish himself in group 1 is another main actor of the category such as Bosco Arias Chavarri (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME), who wanted to clearly reiterate his role. Currently third in the provisional standings of the WSK Open Series, the fresh winner of the Andrea Margutti Trophy earns the second overall position thanks to a 52.305.


• He stops the clock just one thousandth from his teammate a surprising Nojus Stasionis (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME), second in the group and fourth overall. The performance of Maxim Bobreshov (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME) is equally remarkable, able to obtain third place in the group, just over a tenth from Arias, and sixth in the general standings.


• The absolute top ten closes thanks to convincing performances by Ilie Tristan Crisan (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex), seventh after getting on the second step of the podium in the Andrea Margutti Trophy, Noah Baglin (IKART – KR – IAME), eighth after having printed the fourth fastest time in group 1 just one thousandth from Bobreshov and currently second in the provisional classification of the Italian ACI Karting Championship, Manuel Gayoso Miguez (Gamoto – EKS – TM Kart), ninth, and Devin Walz (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), tenth.


• Zeyu Shen (AV Racing – Parolin – IAME) is also a candidate for the role of protagonist, 11th overall, the fresh vice-champion of the WSK Super Master Series as well as reigning vice-champion of the WSK Final Cup Dean Hoogendoorn (KidiX Driver Performance – Alonso Kart – IAME ), 12th after having earned the place of honor in the first edition of the WSK Super Cup by MINI last year and the bronze medal in the Winter Cup at the beginning of the season, Marcell Zsebo (AV Racing – Parolin – IAME), 13th, Riven Esteves (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), 14th, and Zdenek Babicek (TEPZ Racing Team – MS Kart – IAME), 15th at the first international appearance with the MS Kart chassis.


• Qualifying slightly below expectations for Gianmatteo Rousseau (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME), 17th in the general classification in his first qualifying with Team Driver Racing Kart, the current leader of the Italian ACI Karting Championship Vladimir Ivannikov (Gamoto – EKS – TM Kart), 20th after winning, in 2022, the bronze medal in the WSK Euro Series and the silver medal in the WSK Open Cup, and Andrea Manni (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin – TM Kart), 30th and currently third in the provisional classification of the Italian ACI Karting Championship.

MINI Gr.3 U10: Maximus Unt “to the max”

• He had already proved to be fast and today Maximus Unt (Ward Racing – Tony Kart – TM Kart) provided further proof thanks to an excellent performance. The Ward Racing team driver is the best performer in group 1 and signs the absolute pole position in 52.291.


• We see the current WSK Open Series leader Leonardo Gorski (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME) disappearing from pole by less than half a tenth, who is once again at the top of the standings with second place in the group and third overall after winning the bronze medal in the WSK Champions Cup at the beginning of the season. Sebastian Eskandari-Marandi (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex) is also the author of an excellent qualifying, able to climb into third place in the group and fifth in the general classification.


• Another main actor in the category such as Albert Tamm (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME) shines in group 2. After climbing to the second step of the podium in the Andrea Margutti Trophy, the Babyrace Driver Academy driver prints a 52.444 which allows you to get the second absolute position.


• An extraordinary Drew Walz (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME) also emerged on the La Conca circuit, who stopped the clock less than half a tenth from his teammate and thus secured second place in the group as well as fourth overall. The trident of Parolin chassis is completed by the current leader of the Italian ACI Karting Championship Alessandro Truchot (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin – TM Kart), who confirms his competitiveness with third place in the group and sixth in the general standings.


• Equally promising are the performances of the reigning WSK Super Master Series vice-champion Daniil Kutskov (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME), seventh overall, of Achille Rea (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart – Vortex), eighth at his first international appearance with the Tony Kart Racing Team, the winner of the Winter Cup Antoine Sylva Venant (KidiX Driver Performance – KR – IAME), ninth after earning the place of honor in the WSK Champions Cup and the bronze medal in the WSK Super Master Series, and Edoardo Colucci (CMT – Parolin – IAME), tenth.


• Nearly reaching the top ten and reaffirming his potential Niccoló Perico (Energy Corse – Energy Corse – TM), 11th overall after making his debut in international karting in a surprising way at the Winter Cup. The Energy Corse team standard bearer precedes Orlando Rovellli (KidiX Driver Performance – KR – IAME), which gives encouraging signs with 12th place.


• The 13th place in the general classification is the prerogative of Henri Kumpen (Babyrace Driver Academy – Parolin – IAME). The son of former Belgian driver Anthony Kumpen, cousin of Sophie Kumpen, in turn an extremely competitive ex driver and mother of Max Verstappen, is a candidate for the role of protagonist and is closely followed by the winner of the WSK Champions Cup as well as fresh WSK champion Super Master Series Oleksandr Legenkyi (Team Driver Racing Kart – KR – IAME). Currently second in the provisional classification of the Italian ACI Karting Championship after also winning the Andrea Margutti Trophy, the young Ukrainian is among the favorites in Muro Leccese.


• The absolute top 15 closes thanks to a remarkable performance by Xavier Lazaro (DR – DR – TM Kart), who signs the exact same time as Kumpen in 52.511 and finds himself behind because his second best time reference is slower than that of the Belgian opponent.


• Qualifying slightly below expectations for David Moscardi (Racevent – Birel ART – IAME), 17th overall after finishing the Winter Cup in second place. Currently third in the provisional classification of the Italian ACI Karting Championship, the Italian driver is expected at the top of the classification at his first international appearance with the Birel ART chassis.


• Slight disappointment also for Mark Martin Loomets (Gamoto – EKS – LKE), 33rd overall after getting on the third step of the podium in the Winter Cup. The qualification of Alex Molota (Firefly Racing Team – EKS – TM Kart) is even more bitter, 37th overall after completing only one timed lap.

©Photo: Sportinphoto