[Translated with ChatGPT]

Many protagonists already standing out among the over 320 drivers who took part in the three days of testing at the La Conca International Circuit. From January 21 to 25, the first round of the WSK Super Master Series gets underway.

An exceptional level of participation and interest characterized the three days of Official Collective Tests organized by WSK Promotion from January 16 to 18 at the La Conca International Circuit in Muro Leccese, where, ahead of the start of the international karting season, all the major manufacturers competed alongside the most important teams, with 323 drivers from 52 nations on track.

Tests enhanced by the presence of Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
The three days of pre-season testing proved to be an initiative highly appreciated by everyone, further enhanced by the presence on the second day of Mercedes Formula 1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who for the occasion did not miss the chance to take to the track, recording excellent lap times, particularly in the KZ2 category but also in OK. His presence naturally generated extraordinary enthusiasm, especially among the youngest drivers, but also among all the professionals present at La Conca. His performance during the tests he carried out exclusively on Saturday was particularly noteworthy, driving the Parolin-TM Kart of the “family team” AKM Motorsport, managed by his father Marco Antonelli. Considering his absence from karting races for several years, Kimi stood out in KZ2 with a top-level performance, setting the third fastest overall time in the general ranking.

KZ2 – Orlov on top.
Among the main protagonists of the three days of testing at La Conca, Max Orlov once again confirmed himself as the fastest in KZ2 with a time of 46.220, racing with CPB Sport on Sodikart/TM Kart/LeCont. The Russian driver, a major protagonist of the 2025 international season and winner of the 2024 WSK Final Cup title, achieved the fastest overall time on the third and final day, after also topping the test sessions on the first two days. The second fastest overall time went to fellow Russian Gerasim Skulanov (Monster Factory Team – Monster K/TM Kart/LeCont) in 46.398, while the third fastest overall time was shared by Andrea Kimi Antonelli (AKM Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart) in 46.441 and Chinese driver Zai Jiang Hou (LA Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart), both with the same lap time.

OK – Coluccio sets the fastest time in his final session.
In OK, the outright fastest driver was local racer Luigi Coluccio, with KB Racing on Tony Kart/Vortex/LeCont, clocking a time of 46.328 in his final session of the last day. The Italian driver thus took the top spot away from Czech driver Jindrich Pešl (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex/LeCont), winner of the 2025 WSK Final Cup, who had been the fastest over the first two days of testing.

OKJ – Pizzonia fastest on all three days.
In OK Junior, Brazilian driver Antonio Pizzonia, with Ward Racing on Parolin/TM Kart/Vega, confirmed himself as the fastest also on the third day, further improving his previous performances with a time of 47.379. Among the fastest drivers were also Polish racer Leo Gorski (Ricky Flynn – LN Kart/TM Kart) in 47.489 and Belgian Henri-Constant Kumpen (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex) in 47.499.

OKNJ – Perico takes the lead in his final session.
Niccolò Perico, making his debut in OK-NJ with his new team KR Motorsport on KR/Iame/Vega, topped the timesheets in his final session of the last day, setting the fastest lap in 48.224. The Italian driver edged out the previous leaders: Polish driver Antoni Ociepa (Novalux – Lenzokart/LKE), who had been fastest in Friday’s tests with 48.338, and Finnish driver Leo Laitinen (Parolin Finland – Parolin/TM Kart), who had posted 48.632 in Thursday’s session. Also among the fastest on the final day were Italian drivers Marco Verde (Team Driver – KR/Iame) in 48.261 and Alessandro Nanni (Modena Kart – Parolin/TM Kart) in 48.265.

MINI Gr.3 – Mair retains Saturday’s best performance.
In MINI Gr.3, the fastest time on the final Sunday session was set by American driver Wynn Godschalk (Kidix Driver Performance – KR/Iame/Vega) in 53.130, in his debut season in Gr.3 after winning the WSK Euro Series and WSK Final Cup last year in MINI U10. Behind him was Andreas Papageorgiou (CRG Racing Team – T-Group/TM Kart) in 53.193, but the best overall time remained that of British driver Alfie Richard Mair (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex), set on Saturday in 53.029.

MINI U10 – Burgess takes centre stage.
In MINI U10, Zayne Burgess (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart/Vega) took centre stage with the fastest overall time achieved in the final Sunday session, clocking 53.547. The American driver displaced French racer Sasha Miras Y Munoz (BabyRace – Parolin/Iame/Vega), who had set the best time on Saturday with 53.835, and Dutch driver Denver Bos (Kidix Driver Performance – KR/Iame), who had topped Friday’s session with 54.120. Just behind Burgess was Italian driver Giovanni Ventorino (Team Driver – KR/Iame) in 53.551, only 4 thousandths of a second adrift.

From January 21 to 25, the first round of the WSK Super Master Series.
Next week, at the La Conca International Circuit, the first of the five rounds of the WSK Super Master Series will take place from January 21 to 25, officially opening the 2026 international karting season.

Best lap times on Sunday, January 18:
MINI U10: Zayne Burgess (USA) Parolin Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart/Vega 53.547
MINI Gr.3: Wynn Godschalk (USA) Kidix Driver Performance – KR/Iame/Vega 53.130
OK-NJ: Niccolò Perico (ITA) KR Motorsport – KA/Iame/Vega 48.224
OKJ: Antonio Pizzonia (BRA) Ward Racing – Parolin/TM Kart/Vega 47.379
OK: Luigi Coluccio (ITA) KB Racing Experience – Tony Kart/Vortex/LeCont 46.328
KZ2: Max Orlov (//) CPB Sport – Sodikart/TM Kart/LeCont 46.220

Best lap times on Saturday, January 17:
MINI U10: Sasha Miras Y Munoz (FRA) BabyRace – Parolin/Iame/Vega 53.835
MINI Gr.3: Alfie Richard Mair (GBR) Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex/Vega 53.029
OK-NJ: Antoni Ociepa (POL) Novalux – Lenzokart/LKE/Vega 48.338
OKJ: Antonio Pizzonia (BRA) Ward Racing – Parolin/TM Kart/Vega 47.651
OK: Jindrich Pesl (CZE) Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex/LeCont 46.617
KZ2: Max Orlov (//) CPB Sport – Sodikart/TM Kart/LeCont 46.330

Best lap times on Friday, January 16:
MINI U10: Denver Bos (NED) Kidix Driver Performance – KR/Iame/Vega 54.120
MINI Gr.3: Nahyl El Gahoudi (FRA) BabyRace – Parolin/Iame/Vega 53.248
OK-NJ: Leo Laitinen (FIN) Parolin Finland – Parolin/TM Kart/Vega 48.632
OKJ: Antonio Pizzonia (BRA) Ward Racing – Parolin/TM Kart/Vega 47.697
OK: Jindrich Pesl (CZE) Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex/LeCont 46.925
KZ2: Max Orlov (//) CPB Sport – Sodikart/TM Kart/LeCont 46.721

Info: www.wskarting.it

THE WSK PROMOTION 2026 CALENDAR:

WSK SUPER MASTER SERIES (Wednesday/Sunday – 5 race days)
1°Rd 21-25/01/2026 LA CONCA / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
2°Rd 04-08/02/2026 SARNO / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
3°Rd 18-22/02/2026 VITERBO / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
4°Rd 04-08/03/2026 LONATO / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
5°Rd 18-22/03/2026 FRANCIACORTA / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2

WSK EURO SERIES (Wednesday/Saturday – 4 race days)
1°Rd 11-14/02/2026 VITERBO / MINI – OKNJ – OKN – OKJ – OK – KZ2
2°Rd 15-18/04/2026 LONATO / MINI – OKNJ – OKN – OKJ – OK – KZ2
3°Rd 08-11/07/2026 CREMONA / MINI – OKNJ – OKN – OKJ – OK – KZ2

WSK FINAL CUP (Wednesday/Sunday – 5 race days)
1°Rd 26-30/08/2026 FRANCIACORTA / MINI – OKNJ – OKN – OKJ – OK – KZ2
2°Rd 21-25/10/2026 LONATO / MINI – OKNJ – OKN – OKJ – OK – KZ2
3°Rd 25-29/11/2026 VITERBO / MINI – OKNJ – OKN – OKJ – OK – KZ2

Info: www.wskarting.it/index.asp

 Press Release © WSK Promotion