Frankfurt am Main. Kerpen is known as a breeding ground for talent in German motorsports. In the past, the careers of Formula 1 record world champion Michael Schumacher, his brother Ralf and also four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel started there. At the fourth race of the German Kart Championship, lots of young drivers who aspire to careers like these are going to start. 170 drivers from more than 20 nations are going to participate this time.
The 1.107m long Erftlandring in Kerpen is seen as a traditional track on the racing calendar of the four DMSB-grade series DKM, DJKM, DSKM and DSKC and could be the location of the first title decisions this year. After the first races in Lonato (Italy), Wackersdorf and Ampfing, the championships are now going into the crucial phases regarding the fights for the titles.
The drivers of the German Electric Kart Championship (DEKM) are also going to start within the framework of the event. After a thrilling kick-off in Oschersleben, six races of the first electric kart championship in the world are going to take place this weekend. Porsche factory driver Sven Müller is also going to start- he is going to drive a VIP kart of the DEKM in Kerpen. Leader in the championship is after the first weekend Dennis Siemens.
16 hours of live coverage from Kerpen
All events from Kerpen can be viewed from Saturday morning at 10:00am live via online stream (www.kart-dm.de). A full program awaits drivers, times and viewers. After qualifying, every class drives three heats. The best 34 respective drivers move on to the big final races on Sunday. These are going to be broadcast live from 9:00am on. Additionally, the German automobile-, engine- and motorsports-channel MOTORVISION.TV is going to broadcast a 30-minute-long highlight magazine afterwards. Also in Kerpen the DKM fans are getting more information on the Instagram-page (instagram.com/deutschekartmeisterschaft).
DKM: Harry Thompson still on top
The junior of the Red Bull squad Harry Thompson (Ricky Flynn Motorsport) is leading the overall list of rankings of the German Kart Championship but lost a bit of momentum after three of four victories in the beginning at the race in Ampfing. In Bavaria, his team mate Zane Maloney (Ricky Flynn Motorsport) was unstoppable. Due to a double victory, the driver from Barbados gained a lot of ground and is very close to British Thompson with only 23 points less. Currently on third place is reigning Junior Champion Kas Haverkoort (Zanardi Racing Team) in front of best German driver Hugo Sasse (TB Racing Team). On the pursuer’s places, the drivers are very closely together though. Alexander Tauscher (LRT Racing Team) follows on fifth place - the driver from Lower Bavaria is only 13 points behind the third driver though.
DJKM: Solid cushion for Kai Askey
Diversified as usual are the races of the juniors. At the first six races, there were six different winners: Kai Askey (Ricky Flynn Motorsport), Ben Dörr (TB Racing Team), Sebastian Ogaard (TK Racing), Enzo Trulli (CRG Holland), Paul Aron (Ricky Flynn Motorsport) and Kirill Smal (Ward Racing). On the overall list of rankings, Askey can already feel cautiously secure at the top - the driver from Great Britain collected lots of points and already has got an advance of 50 points on pursuer Zak O’Sullivan (Ricky Flynn Motorsport). Zak on the other hand has to watch out: He is only four points ahead of sixth driver Ben Dörr (TB Racing Team) from Germany.
DSKM: Jorrit Pex and Fabian Federer head to head
A thrilling duel is emerging at the German Shifterkart Championship. Six-time champion Jorrit Pex (CRG Holland) and his brand colleague Fabian Federer (SRP Racing Team) are only one point apart which promises a thrilling fight in Kerpen as well. Both of them are additionally motivated due to a successful EM finale in Lonato. Pex won the title there for the second time after 2012. Federer celebrated a victory at the final race and thereby highlighted his competitiveness. Stan Pex (CRG Holland) follows on third place in front of Marijn Kremers (Birel ART Racing) and German factory driver Daniel Stell (Mach1 Motorsport).
DSKC: Possible title decision for Emilien Denner
Apart from the second race in Wackersdorf, the winner of all races of the DMSB Shifterkart Cup this season was Emilien Denner (CRG Holland). The young Frenchman therefore achieved five victories and can already win the title in Kerpen. He proved that he is well equipped for this at the finale of the FIA European Championship with a race victory in the KZ2 class. While Denner races off at the top, behind him emerges a narrow duel for the vice title. The two German drivers Tobias Mähler (Kartshop Ampfing) and Alessio Curto (Valier Motorsport) are both aiming for the position of first pursuer. Luka Kamari (TB Racing Team) is currently on fourth place in front of Thomas Neumann.
*Photo's - LRNPhoto/Fast-Media