The Official Collective Tests of WSK ended with an exceptional participation result
Many top drivers are already standing out among the over 320 participants in the three days of testing at the La Conca International Circuit. The first round of the WSK Super Master Series kicks off from January 21st to 25th.
An exceptional level of participation and interest characterized the three days of Official Collective Tests organized by WSK Promotion from January 16th to 18th at the La Conca International Circuit in Muro Leccese. In preparation for the upcoming international racing season, all the major manufacturers and most prominent teams challenged each other, featuring an impressive lineup of 323 drivers from 52 nations.
Tests highlighted by the presence of Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
These three days of testing proved to be a highly valued initiative for the entire paddock. The event gained even more prestige on the second day (Saturday) with the appearance of Mercedes Formula 1 driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Kimi took to the track and immediately posted excellent lap times, particularly in the KZ2 category as well as in OK. As expected, his presence sparked extraordinary enthusiasm, especially among the youngest drivers and all the industry professionals present at La Conca. His performance was particularly notable given he only tested on Saturday, driving a Parolin-TM Kart for the "family team" AKM Motorsport, managed by his father Marco Antonelli. Despite being away from competitive karting for several years, Kimi delivered a first-class performance in KZ2, securing the third fastest overall time in the general rankings.
KZ2 – Orlov on top.
Among the top performers of the three-day test at La Conca, Max Orlov was confirmed to be the fastest in KZ2, clocking a time of 46.220s while racing for the CPB Sport team on Sodikart/TM Kart/LeCont. The Russian driver—a key figure in the 2025 international season and winner of the 2024 WSK Final Cup title—set the fastest overall lap time on the third and final day, having also led the charts during the first two days of testing. The second-fastest overall time was set by fellow Russian Gerasim Skulanov (Monster Factory Team – Monster K/TM Kart/LeCont) with a 46.398s. The third-fastest overall time went to Andrea Kimi Antonelli (AKM Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart) in 46.441s, a position he shared with China's Zai Jiang Hou (LA Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart), who recorded the exact same time as Kimi.
OK - Coluccio sets the fastest time in his final session.
In the OK category, the fastest overall was local driver Luigi Coluccio, racing with KB Racing on Tony Kart/Vortex/LeCont. He posted a time of 46.328s during his final session of the last day. The Italian driver thus took the top spot from the Czech driver Jindrich Pesl (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex/LeCont), winner of the 2025 WSK Final Cup, who had been the fastest during the first two days of testing.
OKJ - Pizzonia is the fastest in all three days.
In the OK-Junior category, Brazil's Antonio Pizzonia (Ward Racing – Parolin/TM Kart/Vega) confirmed to be the fastest on the third day as well, further improving his previous two performances with a time of 47.379s. Also among the quickest were the Polish driver Leo Gorski (Ricky Flynn – LN Kart/TM Kart) in 47.489s and Belgium’s Henri-Constant Kumpen (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex) in 47.499s.
OKNJ – Perico takes the lead in his final session.
Making his debut in the OK-NJ category with his new team, KR Motorsport (on KR/Iame/Vega), Niccolò Perico topped the charts in his final session of the last day, setting the fastest time in 48.224s. The Italian driver moved ahead of the two previous leaders: Poland's Antoni Ociepa (Novalux – Lenzokart/LKE), who was fastest in Friday's tests with a 48.338s, and Finland's Leo Laitinen (Parolin Finland – Parolin/TM Kart), who had posted a 48.632s in Thursday's tests. Also among the fastest on the final day were Italy's Marco Verde (Team Driver – KR/Iame) with a lap completed after 48.261s and fellow Italian Alessandro Nanni (Modena Kart – Parolin/TM Kart) with a 48.265s.
MINI GR.3 – Mair keeps the lead with a time set on Saturday.
In the MINI Gr.3 category, the fastest time on the final day, Sunday, was set by the American driver Wynn Godschalk (Kidix Driver – KR/Iame/Vega) with a 53.130s. This marks his debut in the Gr.3 class after winning both the WSK Euro Series and the WSK Final Cup in the MINI U10 category last year. Following closely behind Godschalk was Andreas Papageorgiou (CRG Racing Team – T-Group/TM Kart) at 53.193s. However, the fastest overall time remains held by Britain’s Alfie Richard Mair (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex), thanks to the 53.029s laptime he recorded on Saturday.
MINI U10 – Burgess under the spotlight.
In the MINI U10 category, Zayne Burgess (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart/Vega) put on a masterclass, securing the overall fastest time of 53.547s during Sunday's final session. The American driver pipped France's Sasha Miras y Muñoz (BabyRace – Parolin/Iame/Vega), who had posted the fastest time on Saturday at 53.835s, and the Netherlands' Denver Bos (Kidix Driver Performance – KR/Iame), who led Friday's standings with a 54.120s. Closely following Burgess was the Italian driver Giovanni Ventorino (Team Driver – KR/Iame) with a 53.551—trailing by a mere 4 thousandths of a second.
January 21–25: The first round of the WSK Super Master Series
Next week, the La Conca International Circuit will host the first of five rounds of the WSK Super Master Series. Taking place from January 21st to 25th, the event officially opens the 2026 international karting season.
The fastest times set on Sunday, January 18th:
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
The fastest times set on Saturday, January 17th:
MINI U10: Sasha Miras y Muñoz (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
The fastest times set on Friday, January 16th:
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 n.5 race days)
1st Rd 21-25/01/2026 LA CONCA / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
2nd Rd 04-08/02/2026 SARNO / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
3rd Rd 18-22/02/2026 VITERBO / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
4th Rd 04-08/03/2026 LONATO / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
5th Rd 18-22/03/2026 FRANCIACORTA / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
WSK Euro Series (Wednesday/Saturday n.4 race days)
1st Rd 11-14/02/2026 VITERBO / MINI – OKNJ – OKN – OKJ – OK – KZ2
2nd Rd 15-18/04/2026 LONATO / MINI – OKNJ – OKN – OKJ – OK – KZ2
3rd Rd 08-11/07/2026 CREMONA / MINI – OKNJ – OKN – OKJ – OK – KZ2
WSK Final Cup (Wednesday/Sunday n.5 race days)
1st Rd 26-30/08/2026 FRANCIACORTA / MINI – OKNJ – OKN – OKJ – OK – KZ2
2nd Rd 21-25/10/2026 LONATO / MINI – OKNJ – OKN – OKJ – OK – KZ2
3rd Rd 25-29/11/2026 VITERBO / MINI – OKNJ – OKN – OKJ – OK – KZ2