The 2025 FIA Karting European Championship in the KZ and KZ2 categories got off to a chaotic start due to problems with tyre supplies. However, the KR Motorsport team bounced back, first in Sarno with Danilo Albanese returning to the top six, then in Mülsen with a podium finish. The entire team and its drivers are now motivated to shine in October at the upcoming World Championship in Franciacorta.
Kart Republic still very competitive in KZ
Respectively World and European Champions in 2023, Paolo Ippolito and Danilo Albanese once again showed a high level of performance on the Mülsen circuit at the wheel of their KR-IAME. After Albanese's excellent 4th place in Qualifying, less than a tenth of a second off pole position, it was Ippolito who finished his series of Qualifying Heats with a promising 3rd place in the last heat on Saturday. Not very lucky during the day, Albanese climbed back up to 5th in the Super Heat on Sunday with the second fastest lap in the race.
Albanese's efforts rewarded
Danilo Albanese continued at a very fast pace in the Final. He was only 4 thousandths of a second off the fastest lap. Starting in 8th place, he moved up to 3rd, as he explains...
"We already showed great performance with Dunlop tyres in Sarno. But it's clear that with LeCont tyres, we were able to work in better conditions with the team. I'm delighted with the efficiency of the KR chassis, while the IAME engines also played an important role on this fast track. I have an excellent feeling with the package I’m using and that's very encouraging. We will continue to work hard to try to win the World Championship at Franciacorta."
Starting 11th on the grid, Paolo Ippolito made a brilliant comeback to finish 6th.
Simon Rechenmacher shines in KZ2
Represented in KZ2 by the German team Dörr Motorsport, which fielded several drivers at Mülsen, Kart Republic congratulates Simon Rechenmacher on his performance. In a strong field of 61 drivers, Simon gained momentum and finished 7th overall in the Qualifying Heats with a convincing 4th place in his last race on Saturday. Once again 4th in the Super Heat, he started the Final from the 4th row, but several collisions in the pack meant he had to settle for 13th place.
Comment from Dino Chiesa, head of KR Global Motorsport Company
"In 2024 and early 2025, we unfortunately had to deal with a tyre brand that had not developed enough products specifically for the KZ categories. We therefore welcomed the change of brand between the Sarno and Mülsen events. LeCont tyres, with which we won the World and European Championships in 2023, now allow us to work in good conditions and develop our equipment with greater peace of mind. Our drivers proved competitive at Mülsen, and Danilo Albanese's podium finish shows that we will be a force to be reckoned with at the World Championship in Franciacorta.”