Title races heat up at DKM weekend in Kerpen. Möhring, Kamenik and Staedtler extend their championship leads. Titles still up for grabs ahead of season finale in Wackersdorf.
The German Kart Championship entered the deciding phase of the 2026 season at the iconic Erftlandring in Kerpen. The drivers faced a challenging race weekend in warm and sunny conditions. The high grip level at the 1,110-metre track put both man and machine to the test and made for exciting races in all five classes. 143 entries again underlined the huge interest in the DKM at the fourth of this season's five events. Three of the five finals were won by German drivers. Daniel Stell won in the KZ2 class, Henri Möhring continued his impressive run in OK-N Junior, and Oliver Staedtler was victorious in the KZ2 Cup. In OK-N, Jakub Kamenik triumphed again to extend his lead at the top of the table, while Leo Klok won an eventful Mini final. Following the weekend in Kerpen, titles are still up for grabs in all classes ahead of the grand finale in Wackersdorf.
KZ2: Daniel Stell takes his chance and wins
Daniel Stell (Kartshop Ampfing) kicked off the weekend with the fastest time in qualifying. However, the balance of power shifted in the heats, with guest drivers Maximilian Schleimer (AT-Motorsport) and Senna Van Walstijn (CS Competition) coming out on top. Following the heats, it was Schleimer who led the class, ahead of Stell and championship leader Emilien Denner (Formula K SRP Factory Team). Reigning kart world champion Van Walstijn struck again in the Super Heat to secure pole position for the final.
The Dutchman initially defended his lead at the start of the race. He was followed by Stell, while Schleimer, Denner and a number of others remained within striking distance. The pivotal moment came towards the end of the race. Van Walstijn was forced to retire with a technical issue, leaving Stell to inherit the lead. The German went on to take victory and win his second final of the year, having also triumphed in Mülsen. "I was obviously a little fortunate. However, that is part and parcel of motorsport. We had the speed to compete at the front this weekend. Because Senna was only a guest starter, his retirement did not change the points I would have won towards the championship," said Stell after his win. Schleimer was runner-up, with Denner completing the podium. The TB Racing Team duo of Marek Skrivan and Norton Andreasson rounded out the top five.
Despite finishing third in Kerpen, Denner still leads the way in the championship. Stell's victory saw him cut Denner's lead. Behind them, Werven and Skrivan remain within striking distance of the leader.
KZ2 standings after four of five rounds
1. Emilien Denner (324 points)
2. Daniel Stell (297 points)
3. Dion van Werven (259 points)
4. Marek Skrivan (257 points)
5. Matej Preuss (220 points)
Mini: Leo Klok wins dramatic final
Maddox Mason (Lanari Racing Team) dominated the Mini class at first. The South African secured pole position in qualifying, won the opening heat, and also came out on top in the Super Heat. The second heat was won by championship leader Albert Poulsen (Poulsen Motorsport).
The final also started perfectly for Mason. He was fastest off the line and led the field, ahead of Leo Klok (CRG Holland) and Cees Muijs (CS Competition). Early on in the race, there was a battle for the lead. Klok sat in the slipstream of the race leader, while Muijs gradually closed the gap to the leading duo. The Dutchman finally caught them in the second half of the race, and the trio headed into the final few laps bunched closely together.
With two laps remaining, Klok launched the decisive attack and moved into the lead. Meanwhile, it had once again become eventful behind him. On the final lap, the battle for the podium positions resulted in a collision, which also affected Mason. Klok continued to calmly go about his business and went on to take the chequered flag as the winner. Cue big celebrations at the presentation ceremony: "I am thrilled to have won. We were close all weekend. To come out on top in the final is a big success." Poulsen benefitted from the turmoil in the closing stages to finish second, ahead of Mikas Toro Lundsholm (AF Competition). Muijs and Bastian Kleiner (Ebert Motorsport) completed the top five. Mason was eventually listed in 15th place.
Despite missing out on victory, Poulsen remains top of the table. Klok climbs to second place on the back of his success, and now trails Poulsen by 38 points. Toro Lundsholm in third place is also still in the thick of the title race.
Mini standings after four of five rounds
1. Albert Poulsen (343 points)
2. Leo Klok (305 points)
3. Mikas Toro Lundsholm (292 points)
4. Maddox Mason (222 points)
5. Lion Osaj (198 points)
OK-N Junior: Henri Möhring makes it four wins in a row
Henri Möhring (Dörr Motorsport) remains the dominant force in the OK-N Junior class. The ADAC Stiftung Sport driver set the early pace with the fastest time in qualifying. Carlos Nees (Nees Racing) then won the opening heat, before Möhring hit back with victory in the second heat, ensuring he led after the heats. There was briefly a new order on the way to the final: Julian Dümmer (Kraft Motorsport) won the Super Heat, although Möhring still retained his position at the top of the overall standings.
In the final, the championship leader defended his pole position and opened a small lead ahead of the rest of the field. Behind him, Edin Keserovic (Lanari Racing Team) and Nees emerged as Möhring's fiercest rivals. While Möhring managed his lead, the battle for second place picked up again. Nees caught Keserovic in the closing stages, but was unable to find a way past him.
Möhring eventually won with a healthy lead and made another big statement with the fastest lap of the race. Keserovic was runner-up, ahead of Nees, who is also supported by the ADAC Stiftung Sport foundation. Milan Rossi (Lanari Racing Team) and Elliot Spangtoft (AF Competition) followed in fourth and fifth place.
"In the end, it looks like an easy weekend. However, it was far from easy. The races were very intense and really close at times. The Super Heat was the highlight, although I did not win it. We had super close battles, which were a lot of fun. It is now important to produce another clean performance in Wackersdorf, in order to win the title," said Möhring, who extended his lead in the overall standings. Ahead of the finale in Wackersdorf, his lead over Rossi now stands at 95 points. Nees climbed into third place in the championship.
OK-N Junior standings after four of five rounds
1. Henri Möhring (397 points)
2. Milan Rossi (302 points)
3. Carlos Nees (249 points)
4. Edin Keserovic (202 points)
5. Mattao Mason (201 points)
OK-N: Jakub Kamenik tightens his grip on the top of the table
There was a minor surprise in qualifying in the OK-N class: Lenn Abbas (Nees Racing) was the first to catch the eye with pole position. Victory in the heats then went to Jakub Kamenik (Lanari Racing Team) and Ben Goetz (Ebert Motorsport). Goetz took the lead after the heats, and also tasted victory in the Super Heat on Sunday. As such, he started the final ahead of Abbas and Kamenik.
However, the start immediately produced a new order at the front of the field. Kamenik made the best start and took an early lead. Constantin Papst (TB Racing Team) followed in second place, while Goetz initially dropped down the field after a tough start. Lias Erbersdobler (Dörr Motorsport) found himself in the top three before his race came to a premature end. Meanwhile, Kamenik continued to lead the way, with Papst hot on his heels. However, he was finally able to shake him off a little in the second half of the race. Goetz had meanwhile managed to work his way back into third place, and had a comfortable lead over the chasing pack. That order remained the same through to the finish. Kamenik triumphed, ahead of Papst and Goetz, and also set the fastest lap time. Leonard Frey (Ebert Motorsport) and Semir Velija (Lanari Racing Team) completed the top five.
"The first corner was key. I knew I had to get the lead there. It was a bit risky, but it worked. It is now about getting the points I need to clinch the title at the finale in Wackersdorf," said the winner from the Lanari Racing Team, summing up his final. Kamenik now travels to the season finale as the clear leader. Goetz trails him by 77 points, with Papst a further 17 points back in third.
OK-N standings after four of five rounds
1. Jakub Kamenik (375 points)
2. Ben Goetz (298 points)
3. Constantin Papst (281 points)
4. Lias Erbersdobler (184 points)
5. Marius Bonconseil (173 points)
KZ2 Cup: Oliver Staedtler delivers the complete package
With 48 entries, the KZ2 Cup again boasted the biggest field of the weekend. Oliver Staedtler (Formula K SRP Factory Team) set the fastest time in qualifying. The six heats then provided plenty of variety, with Emanuel Mai (Solgat Motorsport), Staedtler, Marc Gerstenkorn (Mach1 Motorsport) and Manuel Kastl (CS Competition) all earning their places in the winners list. Kastl topped the classification after the heats, ahead of Staedtler and Eric Wess (Christian Wess).
Staedtler upped his game again on Sunday. Dominik Reuters (C4 Racing) won Super Heat A, before Staedtler triumphed in the second Super Heat to secure pole position for the final. The pole-sitter was fastest out of the blocks and took an early lead. Wess remained in striking distance in second place, while it was a close affair behind him. Gerstenkorn, who came into the weekend as Staedtler's closest rival in the championship, was forced to retire early on after a collision - a big setback in his quest for the title.
Out in front, there was no stopping Staedtler. The Formula K driver gradually extended his lead throughout the entire race, and went on to take a commanding victory. "I am very happy with the weekend. It is now about preparing for the finale and wrapping things up there," said Staedtler. Behind him, the race drew to a much closer conclusion: Wess came out on top after a close battle for second place. Lauritz Sachse (MP Kartracing) completed the podium, followed in fourth and fifth place by Derk van Silfhout and Kastl. Staedtler's success means he now goes into the season finale with a big advantage in the overall standings. Gerstenkorn remains second, while Kastl in third place only really has a mathematical chance of winning the title.
KZ2 Cup standings after four of five rounds
1. Oliver Staedtler (342 points)
2. Marc Gerstenkorn (262 points)
3. Manuel Kastl (254 points)
4. Eric Wess (164 points)
5. Emanuel Mai (159 points)
After four entertaining race weekends, there is now only one event remaining in the German Kart Championship. The 2026 champions will be crowned from 25th to 27th September at ProKart Raceland Wackersdorf. The titles are still up for grabs in all five classes, so the anticipation is great ahead of the grand finale in the Upper Palatinate.