Arjun Maini and David Schumacher are big-name guest starters in OK-N. Closely fought title race reaches halfway point. 144 drivers from 20 nations at round three of the season.
The German Kart Championship reaches the halfway point of the season this weekend. From 17th to 19th July, the Schweppermannring in Ampfing will host the third of five race weekends. Following the opener in Mülsen and the successful premiere in the Czech town of Cheb, 144 drivers from 20 nations will battle it out for victories and valuable points in five classes. Two prominent guest starters in OK-N will attract even more attention than usual. DTM driver Arjun Maini and David Schumacher line up for the Arena E Team, as they return to their motorsport roots. Both bring with them a wealth of experience in professional automobile racing, and will go head to head with the talented youngsters in the OK-N class. Both race days can once again be followed via a livestream on the ADAC Motorsport YouTube channel. Saturday gets underway at 14:00 with the heats, before the action continues on Sunday with the Super Heats from 09:50.
The appearance of Arjun Maini and David Schumacher is the result of the cooperation between Haupt Racing Team and the Arena E Sachsenring Junior Team. The aim of the partnership is to accompany talented young drivers from karting to professional automobile racing, within the structure of the "Road to DTM". The German Kart Championship is a familiar stage for Schumacher. The German raced successfully on the karting scene for many years, and finished runner-up in the DKM in 2017. He now returns to the series, together with Maini. The duo will be up against a strong field of 29 racers and the season's top drivers so far in the OK-N class. Leading the way in the overall standings in the OK-N class is Jakub Kamenik (Lanari Racing Team) from the Czech Republic. The victor in Cheb is followed by Mülsen winner Constantin Papst (TB Racing Team) and Ben Goetz (Ebert Motorsport).
Close title race approaching the halfway point of the season
There is also much to be played for still in the other classes, going into round three of the season. In KZ2, Daniel Stell (Kartshop Ampfing) arrives at his home event as the championship leader. Victory in Mülsen and fourth place in Cheb mean he now holds a slender five-point lead over the new European kart champion Emilien Denner (Formula K SRP Factory Team). Marek Skrivan (TB Racing Team), who triumphed in Cheb, and Dion van Werven (CS Competition) are also well within striking distance of the top two.
In the OK-N Juniors class, Motorsport Team Germany driver Henri Möhring (Dörr Motorsport) has won both the finals so far, and tops the table ahead of Milan Rossi and Mattao Mason (both Lanari Racing Team). In the Mini competition, Cheb winner Albert Poulsen (Poulsen Motorsport) leads Mikas Toro Lundsholm (AF Competition), Leo Klok (CRG Holland) and Roman Meister (TB Racing Team), who tasted victory in Mülsen.
The KZ2 Cup is another close affair. Manuel Kastl (CS Competition) won in Mülsen and finished runner-up in Cheb. As such, he now holds a twelve-point lead over second-placed Oliver Staedtler (Formula K SRP Factory Team). He is followed by Marc Gerstenkorn (Mach1 Motorsport), who finished on the podium at both events so far, and will be among the favourites again in Ampfing. With 47 starters, the KZ2 Cup is again the biggest class of the weekend. Only the top 36 drivers will come through the heats and Super Heats to qualify for the final.
The race programme follows the familiar DKM format. Friday's free practice sessions will be followed on Saturday by qualifying and the heats. On Sunday, the Super Heats will decide the grid positions, before the finals are held in all five classes.