The KR Motorsport team split into two groups on the last weekend of August, as the opening round of the WSK Final Cup at Franciacorta coincided with the Grand Prix Karting KZ event at Le Mans. This French event gave Danilo Albanese the chance to shine on several occasions, whilst gathering valuable information ahead of the upcoming World Championship. Over in Italy, KR Motorsport won both categories in which the team was competing: OK-Junior and OK-N Junior. Well done to Niccolo Perico and Henri Moehring on these prestigious victories.
Further success in OK-Junior following the FIA Karting title
After a well-deserved summer break to allow the whole team to recharge their batteries, KR Motorsport was in Franciacorta from 26th to 30th August for the first of three rounds of the WSK Final Cup. In the OK-Junior class, the two drivers competing for KR Motorsport proved competitive, one month after Will Green secured the European Championship title. Having secured pole position, Niccolo Perico won two heats, as well as the Final by a comfortable margin. His Italian compatriot Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio staged remarkable comebacks in each of his races to finish 8th in the Final with a lap time within the same tenth of a second as the winner.
KR Motorsport returns to winning ways in OK-N Junior
At Franciacorta, the Kart Republic factory was able to demonstrate the competitiveness of its equipment in the OK-N and OK-N Junior categories, whilst many drivers are preparing for the World Cup in Viterbo. In OK-N, four KR chassis finished in the top seven, including one on the podium. In OK-N Junior, Henri Moehring (KR Motorsport) established himself as one of the favourites by winning three heats, before making the difference in the Final. The KR chassis even secured a one-two finish thanks to Robert Pulbere (Gulstar Racing).
Next target: the KZ World Championship at Le Mans
Having finished in the top five in free practice six times on Thursday and Friday, set the fastest time in Sunday’s warm-up and frequently impressed with his performance levels during the races, Danilo Albanese gave a positive assessment of his trip to the Le Mans circuit. A retirement in the Super Heat compromised his chances of securing a good result at this KZ Karting Grand Prix, which served as preparation for the upcoming KZ World Championship. The potential is certainly there, even though there are still several days left to make progress ahead of the big event. There were also positive results in KZ2 for Arthur Lehouck, who finished in the top four in the heats on three occasions.
Comment from Glenn Keyaert, KR Global Motorsport Company
“It was a productive weekend. At Franciacorta, the team did an excellent job of putting Niccolo Perico in OK-Junior and Henri Moehring in OK-N Junior on the path to victory. With our KR-IAME power units, we achieved our objectives in both categories in which we were competing, as we did not have an official representative in OK on this occasion. When the WSK Final Cup resumes in November at Lonato and then at Viterbo, we will be determined to win again. At Le Mans in KZ, the KR Motorsport team has consistently been working in the right direction, whilst also identifying new avenues to explore to ensure we go into the World Championship even stronger. All of this promises an exciting final stretch of the season, both technically and in sporting terms.”