KERPEN - Racing on an unfamiliar circuit, Flavio Caira proved on Saturday that talent always shines through. The fourteen-year-old driver from Hennuyères, Belgium, secured second place in the third round of the GK4 Kart Series IAME X30 Junior class. This strengthened his championship lead despite a dramatically interrupted final.
 

For Flavio, the weekend in Kerpen meant diving into uncharted waters. He only knew the technical German circuit by reputation. "It's a really cool track, but also very challenging because it's so technical with all those corners", said the VDK team driver. "It took me a day or two to learn the circuit."
 

Flavio demonstrated his adaptability from the start, posting the fastest time in qualifying. He remained dominant in the first heat, taking the win. In the second heat, he had to settle for third place, but that hardly detracted from his exceptionally strong weekend.
 

The championship has been a success story for Flavio this season. "I'm having a really good season so far because I'm always on the podium", he said proudly. He finished second in Genk and claimed victory at Mariembourg - his home circuit. "That's why I'm now leading the championship."
 

The final in Kerpen became an ordeal for all participants. A serious crash after four laps caused a lengthy red flag period. One driver even required a helicopter evacuation. "It was a strange race", Flavio explained. "We completed four laps, then the crash happened, and we waited for more than an hour."
 

Witnessing such an accident up close was sobering for the talented driver. Nevertheless, Flavio managed to regroup when racing resumed. "It wasn't really that difficult to refocus after such a long interruption - it went okay", he said. "When we got going again, I put it out of my mind and focused on driving."

When racing resumed, six or seven laps remained, during which Flavio fought hard to take the lead. However, Kerpen's challenging layout made overtaking nearly impossible. "There are maybe only three corners where I could attempt a move; it's extremely difficult to overtake here", he explained. His opponent defended strategically, leaving no openings. Flavio certainly tried. "But the leader defended brilliantly."
 

Flavio was pleased with his performance. "It's great that I demonstrated I have the pace to compete at the front. The performance was there, both in qualifying and during the race," he reflected. The points he earned in Kerpen extended his championship lead, allowing him to pursue the title with growing confidence.
 

The focus now shifts to the next round at Mariembourg, familiar ground for Flavio. "It's my home circuit, so I know it very well", he said confidently. His goal was clear: "I want to win there again, and I believe I can because I've already proven I'm fast there!"

Flavio thanks his mechanic, his father, his family for all their support, and of course his team VDK.
 

Flavio Caira's racing activities are supported by: Paddock Distribution, Bell Helmets, Tercam and Kart Republic.