Pole positions were claimed by Pezzucchi (KZ2), Drummond (OK), Babicek (OKJ), Kralev (MINI U10), Devin (MINI Gr.3), Ociepa (KN-NJ) and Donanzan (OK-N). Qualifying heats will follow shortly. Prefinals and Finals with Live TV and Live Streaming coverage will be on Sunday.
An exceptional opening day marked the start of the first of three rounds of the WSK Final Cup at the Franciacorta Karting Track. The first official day was dedicated to qualifying and the initial qualifying heats of this inaugural event in the series, which culminates in the final phase on Sunday, October 26th.
The WSK Final Cup is a long-standing and internationally highly regarded event, as highlighted by the 61 nationalities represented among the 385 drivers registered across the MINI U10, MINI Gr.3, OK-N, OK-NJ, OK, OKJ, and KZ2 categories. Once again, it proves to be an unmissable end-of-year event, serving as a prestigious stage where many promising young talents are ready to showcase their skills alongside this season's champions. For many, it is also an excellent opportunity to gain familiarity with the higher categories and plan the next steps in their racing careers.
KZ2 – Pezzucchi surprises them all.
A new name is coming to the fore in the most powerful category: Massimiliano Pezzucchi (Krypton Motorsport-Birelart/TM Kart/LeCont), a surprise pole-sitter in the only KZ2 session with a best time of 46.387s. The Italian driver ended ahead of many KZ2 frontrunners, including the Frenchman Emilien Denner (Formula K SRP-IPK/TM Kart), the Pole David Liwinski (MP Kartracing-Henza/TM Kart), the Romanian Daniel Vasile (CL Racing Team-Birelart/TM Kart), the Italian Cristian Bertuca (Birelart Racing-TM Kart), and the Estonian Markus Kajak (Formula K SRP-IPK/TM Kart).
KZ2 Qualifying result:
1st Massimiliano Pezzucchi (ITA) 46.577
2nd Emilien Denner (FRA) +0.035
3rd David Liwinski (POL) +0.052
OK – Drummond is the fastest of the two sessions.
In the two OK category sessions, the fastest driver was the Scotsman Zac Drummond (Fusion Motorsport-KR/Iame/LeCont) in Session-2 with a time of 47.035s, just 34 thousandths of a second ahead of the Italian Manuel Scognamiglio (Tellone Motorsport-KR/Iame), the recent winner of the WSK Euro Series OK-N. In Session-1, the fastest driver was the Czech Jindrich Pesl (Tony Kart Racing Team-Tony Kart/Vortex) with 47.251s, followed by his teammate, the Dane Oliver Rasmussen, who was second by 0.082s.
OK Qualifying result:
Session-1 - Jindrich Pesl (CZE) 47.251
Session-2 - Zac Drummond (GBR) 47.035
OKJ – Babicek leads the Junior.
In OK-Junior, the Czech driver Zdenek Babicek (Tepz Racing Team-Tony Kart/Iame/Vega) took the lead in Session-1 with a time of 48.428s, finishing 0.091s ahead of the British driver Noah Baglin (Prema Racing-KR/Iame). Babicek's time was also the fastest overall, as the Canadian Ilie Crisan Tristan (Tony Kart Racing Team-Tony Kart/Vortex) clocked a slightly slower time of 48.686s in Session-2, with the Slovak Alex Molota (Hagemann Racing-Gillard/TM Kart) trailing by 57 thousandths.
OKJ Qualifying result:
Session-1: Zdenek Babicek (CZE) 48.428
Session-2: Ilie Crisan Tristan (CAN) 48.686
MINI U10 – Kralev is the fastest among the 68 competitors.
The MINI U10 category, with a very strong turnout of 68 very young Under 10 drivers, immediately showcased interesting contenders, such as the Bulgarian Leo Kralev (Team Driver-KR/TM Kart/Vega), who took pole position in Session-1 with a time of 55.331s, just two thousandths of a second ahead of the American Josh Bergman (Kidix Driver-KR/Iame), winner of the WSK Super Master Series. In Session-2, the fastest driver was the other American, Colton Schniegenberg (Ward Racing-Tony Kart/TM Kart), with a lap completed in 55.519s, followed by the Italian Daniel Pasquali (CRG Racing Team-T-Group/TM Kart) by 0.128s.
MINI U10 Qualifying result:
Session-1: Leo Kralev (BUL) 55.331
Session-2: Colton Schniegenberg (USA) 55.519
MINI Gr.3 – Devin sets the pole by 0.09s.
There were also interesting contenders in the MINI Gr.3 category, with the young German driver Titz Devin (CRG Holland-T-Group/TM Kart/Vega) being the fastest in Session-1 and overall with a time of 54.737s, which was 0.09s quicker than the Italian Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio (Kidix-KR/Iame). In Session-2, the Dutchman Cees Muijs (Birelart Racing-Birelart/TM Kart) stood out, setting the best time in 54.794s, which placed him ahead of the Chinese driver Lingham Li (Tony Kart Racing Team-Tony Kart/Vortex), who recorded the second-fastest time, 0.129s behind.
MINI Gr.3 Qualifying result:
Session-1: Titz Devin (GER) 54.737
Session-2: Cees Muijs (NED) 54.794
OK-NJ – Ociepa sets the fastest time.
In Session-1, Nojus Stasionis (Modena Kart-Parolin/TM Kart/Vega) secured pole position with a time of 49.384s, holding a 29-thousandth advantage over the Italian Antonio Ianni (Moni-Tony Kart/Vortex). However, the Polish driver Antoni Ociepa (Novalux-Lenzokart/LKE) managed to perform even better than the Lithuanian by 0.05s in Session-2, setting a time of 49.334s, ahead of his compatriot Blazej Kostrzewa (Team Driver-KR/Iame), who was 0.115s off the pole time.
OK-NJ Qualifying result:
Session-1: Nojus Stasionis (LTU) 49384
Session-2: Antoni Ociepa (POL) 49.334
OK-N – Donanzan wins the duel with Rossi.
A great battle took place in the OK-N category between the two Italians, Filippo Donanzan (Tellone Motorsport-KR/Iame/Vega) and Federico Rossi (AKM Motorsport-Parolin/TM Kart). The Frenchman Matteo Gallo (Team Driver-KR/Iame) and his teammate, the quick Luisa Maria Della Pietra, also tried to get into the mix. Donanzan ultimately prevailed, finishing just over a tenth of a second ahead of Rossi.
OK-N Qualifying result:
1st Filippo Donanzan (ITA) 48.576
2nd Federico Rossi (ITA) +0.116
3rd Matteo Gallo (FRA) +0.184
The program in Franciacorta.
Saturday, October 25th: 8:00 Warm up, 9:30 Qualifying heats.
Sunday, October 26th: 8:00 Warm up, 9:30 Prefinals, 13:00 Finals.