Following qualifying practice, the initial heats on Friday afternoon provided the first indicators of the key players in this fifth and final round of the WSK Super Master Series at the Franciacorta Karting Track.
The qualifying heats will continue throughout Saturday, while the final phase on Sunday, March 22, will host the ultimate duels for category and championship victories across the MINI, OK-NJ, OKJ, OK, and KZ2 classes.
KZ2 – Bertuca and Van Walstijn win the first two heats.
In the opening two heats of KZ2, Cristian Bertuca (Birelart Racing – Birelart/Iame/LeCont) and Senna Van Walstijn (Sodikart – Sodikart/TM Kart) secured the first two victories in their respective races. The Italian driver claimed the first A-B heat ahead of Frenchman Emilien Denner (Formula K SRP – IPK/TM Kart) and the Russian pole-sitter and championship leader, Max Orlov (Sodikart). In the C-D heat, following behind Van Walstijn, were Britain’s Noah Wolfe (Birelart Racing – Birelart/Iame) and Italy’s Danilo Albanese (KR Motorsport – KR/Iame).
MINI U10 – Burgess and Miras win. Sons of F1 icons shine too.
The championship leader, Zayne Burgess (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart/Vega) returned to the top with a victory in the A-B heat. After conceding pole position to the Canadian Leo Simone (Pantano by DAM – Pantano/Iame), Simone finished third, also trailing the Dutchman Denver Bos (Kidix Driver – KR/Iame). In the C-D heat, it was a 1-2 finish for BabyRace drivers, with the Frenchman Sasha Miras Y Munoz taking the win over Johan Berger (son of Gerhard Berger), who finished ahead of Jack Fynn Wolff (son of Toto Wolff), racing with KR Motorsport.
MINI Gr.3 – Frigerio and Padovani share the success.
In MINI Gr.3 Heat A-B, Filippo Frigerio (BabyRace – Parolin/Iame/Vega) secured the win ahead of teammate Nahyl El Gahoudi (France) and American Wynn Godschalk (Kidix Driver – KR/Iame). Thai pole-sitter Phawin Warakitsupachok (BabyRace – Parolin/Iame) finished fourth. In Heat C-D, victory went to the Frenchman Nahil Padovani (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex), followed by the Norwegian Theo Steindal (MP Academy Gamoto – Henza/TM Kart) and another Tony Kart driver, the Maltese Zane Pace.
OK-NJ – D’Ascoli wins heat A-B. Perico recovers and wins C-D.
Luigi D’Ascoli (Modena Kart – Parolin/TM Kart/Vega) secured victory in the A-B heat. The Italian driver finished ahead of Sweden's Elton Hedfors (Modena Kart – Parolin/TM Kart), who had taken pole position, and Giuseppe Noviello (Team Driver – KR/Modena Engines).
In the C-D heat, championship leader Niccolò Perico (KR Motorsport – KR/Iame) claimed the win, recovering from his qualifying position to finish ahead of fellow countryman Gioele Carrer (Emme Racing – EKS/Modena Engines) and Swiss driver Aurelio Longhitano (Spirit-Karting.CH – Tony Kart/Modena Engines).
OK – The winners are McGaughy, Kornder, Zulfikari and Firhand.
Four heats were run in OK, and these had four different winners. The American Michael McGaughy (Koski Motorsport – KR/Iame/LeCont) took the win in the C-E heat ahead of the Indonesian driver Qarrar Firhand (Ward Racing – Parolin/TM Kart). In the B-D heat, victory went to Germany's Luke Kornder (Ricky Flynn – LN Kart/TM Kart) over Ludovico Mazzola (Birelart Racing – Birelart/Iame).
In the A-E heat, the Turkish driver Iskender Zulfikari (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex) triumphed over the Spaniard Bosco Arias (Ricky Flynn – LN Kart/TM Kart). Finally, in the C-D heat, it was Qarrar Firhand who came out on top, with his teammate, the Spaniard Benjamin Manach, finishing in second position.
OKJ – The victories go to Truchot, Gorski, Girardello and Walle.
The OKJ heats proved to be quite uncertain. In the first C-E heat, victory went to the American Alessandro Truchot (KR Motorsport – KR/Iame) ahead of Finland's Oskari Walle (Parolin Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart).
In the B-D heat, Poland's Leo Gorski (Ricky Flynn – LN Kart/TM Kart) took the win over the Frenchman Jean Poujol (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex), who performed a great comeback. In the A-E heat, the Parolin Motorsport duo dominated, with the Italian Gioele Girardello finishing ahead of Swiss driver Albert Tamm. Finally, in the C-D heat, Finland's Oskari Walle prevailed over the championship leader, the Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia (Ward Racing – Parolin/TM Kart).
The program in Franciacorta, with the Final stages on Sunday, will be live-streamed.
The final phase on Sunday, March 22, will be broadcast via Live TV Streaming.
Saturday, March 21st: Warm up, Qualifying heats.
Sunday, March 22nd: 8:00 Warm up, 9:40 Prefinals, 13:30 Finals.