The initial indications at the International Circuit La Conca came in qualifying practice and the initial heats. Further heats will follow on Saturday, the final stages will be on Sunday, January 25th.
At the La Conca International Circuit in Muro Leccese, the qualifying phase officially kicked off the WSK Super Master Series. This first round of the season promises an exceptionally high level of competition, not only in terms of quantity but also quality, featuring 300 drivers from 59 nations competing for official manufacturers and top international teams.
Friday morning’s qualifying practice and the early afternoon heats opened the weekend at La Conca. Weather conditions were generally very good, with the exception of the damp track surface that characterized the early stages of qualifying.
KZ2 – Orlov Orlov immediately takes center stage in the heats
Russian driver Max Orlov (CPB Sport – Sodikart/TM Kart/LeCont) immediately bounced back from qualifying, where he had only posted the fifth-fastest time due to the wet track—a session where his teammate, the Dutchman Dion Van Werven, came to the fore by taking pole position. In Friday’s first heat, Orlov finished ahead of another teammate, the Dutchman Ayden Jthien, while Van Werven took third place.
OK – Victories for Sala, Krutogolov, Anagnostiadis and Firhand
After securing pole position in qualifying, the Scotsman Zac Drummond (Fusion Motorsport – KR/Iame/LeCont) had to settle for second place in his heat, finishing behind the Italian driver Filippo Sala (CL Racing Team - Birelart/Iame). In the day's other three OK heats, victories went to the Ukrainian Lev Krutogolov (Energy Corse – Energy/Iame), the Australian James Anagnostiadis (KR Motorsport – KR/Iame), and the Indonesian Qarrar Firhand (Ward Racing – Parolin/TM Kart).
OKJ – First wins for Truchot, Nuvolini, Pizzonia and Venant
While the Italian driver Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio (KR Motorsport – KR/Iame/Vega) secured pole position in qualifying, the four OKJ heats saw different winners emerge: the American Alessandro Truchot (KR Motorsport – KR/Iame) won heat C-E, fellow KR Motorsport driver Many Nuvolini took heat B-D, the Brazilian Antonio Pizzonia (Ward Racing – Parolin/TM Kart) won heat A-E, and the Belgian Antoine Venant (VDK Racing – KR/Iame) claimed victory in heat C-D.
MINI U10 – Francisco claims Friday’s heat
In the only heat run by the MINI U10 category, the victory went to Canada's Jayden Francisco (BabyRace – Parolin/Iame/Vega), who crossed the finish line ahead of Poland's Hugo Hejnar (Novalux – Lenzokart/LKE) and Britain’s Albert Pharoah (Sodikart – Sodikart/TM Kart). Conversely, the Maltese driver Jake Jordan Micallef (BabyRace – Parolin/Iame), who had secured pole position in qualifying, was unfortunately forced to retire.
MINI GR.3 – Pace and Godschalk stand out
In the first of the two MINI Gr.3 heats, victory went to Zane Pace from Malta (Tony Kart Racing Team – Tony Kart/Vortex/Vega), ahead of Italy’s Filippo Frigerio (BabyRace – Parolin/Iame) and Cyprus’s Andreas Papageorgiou (CRG – T-Group/TM Kart). Meanwhile, the Turkish driver Osman Selim Kose (BabyRace – Parolin/Iame), who had taken pole position, fell back through the field. In the other heat, the American Wynn Godschalk (Kidix Driver – KR/Iame) took the win over Poland's Filip Stec (Energy Corse – Energy/Iame) and the Netherlands' Cees Muijs (Birelart Racing – Birelart/Iame).
OK-NJ – Perico and Hedfors take the lead
Niccolò Perico (KR Motorsport – KR/Iame/Vega) shone in the first of the two heats, securing a victory by fighting back from qualifying, where the Frenchman Mattis Brageot (AKM Motorsport – Parolin/TM Kart) had initially prevailed. The Italian driver won ahead of Finland’s Leo Laitinen (Parolin Finland – Parolin/TM Kart) and fellow Italian Edoardo Colucci (Pantano by Dam – Pantano/TM Kart). Brageot finished in fourth place. In the other heat, Modena Kart (Parolin/TM Kart) secured a 1-2 finish with the Swedish driver Elton Hedfors and Italy’s Federico Mirabella. The third place went to the Belgian Jef Verbeke (Forza Racing – Exprit/TM Kart).
The program in La Conca.
Saturday, January 24th: Warm up, Qualifying heats.
Sunday, January 25th: Warm up, Prefinals, Finals.
The final phase will be on Sunday, with Pre-finals and Finals broadcast via Livestream.
Info: www.wskarting.it
The calendar of the WSK Super Master Series:
1st Rd 21-25/01/2026 LA CONCA / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
2nd Rd 04-08/02/2026 SARNO / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
3rd Rd 18-22/02/2026 VITERBO / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
4th Rd 04-08/03/2026 LONATO / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2
5th Rd 18-22/03/2026 FRANCIACORTA / MINI – OKNJ – OKJ – OK – KZ2