Surprising start of the WSK Super Master Series in La Conca
All the main constructors and most qualified teams are present for the international karting opener of the 20th season by WSK Promotion
A beautiful, almost spring-like day welcomed the opening of the 20th year of WSK Promotion at the International Circuit La Conca, for the first event of the year in the start of the WSK Super Master Series 2025. A competition that, in its 16th edition, did not disappoint expectations, but rather immediately expressed great interest not only at a sporting level but also for the technical innovations of the new homologations. The presence of the major manufacturers and the most qualified teams was also important, on the track for this first international race of the year with a presence of over 200 drivers from 44 nationalities.
First surprises on the first day of qualifying practice and heats.
After the Official Collective Tests held last week, useful for the best set-up of the equipment and to gain familiarity with the new technical sector for those facing the new season in a new category or in a new team, the real first comparisons came on Friday, with qualifying practice and, subsequently, the first qualifying heats, immediately giving some surprises.
OKJ - McGaughy on top by a few thousandths.
In the two OKJ Series, with many new protagonists coming from the MINI Gr.3, there was an immediate battle between the American Michael McGaughy (#344 Koski Motorsport/KR-Iame-Vega), in pole position overall and in Session-1 in 47.334s, and the Dutchman Dean Hoogendoorn (#302 Prema Racing/KR-Iame) who posted the best time of Session-2 in 47.387s. The second best time in Session-1 was obtained by the English driver Noah Baglin (Prema Racing/KR-Iame), who ended his effort 86 thousandths of a second behind McGaughy, while the Canadian Ilie Tristan Crisan (Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex) completed Session-2 in second place, just 0.019s behind Hoogendoorn.
OK-NJ - French Drivers to the fore, as Nuvolini claims Pole
In the only qualifying session for the OK-N Junior category, the French driver Many Nuvolini (#714 KR Motorsport/KR-Iame-Vega) took everyone by surprise. Having already secured victories in the Mini class in his home country and fresh from winning an international Iame single-make event, Nuvolini clinched pole position at La Conca with a time of 48.021s. His compatriot, Teo Policand (Victorylane/KR-Iame), followed closely in second place, 0.283s behind, while the Polish driver Tomasz Cichoracki (Ward Racing/Tony Kart-Vortex) secured third place, 0.358 seconds off the pace. The Italian driver Cristian Blandino, competing for his new Greek team GSR Team on a Tony Kart-Iame, finished fourth, just 0.377s behind. Meanwhile, the LA Motorsport duo made of the French driver Zack Zhu and the Norwegian Norbert Plaszewski claimed fifth.
MINI Gr.3 - Rea is the fastest
In the MINI Gr.3 category, familiar names rose to the top, with two Italian drivers achieving the best times in their respective series. Achille Rea (#553 CRG Racing Team/T-Group/TM Kart-Vega) set the fastest overall time in Session-1 with a lap of 52.378s, while Edoardo Colucci (#571 LA Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart) claimed the top spot in Session-2 with a time of 52.979s. The British driver Mason Robertson (BabyRace/Parolin-Iame) finished second in Session-1, 0.174 seconds behind Rea. In Session-2, the battle for second place was incredibly close, with just 0.004s separating the French driver Jean Poujol (Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex) in third place, who was 0.026s behind the leader, and the Polish driver Blazej Kostrzewa (Team Driver/KR-Iame) in fourth (0.030s behind).
MINI U10 - David Shitov is impressive
Among the many young newcomers to the smallest WSK category, David Shitov (#525 Team Driver/KR-Iame-Vega) was the surprising one. He secured the pole position with a time of 53.490s. Hot on his heels was the Caribbean driver Wynn Godschalk from the Kidix team, also driving a KR-Iame, 0.037s behind. His teammate, the Moroccan driver Nahyl El Gahoudi, followed in third place, 0.119s off the pace. The Polish driver David Aagten (Team Driver/KR-Iame) and Mexican Mateo Garcia (Monster K Factory/Monster K-TM Kart) completed the top five.
KZ2 - Van Walstijn Confirms his pole Position
There were no surprises in the KZ2 category, as the Dutch driver Senna Van Walstijn (#102 CPB Sport/Sodikart-TM Kart-Vega) once again demonstrated his speed by claiming pole position with a time of 46.360s. His teammate, the French driver Matteo Spirgel, produced a surprising result by taking second place, a mere 0.125s behind the leader. Other notable performances came from three other Dutch drivers: Marjin Kremers (Tony Kart-Vortex), Stan Pex (KR-TM Kart), and Kasper Schermano (CPB Sport). The Italian driver Giuseppe Palomba, making his debut with Maranello Kart-TM Kart, also had a positive start, securing sixth place, 0.266s off the pace.
OK - Costoya leads the pack.
In the two OK Sessions, the Spaniard Christian Costoya (#231 Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart-LeCont) once again proved to be the standout performer, securing the overall pole position in Session-1 with a time of 46.155s. Meanwhile, the driver from Malta Jacob Micallef (#206 KR Motorsport/KR-Iame) claimed victory in Session-2 with a time of 46.305s. Among the other top performers was the recent winner of the WSK Final Cup 2024, that is the Belgian driver Dries Van Langendonck (Prema Racing/KR-Iame), who secured second place in Session-1, just 0.179s behind Costoya. The second-fastest time in Session-2 was set by the British driver Zac Drummond (Fusion Motorsport/KR-Iame).
The winners of the first qualifying heats
The day's program concluded with the first qualifying heats. Additional heats will be held on Saturday to determine the finalists for this opening round. The final phase will be broadcast live on Sunday, January 26th.
The initial heat winners are:
MINI U10 Heat-1: David Shitov (#525 Team Driver/KR-Iame-Vega).
MINI Gr.3 Heat A-B: Achille Rea (#553 CRG Racing Team/T-Group/TM Kart-Vega).
MINI Gr.3 Heat C-D: Niccolò Perico (#521 Team Driver/KR-Iame-Vega).
OK-NJ Heat-1: Many Nuvolini (#714 KR Motorsport/KR-Iame-Vega).
OKJ Heat A-B: Michael McGaughy (#344 Koski Motorsport/KR-Iame-Vega).
OKJ Heat C-D: Ilie Tristan Crisan (#304 Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex-Vega).
KZ2 Heat-1: Stan Pex (#113 Pex/KR-TM Kart-Vega).
OK Heat A-B: Christian Costoya (#231 Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart-LeCont).
OK Heat C-D: Dries Van Langendonck (#201 Prema Racing/KR-Iame-LeCont).
WSK Super Master Series, Rd1 La Conca:
Saturday, January 25th: Warm up; Qualifying heats.
Sunday, January 26th: Warm up; Live on TV and Live Streaming: Prefinals and Finals.