The closing act of the WSK Promotion season, the WSK Final Cup at the Cremona Circuit, features another entry success after the opener in Lonato.
All is set at the Cremona Circuit for the concluding event of the WSK Promotion season and the decisive round of the WSK Final Cup. After the opening round in Lonato, this event will determine the champions in the MINI, OKNJ, OKN, OKJ, OK, and KZ2 categories.
Given the intense battles witnessed in the first round, the outcome of this event is far from certain. This twelfth and final round of the 2024 WSK Promotion season in Cremona will decide the winners of the WSK Final Cup, a title coveted by all competitors to add their names to the prestigious honor roll that began in 2011 and has contributed to the history of international karting.
The resounding success of the WSK Final Cup.
A remarkable 389 drivers from 48 nations participated in the opening round at Lonato del Garda. These numbers not only highlight the excellent health of international karting but also reflect the confidence that drivers, teams, mechanics, and fans have placed in the entire WSK Promotion project. Cremona is expected to see similar numbers, with 350 drivers ready to compete for the still-open titles. Making a prediction is virtually impossible, especially considering that the points awarded in Cremona will be higher than those in Lonato: for the first-place finisher, including heats, pre-final, and final, 153 points will be available in Cremona, compared to 111 in Lonato.
KZ2 - Skrivan leads the provisional standings.
In the first round at Lonato in the most powerful KZ2 category, the outcome of the final lap of the final race rewarded Estonian driver Markus Kajak (#121 Maranello SRP/Maranello-TM Kart-LeCont), but it was the young Czech driver Marek Skrivan (#133 IPK Factory Team/IPK-TM Kart) who climbed to the top of the provisional standings. Eager for revenge in Cremona is Italian driver Cristian Bertuca (#101 BirelART Racing/BirelART-TM Kart), who finished sixth after being forced off the track just before the finish line. Other contenders for victory include Kajak's teammate, German David Trefilov, as well as Alessio Piccini (#127 Modena Kart/Parolin-TM Kart), Maksim Orlov making his debut with the CPB Sport team and Sodikart, Lorenzo Travisanutto with Parolin Motorsport, and Emilien Denner with Renda Motorsport on Sodikart.
The provisional KZ2 classification:
1st Skrivan Marek (CZE) points 77
2nd Kajak Markus (EST) points 71
3rd Bertuca Cristian (ITA) points 62
OK – Pavan secured victory, but the Final Showdown will involve Langendonk.
Sebastiano Pavan (ITA) (#237 Ward Racing/Tony Kart-TM Kart-LeCont) achieved an excellent victory and a significant advantage in the OK category standings. The Italian driver managed to prevail over his most tenacious rival, the Belgian Dries Van Langendonk (#228 Forza Racing/Exprit-TM Kart). The two will meet again in Cremona for the final showdown, but certainly other contenders will join them, starting with the Scotsman Zac Drummond (#227 Fusion Motorsport/KR-Iame), who finished third on the podium in Lonato. Among the expected protagonists is also Langendonk's teammate, the Englishman Lewis Wherrell, who retired on the first lap of the final in Lonato but was among the best in the heats and won the Prefinal-B.
The provisional OK classification:
1st Pavan Sebastiano (ITA) points 109
2nd Van Langendonk Dries (BEL) points 71
3rd Wherrell Lewis (GBR) points 48
OKJ - Sala wins in Lonato and leads the pack.
Filippo Sala (#334 Forza Racing/Exprit-TM Kart-Vega) dominated the OKJ category in Lonato, securing victory after a dominant qualifying session and a strong final. The Englishman Noah Baglin (#314 Prema Racing/KR-Iame) impressed with a great recovery from the heats and a win in the Prefinal-B. Sala's teammate, the Turkish driver Iskender Zulfikari, also delivered a strong performance. Among the category's protagonists, a comeback is expected from the best performers in the heats: the Dutchman Dean Hoogendoorn (#308 KR Motorsport/KR-Iame), the Canadian Ilie Crisan Tristan (#306 Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex), and the Peruvian Mariano Lopez (#311 Fusion Motorsport/KR-Iame).
The provisional OKJ classification:
1st Sala Filippo (ITA) points 111
2nd Baglin Noah (GBR) points 90
3rd Zulfikari Iskender (TUR) points
OKN - Marchesi aiming to take another win in Cremona.
In the OKN category, Nicolas Marchesi (#816 Team Driver/KR-Iame-Vega) managed to dethrone the Prefinal winner, fellow Italian Antonio Apicella (#823 GSR Team/LN-Iame), who had been poised to win the Final as well. Marchesi, however, triumphed in the concluding race at Lonato and is ready to repeat his performance in Cremona. Another protagonist of the category, the Polish driver Juliusz Ociepa (#810 Novalux/Lenzokart-LKE) was also among the top performers. He finished second and also ahead of Apicella, who had to settle for third place. Cristian Tonalini (#836 Tona Racing/Tony Kart-TM Kart) is determined to put in a strong performance as well.
The provisional OKN classification:
1st Marchesi Nicolas (ITA) points 88
2nd Apicella Antonio (ITA) points 79
3rd Tonalini Cristian (ITA) points 61
OKNJ - Orlando shines among many emerging drivers.
A new name is bursting onto the scene with force in the OK-N Junior: Michele Orlando (#703 DR/DR-Modena Engines-Vega). Already a protagonist on the national stage, in Lonato he conducted a spectacular comeback, taking victory ahead of other young talents like the Belgian Henri Kumpen (#717 Jana Racing/Tony Kart-Vortex), the French Alessandro Truchot (#720 Modena Kart/Parolin-TM Kart), and the Ukrainian Vsevolod Osadcyi-Suslovskyi (#708 Monster K Factory/CRG-TM Kart). Even in this category, the liveliness and competitiveness of young drivers from different nations means that the title is still up for grabs.
The provisional OKNJ classification:
1st Orlando Michele (ITA) points 106
2nd Kumpen Henri (BEL) points 80
3rd Truchot Alessandro (FRA) points 79
MINI GR.3 U10 - Loomets surprises everyone.
Among the youngest protagonists of the MINI Under 10 category, the Estonian Mark Loomets (#503 Energy Corse/Energy-TM Kart-Vega) emerged victorious at Lonato, surprising everyone at the end of a race full of twists and turns. His teammate, Niccolò Perico, opened the door for his competitors with an unfortunate start from the front row, earning a 3-second penalty and a drop of 8 positions. Other Italians stood out at Lonato, such as Antonio Ianni (#536 CRG Racing Team/TGroup-TM Kart), Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio (#512 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame), and Leopoldo Cannizzaro (#541 Gamoto/EKS-TM Kart). Loomets built up a decent advantage, but nothing will be taken for granted in Cremona.
The provisional MINI U10 classification:
1st Loomets Mark (EST) points 109
2nd Di Pietrantonio Lorenzo (ITA) points 71
3rd Perico Niccolò (ITA) points 56
MINI GR.3 - Frasnelli to the fore.
In the category for the older kids, 10 years old, three drivers who made excellent comebacks climbed onto the podium at Lonato. The Italian Julian Frasnelli (#521 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame-Vega) managed to edge out his teammate, the Scot Mason Robertson, in the final sprint. But the Pole Blazej Kostrzewa (#509 Team Driver/KR-Iame) is also in the running, while young Achille Rea (#538 CRG Racing Team/TGroup-TM Kart) had to settle for fourth place after winning the Prefinal-A. Also expected to make a comeback are the Portuguese Xavier Lazaro (#556 DR/DR-TM Kart), the Spaniard Daniel Miron Lorente (#504 Team Driver/KR-Iame), the Polish Antoni Ociepa (#593 Novalux/Lenzokart-LKE), and the French Stan Ratajski (#520 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame), winner of the Prefinal-B.
The provisional MINI Gr.3 classification:
1st Frasnelli Julian (ITA) points 86
2nd Rea Achille (ITA) points 71
3rd Robertson Mason (SCO) points 50