Second race of the season in the top German karting series. Schweppermannring can look back on a long tradition. Full fields promise plenty of excitement.
The German Kart Championship successfully kicked off the 2024 season in Mülsen three weeks ago. The Bavarian municipality of Ampfing now hosts the next showdown. 191 entrants will line up in six different classes and are guaranteed to serve up a feast of karting action at the most southerly event of the year.
From Saxony, the DKM caravan heads south to Ampfing in Bavaria this weekend. After a year’s absence from the calendar, the 1,063-metre Schweppermannring welcomes back the drivers in the top German karting series. With 191 entrants, the number of competitors is even higher than at the season opener. Conditions look set to be excellent this time, with springlike temperatures and sunshine. The action from Ampfing can be followed via an online live stream at adac.de/motorsport from 12:00 on Saturday and 10:00 on Sunday.
The programme in the German Kart Championship is again split into two categories. The DKM (KZ2) and DJKM (OK-Junior) classes are international competitions, in which the drivers are battling it out for an attractive funding package. ADAC e.V. has incorporated the DKM into its “Road to DTM” package. At the end of the season, one competitor will be rewarded with a fee-free place in the ADAC GT4 Germany series for the 2025 season, allowing them to take the next step in their career. Looking to support the next generation of motorsport stars, the ADAC Stiftung Sport Foundation will assess the juniors on a case-by-case basis to systematically promote talented youngsters. The championship leaders coming into round two of the season are Stan Pex (DKM, SP Motorsport) and Amin Kara Osman (DJKM, SIM-ON).
With 47 drivers, the field in the DMSB Shift Kart Cup (DSKC) is even bigger this time around. Rookie Maximilian Schleimer (Maranello SRP Factory Team) produced the first highlight of the season in Mülsen. He injured his foot in qualifying on Saturday but managed to overcome that and win the final. The championship leader after the season-opener is Dutchman Siep Kuypers (CRG Holland). The action was no less exciting in the youngest class, the German Mini Kart Championship (DMKM). While Milan Rossi (Lanari Racing Team) claimed a dominant victory in Mülsen, the youngsters behind him were packed as closely together as usual, and look set to produce plenty of thrilling battles again in Ampfing.
The DKM programme also features IAME Series Germany races in Bavaria. Both categories have very strong fields. 35 drivers are registered for the X30 Junior class. Although Lars Ramaer (SIM-ON) won the final in Mülsen, Marius Bonconseil from the Ebert Motorsport team actually scored the most points and occupies top spot in the table. The dominant force in the X30 Seniors competition was Kevin Lantinga from the Netherlands. However, he was only a guest driver and does not start in Ampfing. As such, there will be a new balance of power, with championship leader Davin Singer (CV Performance Group) among the favourites.
The programme in Ampfing is another busy one. The competitors take to the track for the free practice sessions on Friday. Everything must then fall into place for qualifying on the Saturday morning. The drivers will have six minutes to secure the best starting positions for the subsequent heats. The winners in Ampfing will then be decided in the Super Heats and finals on Sunday.