The following drivers came to the fore in qualifying practice: Osadchyi-Suslovskyi (OK-NJ), Rea (MINI Gr.3), Godschalk (MINI U10), Hoogendoorn (OKJ), Drummond (OK) and Orlov (KZ2). The first qualifying heats will follow shortly.
At the International Circuit Napoli of Sarno, after the initial free practice sessions, the official qualifying session on Friday morning kicked off the second round of the WSK Super Master Series. This event sees an even larger number of participants compared to the opening round at La Conca. On the track are the MINI, OKNJ, OKJ, OK, and KZ2 categories, with approximately 280 drivers.
OK-NJ – Osadchyi-Suslovskyi takes Pole Position
In the OK-N Junior category, the Ukrainian driver Vsevolod Osadchyi-Suslovskyi (#716 Monster K Factory/Monster K-TM Kart-Vega) was the first surprise of the day, securing pole position on the final lap of qualifying with a time that was 0.012s faster than the Finnish driver Lenni Makinen (LA Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart). The Italian drivers Michele Orlando (DR/DR-Modena Engines), Gioele Girardello (Modena Kart/Parolin-TM Kart) and Manuel Martufi (IPK Factory Team/IPK-Iame) were also very close to the top, all within a tenth of a second. The dominant driver from the previous round at La Conca, the American Lucas Palacio (KR Motorsport/KR-Iame), qualified sixth, 0.108s off the pace.
MINI Gr.3 – Rea leads teammate Laitinen
Achille Rea (#553 CRG Racing Team/T-Group-TM Kart-Vega) secured pole position in the first session with a time of 1:05.688s, ahead of the Polish driver Blazej Kostrzewa (Team Driver/KR-Iame) by 0.244 seconds and Italian driver David Moscardi (Novalux/Lenzokart-LKE) by 0.248 seconds. Championship leader Niccolò Perico (Team Driver/KR-Iame) qualified fourth, just 0.256s off the pace. In the second session, the Finnish driver Leo Laitinen (CRG Racing Team/T-Group/TM Kart) set the fastest time in 1:05.959s, but was three tenths slower than his teammate Rea. The Portuguese driver Xavier Lazaro (DR/DR-TM Kart) was just 0.014s behind in third place. Stepan Mazepin (SM Racing/Gillard-TM Kart) secured the third-fastest time in Session-2, 0.231s off the pace.
MINI U10 – Godschalk in pole position.
The Caribbean driver Wynn Godschalk (#564 Kidix/KR-Iame-Vega), currently second in the championship, has secured pole position with a time of 1:06.951s. The Dutch driver Julien Van De Coterlet (MP Academy Gamoto/Henza Kart/TM Kart) at 0.361 seconds and the Cypriot driver Andreas Papageorgiu (Monster K Factory/Monster K-TM Kart) at 0.419 seconds. The championship leader from America Josh Bergman (Kidix/KR-Iame), qualified sixth, 0.525s off the pace. His teammate and the son of Formula 1 champion Kimi Raikkonen, Robin Raikkonen, qualified seventh, 0.538s behind.
OKJ – Hoogendoorn sets the pace
In the OKJ category, Dutch driver Dean Hoogendoorn (#302 Prema Racing/KR-Iame-Vega), who has been impressive in previous rounds, secured the overall pole position with a time of 58.613 set in Series-2. Brazilian driver Augustus Toniolo (Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex) was the fastest in Series-1 with a time of 59.238. In Series-2, Mexican driver Emiliano Hernandez (VictoryLine/KR-Iame) finished second, 0.116 seconds behind Hoogendoorn, followed by Polish driver Remigiusz Samczyk (Fusion Motorsport/KR-Iame) at 0.122 seconds. In Series-1, Swedish driver Carl Nellegard (Ward Racing/Tony Kart-TM Kart) was just 9 milliseconds behind Toniolo, and Spaniard Manuel Miguez (DPK Racing/KR-Iame) was 46 milliseconds behind. The championship leader, who won at La Conca, was a bit further back in 14th position, 0.544 seconds off the pace.
OK - Drummond sets the pace
The Scottish driver Zac Drummond (#230 Fusion Motorsport/KR-Iame-LeCont), the winner at La Conca, immediately left his mark by securing the overall pole position with a time of 56.776s in Session-1. The Brazilian driver Bernardo Bernoldi (Prema Racing/KR-Iame) was second, 0.214 seconds behind, while the Czech driver Jindrich Pesl (Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex) was third, 0.293 seconds off the pace. In Session-2, the German driver Luke Kornder (Ricky Flynn/LN Kart-TM Kart) was the fastest with a time of 56.841s, which was just 0.012s ahead of the Belgian driver Dries Van Langendonck (Prema Racing/KR-Iame) and 0.034s ahead of the Italian driver Iacopo Martinese (KR Motorsport/KR-Iame).
KZ2 - Orlov excels
In the highly competitive KZ2 category, Max Orlov, driving for CPB Sport on a Sodikart-TM Kart-Vega, secured the overall pole position. He set the fastest time in Session-2 with a 56.281s, while the Estonian Markus Kajak (Formula K SRP/IPK-TM Kart), set the fastest time in Series-1 with a lap completed after 56.397s. Chasing Kajak in Session-1 were the Italians Cristian Bertuca (BirelART Racing/TM Kart) and Danilo Albanese (KR Motorsport/KR-Iame), who were respectively 46 and 49 milliseconds behind. The winner at La Conca, the Dutch driver Stan Pex (SP Motorsport/KR-Iame), qualified ninth, 0.216s adrift. In Session-2, the Romanian driver Daniel Vasile (CL Racing Team/BirelART-TM Kart) was second fastest, 0.201s behind Orlov, followed by the German driver David Trefilov (Formula K SRP/IPK-TM Kart) at 0.305 seconds.
The first qualifying heats will take place this afternoon, followed by additional heats on Saturday. The Prefinals and Finals will be held on Sunday, February 9th.