Published on Sunday, November 6, 2022

Surprising victories in the first round of the WSK Final Cup in Sarno

The victories, at the end of a hard-fought weekend at the International Circuit Napoli of Sarno, went to Panama’s Rousseau (MINI), the Italian Olivieri (OKJ), the Dutch Van Walstijn (KZ2) and the Chinese Cui (OK). The second and closing round of the series will be on Sunday in Lonato.

The intense weekend of the opening round of the WSK Final Cup took place at the International Circuit Napoli producing an excellent spectacle in the Finals held on Sunday, November 6th. The good weather contributed to set a perfect stage for the on-track battles in Sarno after a start that was affected by the rain.

The first round, which counted 190 drivers coming from 46 different countries, was won by Panama’s Gianmatteo Rousseau (Alonso Kart by Kidix/Alonso-Iame-Vega) in MINI, the Italian Emanuele Olivieri (IPK Official Team/IPK-TM Racing-Vega) in OK-Junior, the Dutch Senna Van Walstijn (CPB Sport/Sodikart-TM Racing-Vega) in KZ2 and the Chinese Yuanpu Cui (KR Motorsport/KR-Iame-LeCont) in OK. In a few days time, the drivers will head again on the track in Lonato for the second and closing round of the WSK Final Cup that will be run at the South Garda Karting Circuit next November 9-13 with a provisional entry list featuring over 290 drivers.

The Prefinals.

MINI. Prefinal-A has been quite hard-fought and the victory went to Vladimir Ivannikov (Gamoto/EKS-TM Racing-Vega), who pipped the Romanian Bogdan Cosma-Cristofor (BabyRace/Parolin-Iame). The winner of the heats, the Italian Filippo Sala (Team Driver/KR-Iame) slipped down to P8 in the closing stages instead. Prefinal-B also ended with a sprint to the line that was won by the Australian William Calleja (Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Racing), who led the poleman from Turkey Iskender Zulfikari (BabyRace Driver Academy/Parolin-Iame).

OKJ. The winner of the heats, Zac Drummond (Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Racing-Vega) kept his momentum in Prefinal-A leading the Colombian Salim Hanna Hernandez (Ricky Flynn Motorsport/LN-Vortex). Prefinal-B was won by the Slovenian Aleksandar Bogunovic (DPK Racing/KR-Iame), who was followed by the German Taym Saleh (KR Motorsport/KR-Iame).

KZ2. The Prefinal of KZ2 produced a good battle and the sprint to the line was eventually won by the French Emilien Denner (CPB Sport/Sodikart-TM Racing-Vega), who also led the pack in the heats. The Frenchman was followed by his teammate Senna Van Walstijn, while Giuseppe Palomba (BirelART Racing/BirelART-TM Racing) was third after leading the pack for most of the race.

OK. Prefinal-A was dominated by the Brit Joe Turney (Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex-LeCont), who came to the fore in the heats. He proceeded Anatoly Khavalkin (Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Racing). The Jamaican Alex Powell (KR Motorsport/KR-Iame) won Prefinal-B from the American Luis James Egozi (Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex).

The Finals.

MINI – Panama’s Gianmatteo Rousseau wins the sprint in MINI.

A great battle was announced in MINI and this category did not betray expectations. The driver from Panama Gianmatteo Rousseau (Alonso Kart by Kidix/Alonso-Iame-Vega) managed to beat the odds in the closing laps and took the win from Vladimir Ivannikov (Gamoto/EKS-TM Racing-Vega), who installed himself in the lead early on, while the Italian Filippo Sala (Team Driver/KR-Iame) was third after leading the initial part of the race. The Turkish driver Iskender Zulfikari (BabyRace Driver Academy/Parolin-Iame) led the pack in the initial laps, but eventually had to settle for P4.

MINI Final Result
Gianmatteo Rousseau (PAN)
Vladimir Ivannikov
Filippo Sala (ITA)

OKJ – The Italian Emanuele Olivieri takes the win in OKJ.

The Final of OKJ has been quite exciting and the Italian Emanuele Olivieri (IPK Official Team/IPK-TM Racing-Vega) had the upper hand from half-way through ending his performance on top. He had to win the duel with the Scot Zac Drummond (Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Racing-Vega). The third place went to the Slovenian Aleksandar Bogunovic (DPK Racing/KR-Iame). Behind the top three, the German Taym Saleh (KR Motorsport/KR-Iame) was fourth, while the Swiss Kian Fardin (Energy Corse/Energy-TM Racing) fifth and led the Spanish driver Christian Costoya (Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Racing).

OKJ Final Result
Emanuele Olivieri (ITA)
Zac Drummond (SCO)
Aleksandar Bogunovic (SVN)

KZ2 – Good win for the Dutch Senna Van Walstijn in KZ2.

In KZ2 the Dutch Senna Van Walstijn (CPB Sport/Sodikart-TM Racing-Vega) beat all the rivals after a start in which his teammate from France Emilien Denner and the Italian Giuseppe Palomba (BirelART Racing/BirelART-TM Racing) shared the lead of the race. On lap three, Van Walstijn took the lead and did not concede it until crossing the finish line, while Denner had to retire from the race following a contact with Palomba. The Swede Noah Milell (Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex) put in an excellent race and closed in on Van Walstijn in the closing laps trying to take the lead without success. The third place of the podium went to Egor Nosov (IPK Official Racing Team/IPK-TM Racing) at the end of a good race. Palomba ended fourth leading his teammate Cristian Bertuca.

KZ2 Final Result
Senna Van Walstijn (NLD)
Noah Milell (SWE)
Egor Nosov

OK – A surprising win for the Chinese Cui in OK.

The Final of OK has been quite surprising and the Chinese Yuanpu Cui (KR Motorsport/KR-Iame-LeCont) eventually recovered all the way up from the third row of the grid to take the victory. He won the final duel for the win with the Brit Joe Turney (Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex), who kept the lead until when three laps were left, and with the Jamaican Alex Powell (KR Motorsport/KR-Iame). When one lap was left to go Powell was forced to an early stop, while Cui crossed the finish line on top leading Anatoly Khavalkin (Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Racing). The third place was inherited by the French Jimmy Helias (Ward Racing/Tony Kart-Vortex) due to a penalty handed to Turney. The Brit Nathan Tye (Sodikart/Sodikart-TM Racing) completed a good race ending fourth at the end of a 16-place recovery. Latvia’s Tomass Stolcermanis (Energy Corse/Energy-TM Racing) also run a strong race ending fifth.