Published on Monday, January 22, 2024

The WSK Champions Cup named the first champions of 2024

The first titles of the season have been awarded in Lonato to Kajak in KZ2, Bondarev in OK, Schaufler in OKJ, Blandino in MINI Gr.3, Perico in MINI Gr.3 U10 and Ruykov in OKNJ. The next round will be on January 25-28 in Lonato for the opening of the WSK Super Master Series.

The final phase of the WSK Champions Cup has crowned the champions of the 2024 edition at the South Garda Karting, which once again proved to be of the highest level. The event witnessed excellent participation, with over 260 drivers from 50 countries participating in this inaugural event of the new year. The competition featured categories MINI, OKNJ, OKJ, OK, and KZ2, showcasing the major manufacturers and various technical and sporting innovations that added even more excitement to the start of this new season.

After three intense days of racing, from the qualifying heats on Friday and Saturday to the spectacular final phase on Sunday, with some surprising outcomes, the titles of the 2024 WSK Champions Cup were awarded to the Estonian Markus Kajak in KZ2, the Ukrainian Oleksandr Bondarev in OK, the Austrian Niklas Schaufler in OKJ, the Italian Cristian Blandino in MINI Gr.3, the Italian Niccolò Perico in MINI Gr.3 Under 10 and the Bulgarian Lyuboslav Ruykov in the OKN Junior federal category.

The winners of Prefinals.

MINI Gr.3 - Prefinal: Cristian Blandino (ITA) (#550 Kalì-Kart/TGroup-TM Kart-Vega).

MINI Gr.3 U10 - Prefinal A: Niccolò Perico (ITA) (#526 Energy Corse/Energy-TM Kart-Vega).
MINI Gr.3 U10 - Prefinal B: David Moscardi (ITA) (#560 BirelART/BirelART-TM Kart-Vega).

OKJ - Prefinal A: Dries Van Langendonck (BEL) (#328 Forza Racing/Exprit-TM Kart-Vega).
OKJ - Prefinal B: Niklas Schaufler (AUT) (#301 DPK Racing/KR-Iame-Vega).

KZ2 - Prefinal A: Giuseppe Palomba (ITA) (#12 Sodikart/Sodi-TM Kart-Vega).
KZ2 - Prefinal B: Emilien Denner (FRA) (#11 Sodikart/Sodi-TM Kart-Vega).

OK - Prefinal A: Salim Hanna (COL) (#208 Prema Racing/KR-Iame-LeCont).
OK - Prefinal B: Oleksandr Bondarev (UKR) (#201 Prema Racing/KR-Iame-LeCont)

OKNJ - Prefinal: Valerio Viapiana (ITA) (#702 Team Driver/KR-Iame-Vega).

The Finals and the Champions of the WSK Champions Cup 2024.

KZ2 – A surprising Kajak takes the final win.

The Estonian Markus Kajak (#14 Maranello SRP/Maranello-TM Kart-Vega) was the surprising winner of the KZ2 final. He took the lead in the second part of the final. Kajak started from the eighth position, recovering well to second place and then taking the lead due to the sudden retirement of the Italian Giuseppe Palomba (#12 Sodikart/Sodi-TM Kart), who faced a technical issue while leading after starting from the pole position. Another notable retirement was the Frenchman Emilien Denner (#11 Sodikart/Sodi-TM Kart), who had an incident in the first lap. The Italian Andrea Dalè (#24 Dalè/CRG-TM Kart) secured the second position, with another Italian, Cristian Bertuca (#1 BirelART/BirelART-TM Kart), managing to finish on the podium in third place. The Ukrainian Slavik Putiatin (#17 Maranello SRP/Maranello-TM Kart) and the Swiss Ethan Frigomosca (#49 Gerber/Maranello-TM Kart) also finished in the top positions.

KZ2 Final Result
1st Markus Kajak (EST)
2nd Andrea Dalè (ITA)
3rd Cristian Bertuca (ITA)

OK – Impeccable win to Bondarev.

The Ukrainian Oleksandr Bondarev (#201 Prema Racing/KR-Iame-LeCont) emerged as one of the main contenders in the category. After winning the Prefinal-B, he went on to secure victory in the final with a comfortable lead, prevailing in several duels. His teammate, the Colombian Salim Hanna (#208 Prema Racing/KR-Iame), who won the heats and Prefinal-A, had to settle for third place, finishing behind the Israeli Guy Albag (#204 KR Motorsport/KR-Iame). Gerasim Skulanov (#233 DPK Racing/KR-Iame) claimed the fourth position, followed by Elia Pappacena (#214 Ward Racing/Tony Kart-TM Kart). The Belgian Ean Eyckmans (#209 BirelART Racing/BirelART-TM Kart), initially crossed the line in second place, but then received a 10s time penalty and ended up in sixth position.

OK Final Result
1st Oleksandr Bondarev (UKR)
2nd Guy Albag (ISR)
3rd Salim Hanna (COL)

OKJ - Schaufler wins a nice final.

The Austrian Niklas Schaufler (#301 DPK Racing/KR-Iame-Vega), also the winner of the Prefinal-B, convincingly secured victory in the final after overtaking the Italian Filippo Sala (#327 Ricky Flynn/LN-TM Kart) a few laps into the race. The Belgian Dries Van Langendonck (#328 Forza Racing/Exprit-TM Kart), winner of Prefinal-A, showcased his competitiveness by securing second place in a sprint finish ahead of Filippo Sala. The Dutch driver Rocco Coronel (343 Fath/KR-Iame) claimed the fourth position, while the Spanish driver Christian Costoya (#337 Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart) finished fifth.

OKJ Final Result
1st Niklas Schaufler (AUT)
2nd Dries Van Langendonck (BEL)
3rd Filippo Sala (ITA)

MINI Gr.3 – Blandino dominates.

The young Italian driver Cristian Blandino (#550 Kalì-Kart/TGroup-TM Kart-Vega) dominated the weekend in all its phases, from practice to heats and in the Prefinal, ultimately securing victory in the final ahead of the Australian William Calleja (#516 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame) and Mark Pilipenko (#522 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame). Among the top performers was also the Ukrainian driver Oleksandr Legenkyi (#503 Team Driver/KR-Iame), who made a comeback to finish in fourth place, along with his teammate, the Dutch driver Daniel Miron Lorente, securing fifth place at the finish line.

MINI Gr.3 Final Result
1st Cristian Blandino (ITA)
2nd William Calleja (AUS)
3rd Mark Pilipenko

MINI Gr.3 Under 10 - Perico confirms his pace taking the victory in the final too.

Niccolò Perico (#526 Energy Corse/Energy-TM Kart-Vega) confirmed his victory in the final, having won Prefinal-A and secured the first position after the heats. The Italian driver crossed the finish line ahead of Leon Chelidze (#504 Team Driver/KR-Iame); however, Chelidze received a penalty. Therefore, the Scottish driver Mason Robertson (#513 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame) was promoted to P2, with another Italian from BabyRace, Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio, finishing third. The Pole position holder Patrick Bissa (#588 Bissa/EKS-TM Kart), claimed the fourth position, ahead of the American Lucas Palacio (#575 KR Motorsport/KR-Iame).

MINI U10 Finale Result
1st Niccolò Perico (ITA)
2nd Mason Robertson (SCO)
3rd Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio (ITA)

OKNJ - Ruykov wins the challenge.

The OKN Junior final was marked by intense duels. At the end of the challenge, the Bulgarian Lyuboslav Ruykov (#720 Zanchi Motorsport/Tony Kart-TM Kart-Vega) claimed victory, ahead of the Slovakian Alex Molota (#717 Firefly/OTK-TM Kart) and Romanian Bogdam Cosma Cristofor (#711 Forza Racing/Exprit-TM Kart), who had taken the lead in the final laps. Another weekend protagonist, Italy’s Valerio Viapiana (#702 Team Driver/KR-Iame), finished only 11th. The top positions also included Luigi Cocchianella (#721 Kidix/KR-Iame) in fourth place and the American Drew Walz (#728 Forza Racing/Exprit-TM Kart), who staged a comeback to finish fifth, ahead of the Japanese driver Sara Matsui (#708 KR Motorsport/KR-Iame).