The run-up to the international season continues for the CRG Racing Team, which was protagonist of the 2nd Round of the WSK Master in Lonato last weekend. For the CRG drivers and the technical staff it was a weekend that provided important technical information, although unfortunately for various reasons it did not bring significant results. When racing the main goal is always the result, but for a Factory Team the technical development work is of equal importance and at this stage of the year it is a priority, as the first real comparison tests among the main competitors on the 2022 chassis are now taking place on the track.
From a technical point of view, the work program scheduled for this WSK meeting was important, especially for the KZ and OK classes, where 2 different chassis were tested and compared and data were collected, including some on the new ABA brake pump and more generally on the VEN 13 braking system. Thanks to 5 days of excellent weather, the work plan has been completed and the team got many positive feedbacks from the track, especially in KZ, where Viktor Gustavsson has been the CRG driver with the best performances, always in line with the best. The Swedish driver started the weekend with a 4th place overall in qualifying tests, out of 93 drivers and later won 2 qualifying heats, but in the Final a contact on the first lap relegated him out of the top ten, preventing him from fighting for the podium.
Jeremy Iglesias was also very positive, especially in the qualifying stages, but then in the Final he did not find the best set up, thus failing to capitalize on the work and potential shown over the weekend. Even Paavo Tonteri in the Final did not have the pace to enter the top ten, while in the heats he was always among the fastest. As for Alex Irlando, his weekend was on the rise and his speed in the Final was very good, but unfortunately starting in the middle of the grid, prevented him to do better than P12. Jorge Pescador's race was more complicated, slowed down by a technical problem in the Final, just as it was not a positive weekend for Brandon Nilsson, Andrea Bosetto and Natalia Balbo, who did not make it to the Final.
Due to two accidents in the heats and a technical problem in qualifying, Gabriel Gomez also remained out of the Final in OK, while rookie Oliver Rasmussen in Mini had a positive race, doing very well in the qualifying practice and in the heats, while during the Final he was delayed by a contact in the first laps.
Positive balance also for Sebastian Garzon Orozco in OK Junior, penalized by a problem in qualifying, which made his weekend all uphill, but at times able to show an excellent potential.
The WSK Master will be back in three weeks in Muro Leccese, where KZ will not be racing, but even before that, the CRG Racing Team will get back on the track in Franciacorta for the Winter Series at the end of February.
All the results of the Lonato weekend are available on the WSK official website: www.wskarting.it
Drivers’ feedbacks:
Viktor Gustavsson (KZ): “I am very happy with the weekend, despite the contact in the Final at the start, which prevented us from fighting with the best for the top positions. I am satisfied because our speed has always been good in all conditions, the chassis handles the tires well in all stages of the race and the feeling with the new VEN 13 braking system is also truly excellent. We still have a lot of room for improvement and by working in this direction I am sure that we will be ready for the FIA European Championship races. I believe that the appointment with my first podium with CRG has only been postponed".
Gabriel Gomez (OK): “We made a journey from free practice on Wednesday to Sunday, continuing to improve from a technical point of view and this is a positive aspect. Unfortunately in qualifying practice I broke the chain after a lap, had to start always last in the heats, so I found myself too often in the brawl and twice out of the race. This made it more difficult to complete my work schedule and made it impossible to get to the Final. But I want to look at the positive aspects in any case and this weekend also highlighted many of them. This week we will already be back on the track and in two weeks we will be in Franciacorta for the Winter Series, all motivated to do well playing with consistency”.
Oliver Rasmussen (MINI): “It was an incredible experience to work with the official CRG Team this week: I learned a lot and I was able to see the potential of a Factory Team, both from a technical point of view and from the the technical staff one. I immediately felt good with the chassis and in many stages of the race I managed to have performances in line with the best. In the Final I got stuck in the brawl and lost contact with the fastest, but beyond the result, I am very happy for this opportunity and I would really like my 2022 program to continue in this direction”.