Published on Saturday, November 9, 2024

WSK Final Cup in Lonato, ready for the grand finale

With 43 heats required to determine the finalists of the first round of the WSK Final Cup at South Garda Karting in Lonato, it is now time for the final phase on Sunday, November 10th. The Prefinals and Finals will be broadcast live, featuring the protagonists of the international categories KZ2, OK, OKJ, the smaller MINI U10 and MINI Gr.3, and the new federal categories OK-NJ and OK-N.

A remarkable number of 389 drivers from 48 nations across five continents, representing major manufacturers and official teams, have competed in the heats on Friday and Saturday to qualify for victory in this first event of the WSK Final Cup. The second and final round will be held on November 24th in Cremona.

The results of the heats on Friday and Saturday.

KZ2 - Kajak and Bertuca engaged in a great duel for the win.

The Estonian Markus Kajak (#121 Maranello SRP/Maranello-TM Kart-LeCont) and the Italian Cristian Bertuca (#101 BirelART Racing/BirelART-TM Kart) have tied for the top spot after the heats, each with two victories. However, several drivers are poised to challenge them at the top, starting with David Trefilov, Kajak’s German teammate and pole sitter, who has one heat win. Also scoring a victory is the impressive young Italian driver Samuele Leopardi (#BirelART Racing/BirelART-TM Kart), who is rapidly improving.

OK - Van Langendonck dominates the field.

The Belgian Dries Van Langendonck (#228 Forza Racing/Exprit-TM Kart-LeCont) dominated the field with three wins from three heats. Behind him, the Austrian Niklas Schaufler (#244 DPK Racing/KR-Iame) secured one win and two podium finishes, as well as pole sitter Italian Sebastiano Pavan (#237 Ward Racing/Tony Kart-TM Kart), who also has a win and two podium finishes. Among the top drivers were the Englishman Lewis Wherrell (#229 Forza Racing/Exprit-TM Kart), Spaniard Christian Costoya (#201 Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart) and Italian Iacopo Martinese (#224 KR Motorsport/KR-Iame). The Swede Elliot Kaczynski (#236 Ward Racing/Tony Kart-TM Kart) also won a heat but is further down the standings due to a retirement in the first heat.

MINI GR.3 U10 - Di Pietrantonio comes to the fore.

Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio (#512 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame-Vega) has proven to be the dominant force in the MINI Gr.3 Under 10 heats with two wins and a second place, propelling the young Italian driver to the top of the provisional standings. However, his main rival remains fellow Italian Niccolò Perico (#501 Energy Corse/Energy-TM Kart), who has also been the most successful Under 10 driver so far, with two heat wins, the first and last, and the best qualifying time in Series-2. Perico's teammate, the Estonian Mark Loomets, also performed well with excellent results. Other notable drivers include the Italian Antonio Ianni (#536 CRG Racing Team/TGroup-TM Kart) with a win, and Englishman Harry Williams (#576 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame), who also won a heat.

MINI GR.3 – Rea is on top.

After taking the first heat victory, Achille Rea (#538 CRG Racing Team/TGroup-TM Kart-Vega) kept his momentum with another win, but the Italian driver is under pressure from a strong group of rivals, led by Belgian Antoine Venant (#604 Kidix/KR-Iame), fellow Italian Giuseppe Noviello (#540 Gamoto/EKS-TM Kart) and Swede Carl Nellegard (#532 Ward Racing/Tony Kart-TM Kart), all with one victory. Among the favourites are also Spaniard Daniel Miron Lorente (#504 Team Driver/KR-Iame) and fellow Italian Julian Frasnelli (#521 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame) who won the last heat of the day. The Portuguese Xavier Lazaro (#556 DR/DR-TM Kart), on pole in qualifying, and with good results in the heats, is also in contention.

OKNJ – Blanco puts in a great recovery.

Bruno Blanco (#731 LA Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart-Vega) stood out for his strong recovery from qualifying to win both Saturday heats, putting the Italian driver in first place in the standings. The Belgian Henri Kumpen (#717 Jana Racing/Tony Kart-Vortex) followed him. He took pole position in qualifying and also won two of Saturday's heats. The Frenchman Alessandro Truchot (#720 Modena Kart/Parolin-TM Kart), Pole Tomasz Cichoracki (#732 Bambini Racing/Tony Kart-TM Kart) and Italian Gioele Girardello (#719 Modena Kart/Parolin-TM Kart). .

OKN - Tonalini followed by Ociepa and Apicella.

In the three OKN heats, the Italian Cristian Tonalini (#836 Tona Racing/Tony Kart-TM Kart-Vega) took the first win and remains the leader in the standings thanks to excellent results in the other two races. The other two heat winners are fellow Italian Nicolas Marchesi (#816 Team Driver/KR-Iame) and Pole Juliusz Ociepa (#810 Novalux/Lenzokart-LKE), who with his win in the last heat moved up to second place in the standings. Antonio Apicella (#823 GSR Team/LN-Iame) is making strong progress and moved up to third place.

OKJ – Sala dominates.

In the most crowded category, OK Junior, 10 heats were necessary to define the standings, with four heats contested by each driver, and Filippo Sala (#334 Forza Racing/Exprit-TM Kart-Vega) dominated the scene. The Italian driver won all four of his heats, confirming his dominance among the 78 drivers in the category. Behind Sala were the Englishman Noah Baglin (#314 Prema Racing/KR-Iame) with two heat wins, the Canadian Ilie Crisan (#306 Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex) with one win, and the Peruvian Mariano Lopez (#311 Fusion Motorsport/KR-Iame) with good results after taking pole position in qualifying. The Dutchman Dean Hoogendoorn (#308 KR Motorsport/KR-Iame) with a win, and Sala's teammate, Turk Iskender Zulfikari, sixth in the standings, were also among the top drivers.