Arena E in Mülsen welcomes 187 drivers. Unsettled weather makes for extra excitement on Saturday. Wins for newcomers and established drivers.

The opening round of the 2024 German Kart Championship was a great success. Arena E in Mülsen, Saxony, welcomed kart drivers from Germany and beyond to the first of six events in the German Kart Championship last weekend. A total of 187 drivers lined up in the four DKM categories and IAME Series Germany. The 1,315-kilometre track again provided a perfect stage. In contrast, the weather did not really play ball: cold temperatures and heavy rain, particularly on Saturday, really put all the competitors through their paces in qualifying and the heats. The sun did make an appearance on Sunday, and the result was thrilling finals and a number of shocks. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the participants enjoyed exciting races and congratulated the winners Milan Rossi (DMKM), Lars Ramaer (X30 Junior), Kevin Lantinga (X30 Senior), Amin Kara Osman (DJKM), Maximilian Schleimer (DSKC) and Stan Pex (DKM).

DKM: Stan Pex strikes in the final

21 drivers lined up in the pinnacle of German karting. The DKM features shift karts from the KZ2 category for the first time this season. Right up to the final, it looked like being a successful event for Markus Kajak (Maranello SRP Factory Team). The Estonian had won everything up to that point. However, that all changed after the first corner: a collision forced him off the track, and he resumed the race at the back of the field. Out in front, a familiar name took the lead: Stan Pex (SP Motorsport). However, he still had plenty of work to do if he were to win the season-opener. The opposition was putting him under pressure, and Guust Specken (CRG Holland) and Lukas Schächer (TB Racing Team) also enjoyed spells at the front of the field. However, it was Pex who eventually took the chequered flag at the end of a thrilling race. His compatriot Specken was runner-up, ahead of Danilo Albanese (Dörr Motorsport) from Italy, Schächer and Dutchman Christian de Kleijn (CRG Holland). Victory sees Pex lead the overall standings after the opening round: “That was a very close and intense final. I had a lot of hard but fair battles all race. We changed the set-up a bit before the race, which paid dividends. It is great to lead the championship again.”

DKM class standings after 1 of 6 rounds:
1. Stan Pex (86 points)
2. Guust Specken (83 points)
3. Christiaan de Kleijn (77 points)
4. Danilo Albanese (58 points)
5. Robert Kindervater (52 points)

DJKM: Amin Kara Osman inherits final victory

Reigning champion Luke Kornder (SIM-ON) was back on top again at the season-opener. After the Super Heat, he led the field into the 15-lap race and defended his lead until shortly before the finish. Then, with just three laps remaining, Moritz Groneck (CRG Holland) found his way through and went on to take the chequered flag. After the race, however, he was handed a penalty and relegated to tenth place. A similar fate befell Kornder, who had to settle for eighth place after a five-second penalty. The new top five consisted of winner Amin Kara Osman (SIM-ON), Philip Helmchen (ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg e.V.), Benjamin Jalmgard, Oliver Städtler (CV Performance Group) and rookie Marc Alexander Reistrup (CRG Holland). This was Kara Osman’s second DJKM win of his career, and he was understandably happy after the race: “I am very pleased to win the opener. A big thank you goes to my team for the super support. I now turn my attention to Ampfing, where I want to go on the attack again.”

DJKM class standings after 1 of 6 rounds:
1. Amin Kara Osman (84 points)
2. Philip Helmchen (80 points)
3. Luke Kornder (65 points)
4. Moritz Groneck (61 points)
5. Benjamin Jalmgard (60 points)

DMKM: Milan Rossi claims dominant win

The German Mini Kart Championship (DMKM) is taking place for the first time this year. 28 young racing drivers started the race and came up against an inspired Henri Möhring (TB Racing Team) on the Saturday – the youngster from Hesse led the standings at the end of the day. However, he then suffered two disappointing DNFs on the Sunday. Local favourite Damian Luca Zeller (Apex Performance) secured pole position for the final. However, it was Milan Rossi (Lanari Racing Team) who took the lead at the start, and he went on to take a commanding victory. “I had a perfect start, which allowed me to lay the foundation for the win. I opened a gap, which meant I was able to stay out of any scraps for position and to pull clear,” he said, summing up his success. Behind the young man from the Saarland region there were many changes of position, before Felix Groneck (CRG Holland) eventually finished runner-up. He was followed home by Carlos Nees (Nees Racing), Zeller and Gustav Christensen (CRG Holland) from Sweden.

DMKM class standings after 1 of 6 rounds:
1. Milan Rossi (84 points)
2. Carlos Nees (79 points)
3. Damian Luca Zeller (78 points)
4. Felix Groneck (74 points)
5. Gustav Christensen (45 points)

DSKC: Rookie Maximilian Schleimer triumphs after scary moment

Maximilian Schleimer (Maranello SRP Factory Team) showed an abundance of fighting spirit. The shift kart rookie suffered a crash in qualifying and was taken to hospital for treatment. Despite pain in his left foot, he returned to action and enjoyed a great success in the final – victory in his first DSKC race. “We prepared meticulously for the weekend. However, I thought it was all over after my crash yesterday. It is almost unbelievable that I have won here against this strong opposition. I obviously want to back that up now,” said the beaming winner. The battle for second place proved to be a thriller, with up to six drivers trading blows. In the end, pole-sitter Siep Kuypers (CRG Holland) came out on top, ahead of Austrian Emma Felbermayr (TB Racing Team), Ken Algre (Maranello SRP Factory Team) and Claudia Henning.

In the Masters competition for drivers aged 35 and over, Lars Ossenbeck (ADAC Niedersachsen/Sachsen-Anhalt e.V) took victory ahead of Nathalie Kreitz (VDB Kart Racing) and Christian Breiter (ADAC Niedersachsen/Sachsen-Anhalt e.V).

DSKC class standings after 1 of 6 rounds:
1. Siep Kuypers (91 points)
2. Maximilian Schleimer (82 points)
3. Emma Felbermayr (70 points)
4. Dion van Werven (57 points)
5. Ken Algre (47 points)

X30 Juniors: Lars Ramaer fights back to win

Lars Ramaer (SIM-ON) set the pace in qualifying and the heats. However, an issue in the Super Heat saw him drop back to eighth place. The new leader was Marius Bonconseil (Ebert Motorsport). However, four laps into the race Ramaer was back at the front of the field and set about opening a significant gap. Second and third-placed Lukas Roos (SIM-ON) and Bonconseil also had a comfortable advantage over their pursuers. In contrast, a close battle was developing for the remaining trophy positions. In the end, Moritz Weber (CV Performance Group) crossed the finish line ahead of Elias Tittus (Dutt Motorsport by Fenster.com). Following his success, Ramaer was on top form in the winner’s interview: “I am very happy. I made up four places at the start and had very good pace in the race, which then allowed me to get through to the front. It all worked out in the end.”

X30 Juniors class standings after 1 of 6 rounds:
1. Marius Bonconseil (86 points)
2. Lars Ramaer (84 points)
3. Lukas Roos (76 points)
4. Moritz Weber (75 points)
5. Elias Tittus (49 points)

X30 Seniors: Guest starter Kevin Lantinga proves unbeatable

Dutchman Kevin Lantinga was unstoppable from the start of qualifying, and remained that way through to the final. Having made a perfect start, he immediately opened a lead and went on to lift the winner’s trophy. “That was a perfect weekend. I am very happy with our performance. We have worked hard and now achieved the result we were hoping for. We are now looking into whether I might contest the full season,” said the guest driver after his win. The top regular driver was Davin Singer (CV Performance Group) – behind him, a group of six drivers were battling it out at first. However, this settled down in the second half of the race. Singer was followed home in third place by Jason Barlic (SIM-ON). Max Ohsenbrink (KSL Racing Team) and Rocco Curio (Valier Motorsport) completed the top five.

X30 Seniors class standings after 1 of 6 rounds:
1. Davin Singer (91 points)
2. Max Ohsenbrink (76 points)
3. Jannik Remmert (67 points)
4. Jason Bralic (66 points)
5. Rocco Curcio (60 points)

After the successful start to the season in the German Kart Championship, under the guidance of ADAC e.V., all eyes are now on the next event. This takes place in three weeks (10th to 12th May) in Ampfing. The 1,063-metre Schweppermannring is the most southerly venue on this year’s calendar and guarantees eventful karting.