After an eight months racing break, the engines roared again in the highest German karting series featuring four grade classes, German Kart Championship (DKM), German Junior Kart Championship (DJKM), German Shifterkart Championship (DSKM) and the DMSB Shifterkart Cup (DSKC) for the first of five events scheduled this year.
Having experienced huge interest since the start of registrations in January, the opening round of the 2019 DKM saw a record-breaking field of 187 drivers from all over the World gathering to the famous 1.200 meter-long track close to Lake Garda. And for its third appearance in northern Italy, the German Karting Championship faced once gaian challenging weather conditions.
After temporary sunshine during the Training sessions and the Heats on Saturday, it rained on Sunday and the drivers had to get used to the new conditions. The changing weather was also a new parameter for the organization to deal with. In the end, seven drivers emerged from the storm: Tim Tröger (DSKC), Fabrizio Rosati, Lorenzo Giannoni (both DSKM), James Wharton, Robert De Haan (both DJKM), Lorenzo Travisanutto and Kas Haverkort (both DKM).
DKM: World Champion Travisanutto starts the year with a victory
The field of the German Kart Championship impresses again by its quality. For his maiden appearance, The reigning World Champion Lorenzo Travisanutto (CV Performance Group) stayed behind Kas Haverkort (CRG Keijzer Racing Team) in Qualifying but then made himself known with two victories in the Heats to lead the field during the first final race. From Pole position, he defended his position during the 21 laps. Things were more heated behind with six drivers fighting for the remaining places of the podium. After a bad start, Haverkort fought his way back to second place before Hugo Sasse (TB Racing Team) who drove past his teammate Ben Dörr (TB Racing Team). Reigning Champion Harry Thompson (Ricky Flynn Motorsport) followed in the wind shadow of the TB duo in fifth.
It looked like another victory for Travisanutto during the second Final. In the end, the Italian lost his advance and had to let his pursuer Haverkort by. The Dutchman won and thereby also took the lead of the Championship: “This was a perfect race. After I’d had some problems in the beginning, I was considerably faster than the competition during the second half of the race. We now want to continue like this throughout the course of the season”, Haverkort summed up.
Travisanutto came in second in front of Leandro Anderrüti (Lanari Racing Team). Harry Thompson (Ricky Flynn Motorsport) came in fourth in the end in front of Hugo Sasse (TB Racing Team). The German has been the fastest driver of the field during the early part of the race where he temporarily ran in
Championship ranking DKM after 2 of 10 races:
1. Kas Haverkort (62 Points)
2. Lorenzo Travisanutto (60 Points)
3. Hugo Sasse (37 Points)
4. Harry Thompson (35 Points)
5. Ben Dörr (23 Points)
DJKM: James Wharton and Robert De Haan triumph
45 young drivers started in the German Junior Kart Championship and the Australian James Wharton (Ricky Flynn Motorsport) dominated the events on Saturday. He achieved the role of
Wharton defended his top position on the wet and could celebrate a start to finish victory. The remaining podium places were quickly gained by Robert De Haan (Energy Corse) and Christian Ho (Ricky Flynn Motorsport). The fight for positions four and five was really thrilling between the German Jakob Bergmeister (Millennium Racing Team) who had the upper hand on William Karlsson (Nika International) despite numerous attacks by his Swedish pursuer.
The second Final of the Juniors started relatively cautiously. The drivers took their positions early. Only the kick-off winner Wharton had to give up after a turn to deal with a severe setback. After the race half-time, the moods of the youngsters changed though. Leading driver De Haan lost considerable ground when he overtook the last driver and had to let his direct pursuer Luca Leistra (RS Schumacher Racing Team) by only a short while later.
During the following laps, the duo swapped the lead a couple of times until it came to a collision shortly before the end of the race. Both slid into the off – De Haan got back on track more quickly though and achieved the victory. His summary was accordingly positive: “After the start, it looked like a sure win for me. In the end, things got really close though and I had a thrilling fight with Luca. This wasn’t an easy race.” Behind him followed Ho and Leistra. The latter had to deal with another setback at the finish line – a spoiler penalty cost him his top-three
Championship ranking DJKM after 2 of 10 races:
1. Robert De Haan (54 Points)
2. Christian Ho (51 Points)
3. James Wharton (45 Points)
4. Luca Leistra (32 Points)
5. Jakob Bergmeister (31 Points)
DSKM: Surprise victories by Fabrizio Rosati and Lorenzo Giannoni
Reigning champion Fabian Federer (SRP Racing Team) set the pace in the German Shifterkart Championship on Saturday. After Pole position in Qualifying, the South Tyrolean won both Heats as well. In the first final race on Sunday, his
The conditions were completely changed before the start of the second Final. This time it started to rain and Rosati was one of the few drivers who used rain tires. In the end, the race wasn’t started though and all drivers got the chance to change their kart settings. Shortly after the start, Lorenzo Giannoni (CPB Sport) took the lead and held on to it until crossing the finish line.
In the end, the Italian could hardly believe his success: “This is my first victory in the shifter karts class and with these conditions! I’m very proud to have won and I am now really looking forward to the next race.” Jeremy Iglesias (RS Schumacher Racing Team) and Federer were securely on their way as well. Benjamin
Championship ranking DSKM after 2 of 10 races:
1. Fabian Federer (65 Points)
2. Jeremy Iglesias (47 Points)
3. Stan Pex (33 Points)
4. Emilien Denner (28 Points)
5. Jorrit Pex (26 Points)
DSKC: Rookie Tim Tröger wins final
Due to the huge demand at the DMSB Shifterkart Cup, the field of participants was enlarged to 54 drivers this year. In Lonato, 50 drivers started and thereby proved the quality of the second shifterkart class within the framework of the DKM. After Qualifying, the fast Italian driver Natalia Balboa (N.G.M. Motorsport) led the Championship and also won the first Heat. During the second Qualifying race, she fell down the order and made way for youngster Senna van Walstijn (SP Motor Sport).
The Dutchman also won a Heat and came in fourth once, which gave him Pole position on Saturday evening. For the Prefinal, the field of the DSKC was divided into two groups with the best 17 drivers entering the final race. Both races took place with changing conditions. Robert Kindervater (BirelART Racing KSW) won the first one and Balboa the second. Both didn’t have enough weight at the technical post-control though and were disqualified. Thus, Jeroen Bos (CRG Holland) and German Valentino Fritsch (BirelART Racing KSW) recovered the field’s two
The Dutch polesitter won the start of the final race as well, but Valdemar Rismo (RS Competition) raced to the front from behind. During the course of the race, Bos didn’t give up though and took the lead again shortly before the end. He celebrated his comeback after 21 laps with a well-known victory. The joy didn’t last long though: a subsequent five-second penalty threw him back to third place.
Championship
ranking DKSC after 2 of 10 races:
1. Tim Tröger (44 Points)
2. Valentino Fritsch (41 Points)
3. Valdemar Risom (34 Points)
4. Davids Trefilovs (32 Points)
5. Jeroen Bos (31 Points)
After this thrilling start of the season, the DKM German Kart Championship continues from May 10th – 12th on the Prokart Raceland of Wackersdorf.
Info: DKM-Presse
Editing: Guillaume Alvarez
Photos: LRN Photo
