The Prokart Raceland Wackersdorf was the location of the kick-off to the German Kart Championship for the first time ever. 101 participants travelled to Upper Palatine and showed one of the most exciting racing weekends in a long time. One responsible factor was the weather conditions, temporary rain made it difficult to find the right setup. In the end, Max Hesse (DJKM), Menno Paauwe (DSKM) and Richard Verschoor (DKM) did it best and are now leading the overall lists of rankings.
DJKM: Tubben and Arnold share victories
Even though the field of participants of the juniors was a little more weakly manned, the drivers impressed with a high quality. After qualifying Dane Emil Dose (Storm Development) was in the lead, but due to two awful heats he fell back to the end of the field. Patricija Stalidzane (TK Racing) took over the leading position in the meantime. Due to a victory and a second place the Energy-kart driver gained the first ten championship points of the season and was on pole position for the first final race.
During this race, Stalidzane was stopped due to a flat tire though. Unimpressed by this, Max Tubben (CRG Holland) took over the lead and drove far away from his opponents. The Dutchman had a considerable advance as he crossed the finish line and celebrated the first victory of the year.
The second final race in the afternoon was a thriller as well. Having started from seventh position, Luca Lippkau had the fastest kart during the starting phase and led the field. Towards the middle of the race, Felix Arnold and Max Hesse caught up with the Kosmic-kart driver though and used a small mistake of the DJKM-newbie close to the end of the race. Arnold as well as Hesse drove past Lippkau and ended the race on first and second places. It was the first success at the German Junior Kart Championship for winner Felix Arnold.
Championship ranking DJKM after 1 of 5 races:
1. Max Hesse (43 points)
2. Luca Lippkau (34 points)
3. Bent Viscaal (33 points)
4. Max Tubben (32 points)
5. Felix Arnold (31 points)
DSKM: Menno Paauwe celebrates sensational victory
After qualifying and the heats a well-known name was at the top of the list of rankings – Jorrit Pex (Pex Racing Team). But directly after the start into the first final race he was involved in a collision.he race didn’t take a lucky course for Fabian Federer (CRG Holland) as well though. Therefore it looked like a clear victory for Davide Foré (Renda Motorsport) until the middle of the race. On the drying track the multiple kart world champion lost a lot of ground though and fell back to sixth place. Marco Zanchetta (CPB Sport) dominated the front in the meantime and won with an advance of almost eight seconds.
Menno Paauwe became the man of the weekend during the second. He was able to drive to second position during the start and was able to pass by kick-off winner Marco Zanchetta four laps later.Behind the Dutchman, Marco Zanchetta and Stan Pex (Pex Racing Team) showed a thrilling fight. After multiple changes of position, Zanchetta came out on top in the end and came in second in front of youngster Stan Pex.
Championship ranking DSKM after 1 of 5 races:
1. Menno Paauwe (45 points)
2. Maik Siebecke (31 points)
3. Stan Pex (31 points)
4. Gaston Specken (27 points)
5. John Norris (26 points)
DKM: Richard Verschoor starts with double success
It was already clear after qualifying: This year’s DKM season is going to be exciting. The first 15 drivers were within less than a half of a second. The reigning champion Martijn van Leeuwen (CRG Keijzer Racing) was the fastest driver.Both German drivers Manuel Valier (KSB Racing Team) and Tom Lautenschlager (TB Motorsport Racing Team) won one heat and came in second once respectively. The better qualifying result was finally achieved by Manuel Valier which got him the pole position of the first race in front of Lautenschlager.
Eight drivers had chances to win in the beginning and the lead changed numerous times. Only towards the middle of the race, Dutchman Richard Verschoor (RB Racing SA) was able to strengthen his position and controlled the front of the field.Dane Nicolai Kjaergaard (TK Racing) came in third.
Will Stowell led the field in the beginning of race 2, gave his position to team mate Martijn van Leeuwen quickly though. The Dutchman seemed to be on a safe way to victory, but on the last couple of meters Verschoor showed an incredible performanceand achieved his second victory of the weekend. Martijn van Leeuwen finishes second and Nicolai Kjaergaard (TK Racing) was on the winners‘ podium again, on third place.
Championship ranking DKM after 1 of 5 races:
1. Richard Verschoor (58 points)
2. Martijn van Leeuwen (49 points)
3. Nicolai Kjaergaard (38 points)
4. Will Stowell (29 points)
5. Christian Sorensen (27 points)
The German Kart Championship is going to start into its next round from June 12th – 14th. The three grade series of the German Motorsport Foundation (DMSB) are then going to start in Belgian Genk.
Info DSMB Fast Media / © Photo DSMB