The FIA Karting competition at Wackersdorf, Germany, provided a thrilling spectacle with many unexpected twists and turns during the Finals. Paolo Ippolito from Italy secured the KZ World Championship title, while Niels Tröger from Germany emerged victorious in the KZ2 World Cup. Additionally, Italy’s Davide Forè added the FIA Karting International Super Cup – KZ2 Masters to his list of achievements. It was a memorable event that showcased the intense competition and talent in the world of karting.
The Upper Palatinate region experienced consistent fine weather over several days, contributing significantly to the success of the FIA Karting event. The Pro Kart Raceland circuit, measuring 1190m, and the high-quality organization also played vital roles in the event’s success. The spectators, filling the grandstand, balconies, and areas around the track, enjoyed a top-notch sporting spectacle. Despite the demanding conditions, the LeCont tires used in the three categories performed well and received no criticism. FIA Karting President Akbar Ebrahim attended the event, which was broadcast live on various platforms, attracting a substantial international audience.
In the Super Heat A of the FIA Karting World Championship – KZ category, David Trefilov (DEU-Maranello/TM Kart/LeCont) maintained his strong performance from the Qualifying Heats to secure victory. He was followed by Tom Leuillet (FRA-Tony Kart/Vortex/LeCont) and Jérémy Iglesias (FRA-CRG/TM Kart/LeCont) in the respective positions.
Meanwhile, in Super Heat B, Emilien Denner (FRA-Sodi/TM Kart/LeCont) led the race comfortably, with Paolo Ippolito (ITA-KR/IAME/LeCont) and Stan Pex (NLD-KR/TM Kart/LeCont) following behind.
In the Final of the FIA Karting World Championship – KZ category, David Trefilov and Paolo Ippolito started from the front row, followed by Emilien Denner, Stan Pex, Jérémy Iglesias, and Tom Leuillet.
However, as soon as the race began, a series of incidents occurred on the first lap, causing several contenders, including Trefilov, Denner, Iglesias, and Leuillet, to retire. The race saw additional retirements from drivers like Danilo Albanese, Senna van Walstijn, Pedro Hiltbrand, and Giuseppe Palomba.
Viktor Gustafsson took advantage of the situation, making an impressive advancement of ten positions. Despite being almost two seconds behind Ippolito at the halfway mark, Gustafsson appeared to have a chance for victory. However, Ippolito, driving for the KR Motorsport team with Kart Republic, managed to maintain his lead and secure the coveted victory, giving Kart Republic its first KZ world title.
The final standings for the FIA Karting World Championship – KZ category are as follows:
- Paolo Ippolito (ITA)
- Viktor Gustafsson (SWE)
- Stan Pex (NLD)
- Matteo Vigano (ITA)
- Lorenzo Camplese (ITA)
In the FIA Karting World Cup – KZ2 category, the competition featured two Super Heats, A and B, to determine the starting grid for the Final. In Super Heat A, Maksim Orlov emerged as the winner, demonstrating his prowess on the track. He was followed by Thomas Imbourg, who secured second place, and Alex Powell, who finished third.
Super Heat B witnessed Kean Nakamura-Berta clinching the top spot, displaying his racing skills. Niels Tröger came in second, while Robert Kindervater secured third place.
The grid for the Final was set based on the results of these Super Heats. Niels Tröger and Alex Powell took the front row, showcasing their impressive performances. They were joined by Thomas Imbourg and Daniel Vasile in the second row, creating an exciting lineup for the KZ2 Final race. Other notable contenders in the Final included Robert Kindervater and Nikolas Roos, making it a highly competitive field vying for victory.
In the FIA Karting World Cup – KZ2 Final race, Alex Powell quickly went on the attack, targeting Niels Tröger for the lead. Meanwhile, Daniel Vasile held his ground in the third position. As the race progressed, several drivers faced difficulties and dropped out of contention, including Robert Kindervater, Maksim Orlov, and Nikolas Roos. Kean Nakamura-Berta, who had encountered a setback at the start, was working his way through the field.
Despite Powell’s determined efforts to close the gap on Tröger, the German driver managed to maintain his lead and eventually extended it. Tröger’s consistent performance allowed him to secure victory in the KZ2 World Cup, with a final lead of 1.4 seconds. This achievement marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time in several decades that a German driver had claimed a world title in karting, and it was done on home soil.
The Maranello SRP Factory Team, which Tröger represented, also celebrated its first world title. The team, closely associated with Germany through its manager Maik Siebecke, had been striving for this accomplishment, and Tröger’s victory was a testament to their dedication and expertise.
Here are the final standings for the FIA Karting World Cup – KZ2:
- Niels Tröger (Germany)
- Alex Powell (Jamaica)
- Daniel Vasile (Romania)
- Thomas Imbourg (France)
- Jean Nomblot (France)
Tröger’s victory added another chapter to the rich history of karting and showcased the international talent and competition in the sport.
In the FIA Karting International Masters Super Cup – KZ2, the competition was fierce in both Super Heats A and B. Here’s a breakdown of the key moments:
Super Heat A:
- Alessandro Manetti, driving for CRG with a TM Kart engine on LeCont tires, managed to secure the lead in this highly competitive heat.
- Davide Forè, representing Sodi with a TM Kart engine on LeCont tires, gave a strong performance but finished behind Manetti.
Super Heat B:
- Daniel Bray, hailing from New Zealand and driving for Parolin with a TM Kart engine on LeCont tires, claimed victory in this heat.
- Mirko Mizzoni, racing for Italcorse with a TM Kart engine on LeCont tires, delivered a competitive performance but came in second.
These Super Heats set the stage for an exciting final showdown in the FIA Karting International Masters Super Cup – KZ2, where the top drivers would battle for supremacy.
In the final race of the FIA Karting International Super Cup – KZ2 Masters, the starting grid had Paolo Forè in pole position alongside Bray. The second row featured Manetti and Mizzoni, setting the stage for an intense battle.
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As the race began, Paolo Forè quickly seized the lead, with Bray following closely behind in second place, and Manetti trailing in third. However, Bray encountered a technical issue on lap 4, forcing him to retire from the race.
Thomas Mich capitalized on the situation and made significant progress, moving up to third place. While Forè maintained a 2-second lead over the second-place competitor, Manetti gradually closed the gap and showcased impressive speed. He launched an attack on Forè on lap 21, attempting to snatch the lead, but Forè put up a strong defense.
The race reached its climax on the last lap when Manetti made a final push to overtake Forè. However, Forè held his ground and secured the victory by an incredibly narrow margin of just 15 thousandths of a second. This remarkable win added another world title to Forè’s illustrious career, achieved at the age of 49 with the support of the Renda Motorsport team.
Despite narrowly missing the victory, Manetti, aged 52, demonstrated remarkable competitiveness throughout the race. Thomas Mich, at the age of 35, secured third place, marking a successful comeback to international competition. The thrilling final race showcased the skill and determination of these experienced karting champions.
The final standings for the FIA Karting International Masters Super Cup – KZ2 are as follows:
- Davide Forè (ITA)
- Alessandro Manetti (ITA)
- Thomas Mich (FRA)
- Riccardo Nalon (ITA)
- Alessio La Martina (ITA)
These standings reflect the top-performing drivers in the KZ2 category of the competition, with Davide Forè emerging as the champion, followed by Alessandro Manetti in second place and Thomas Mich in third place. Congratulations to all the competitors for their outstanding performances in this karting event.
