Kajak (KZ2), Berezkin (OKJ), Mazzola (OKNJ), Rossi (OKN), Truchot (MINI Gr3) and Perico (MINI Gr3 U10) win the heats. The final stages on Sunday with Live Streaming.
The qualifying heats at the South Garda Karting in Lonato have presented the candidates for success in this fiercely contested 35th edition of the Andrea Margutti Trophy, with the final phase scheduled for Sunday, March 17th, live streaming with the Prefinals starting from 10:50 and the Finals from 13:50. On track are the MINI Gr.3 Under 10, MINI Gr.3, OK-Junior, OK-N Junior, OK-N, and KZ2 categories, with 288 verified drivers from 42 nationalities out of approximately 300 registered.
KZ2 – Kajak wins them all, Bertuca puts in record recoveries.
The most performance-oriented category, the KZ2, with a total of 72 drivers from 20 nationalities, witnessed a fierce battle among the main protagonists of the heats, as well as the comebacks of the winner of the previous edition, Cristian Bertuca (#101 KCS Racing/BirelART-TM Kart-Vega), who was engaged in recovering ground due to the retirement suffered during one heat. After Andrea Dalè’s pole position (#139 Dalè/CRG-TM Kart-Vega), the spotlight shifted to the Estonian Markus Kajak (#108 Maranello SRP/Maranello-TM Kart), who secured the most wins with a clean sweep of three victories. The Dutchman Senna Van Walstijn (#152 CPB Sport/Sodi-TM Kart) claimed two wins, while Andrea Dalè also proved himself among the most competitive with one victory. In the three heats contested by Bertuca, it is worth noting his comebacks: one of 24 positions and two of 25 positions, all with the fastest lap.
OKJ – Berezkin dominates.
In the OK-Junior category, with 34 drivers from 19 nationalities, the pole position holder Ilia Berezkin (#314 Monster K Factory Team/CRG-TM Kart-Vega) confirmed his victory in the first two heats. In the third heat, which was prematurely halted due to a red flag incident, the victory went to the Indonesian Qarrar Firhand (#323 La Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart). Berezkin finished second, while third place went to the Japanese driver Kosei Oguma (#321 AKM Motorsport/KR-Iame), who moved into second place overall behind Berezkin in the standings with this result.
OKN – Rossi wins the heats at the end of some good duels.
In the OK-N category, with 42 drivers from 13 nationalities, a good duel unfolded between pole sitter Riccardo Ferrari (#409 M2 Racing/OTK-TM Kart-MG), winner of the first heat, and Federico Rossi (#418 PRK/Tony Kart-TM Kart), winner of the second heat, and then also the third ahead of the strong Polish driver Karol Pasiewicz (#420 Novalux/Lenzokart-Lke). Among the best results in the heats were also the ones by Federico Albanese (#417 Italcorse Racing Team/Italcorse-TM Kart), who had already distinguished himself in the Session-2 qualifying.
OKNJ – Mazzola is the main protagonist.
In OK-N Junior, with 34 drivers from 11 nationalities, Ludovico Mazzola (#234 Mazzola/Exprit-Vortex) countered the surprising pole position of the Greek driver Nikolaos Karagiannis (#202 Monster K Factory Team/CRG-TM Kart-MG), winning the first and third heats and securing the top spot in the standings. In the second heat, the Bulgarian Lyuboslav Ruykov (#229 Zanchi Motorsport/Tony Kart-TM Kart) took the victory, and thanks to a second-place finish in the third heat, he placed behind Mazzola in the standings. Karagiannis confirmed himself among the best and is third in the standings, with Pietro Bagutti (#203 Gamoto/Tony Kart-TM Kart) in fourth and Giacomo Giusto (#235 Modena Kart/Parolin-TM Kart) in fifth.
MINI GR.3 U10 – Perico leads the standings.
In the youngest and one of the most crowded categories, the MINI Gr.3 Under 10, with 64 drivers from 21 nationalities, the situation is very balanced. In qualifying, the Frenchman Jean Poujol (#619 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame-MG) prevailed, while in the heats, Niccolò Perico (#601 Energy Corse/Energy-TM Kart-MG) and Lorenzo Di Pietrantonio (#621 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame) stood out, with Perico securing three victories and Di Pietrantonio two. Another success was achieved by David Moscardi (Birel Art Racing/Birel Art-Iame), who also showed promising performance in the heats.
MINI GR.3 – Truchot leads from Frasnelli.
In the MINI Gr.3 category, with 42 drivers from 23 nationalities, the pole position of the Italian Julian Frasnelli (#516 BabyRace/Parolin-Iame-MG) was answered by his teammate, the American Alessandro Truchot in Heat A-B, and the Belgian Antoine Venant (#511 Kidix/KR-Iame) in Heat B-C. The third heat saw another BabyRace driver, Mark Pilipenko, prevail, narrowly beating Truchot, Frasnelli, and another teammate, the Swiss Albert Tamm, to the finish line. Truchot leads the standings ahead of Frasnelli. Eighth was the Ukrainian Nikita Botte (#535 Novalux/Lenzokart-Lke), who had set the fastest time in the qualifying in Session-1.
On Sunday, March 17th, after the second chance races, the final phase begins at 10:50 to be followed live streaming with the Prefinals and from 1:50 with all the Finals.
The program
Sunday, March 17th: Warm up from 8:30, Second chance races from 10:10, Prefinals from 10:50, Finals from 13:50, Prize Ceremony at 17:15.
Complete results are available at www.trofeomargutti.com.
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16.3.2024