The fourth and final round of the WSK Euro Series ran on the circuit in Zuera, Spain.
Chiesa Corse stepped on track with 6 drivers, taking a victory in KF3, missing the class title by just 7 points, and winning the Euro Cup between teams.
Nikita Mazepin – KF3 – Unlucky protagonist
Despite difficult qualifyings (35th) he does well in the heats and qualifies 23rd. In the prefinal (A) he does a fantastic race that, however, ends with a disqualification. Then, the Russian driver displays all the progress he is capable of, climbing up to 4th in the final. Too bad that a contact during the line-up lap made him lose his filter, making his kart (rightfully) non-compliant.
Dan Ticktum – KF3 – In the championship top 10
Difficult qualifyings force him to start from the rear in all of the heat races: he manages to climb up to 8th in one, but in the others “suffers” from mid-field traffic and a few contacts and qualifies 39th for the prefinal (A). Here he does an amazing race, charging all the way up to 4th. In the final he races well, but ends just short of the top 10 (12th). He is 8th overall in the championship.
Lance Stroll – KF3 – He proves he is fit for a podium
Twice 3rd in the heats, then 8th and e 6th: numbers that allow him to place 7th on the start grid of the prefinal: here he does everything right and closes in 3rd place, proving he has the right pace to make the podium. In the final a contact at the start damages his steering column, tie-rod and spindle-pin: he keeps racing, but his kart struggles and he ends 17th. Too bad, he had times fit for the podium.
Callum Ilott – KF3 – Victory! But title hopes fade by a few points
He conquers the weekend’s first points as soon as the Superpole, where he is the fastest. In the heats he wins two races (one also with best lap), then places 4th and 2nd. At the penalties count he is 1st: in his prefinal (A) he fights, but closes 2nd. Yet, he keeps his hopes up and wins the final, also with best race lap. Too bad he places 2nd in the championship, just 7 points from the winner.
N.B Callum Ilott is the 2012 WSK Master Series champion: the Federation has, in fact, welcomed the appeal presented by Chiesa Corse after its English driver was disqualified for a contact that causes his rear bumper to fall off, thus making his kart non-compliant.
Thiago Vivacqua – KF2 – An extra push by the competition
After the qualifyings he is 27th, but in the heats he is wild, placing 6th on grid for the prefinal, with great races: 7th, 3rd, 6th and 4th. In the prefinal he keeps up the pace and, battling with the best, ends 8th. In the final he confirms speeds fit for the Top 10 (9th). Excellent sign heading for his class World Cup that will be contended precisely in Zuera.
Max Verstappen – KF2 – Good debut, but needs more time
A few practice days and one race are not enough to judge a driver, a team, and their collaboration. 19th in the qualifyings, in the first two heats he struggles a bit, then finds the right feeling and closes 4th twice. 24th at the start of the prefinal, he wants to immediately dash on the rebound, but is forced to leave due to a contact at the start. In the final he does an amazing recovery from the back of the grid all the way to 10th place. He is 6th overall in the championship.
EURO CUP – TEAM TITLE
Chiesa Corse also conquers the WSK Euro Cup in KF3, dedicated to the best team in the championship: the trophy, in fact, takes into account the points of the top two ranked drivers from a single team for every category.
Info Chiesa Corse / © Photos KSP