New winners in sunshine at Kerpen

The field of the German Kart Championship visited the Erftlandring in Kerpen for the fourth round. The drivers delivered gripping fights in the best weather, thrilling the numerous spectators. The event was supported by the GTC Race. The sports car racing series has been a partner of the DKM since this year and awards a GT4 test drive to the overall winner of the DSKC.

Things are hectic in the DKM in the second half of the season. Three weeks ago, the season’s halfway point took place in Wackersdorf, and now it was on to Erftland. The 1,107-metre track welcomed the DJKM, DSKM and DSKC predicates. The youngsters of the Mini 60 Series by Chrono Karting were again represented in the supporting programme.

The races were exciting – several times the winning decisions were made shortly before the end. In the evening, Luke Kornder (DJKM), Guust Specken, David Trefilov (DSKM), Thomas Rackl and Niels Tröger (DSKC) rejoiced. There was no preliminary decision in the championships and so it will be exciting again at the finals in Franciacorta (Italy). The Mini 60 Series by Chrono Karting also took place for the fourth time. Constantin Papst celebrated his first victory in a thrilling photo finish.

GT4 Test Drive for Champions of the DMSB Shift-Kart-Cup

As part of the DKM in Kerpen, the GTC Race presented itself to the drivers. The sports car racing series offers kart racers a strong platform for advancing into automobile racing. The champion of the DMSB-Schalt-Kart-Cup can look forward to a test drive in a GT4 racing car. “For us, the DKM is a strong platform in junior racing. This is exactly what we are following up with the GTC Race and would like to use the mutual synergies. With the test drive, we offer a talented driver the chance to gain a first impression. My team and I are always available to answer any questions you may have about getting into GT racing. Please send an email to infogtc-race.de,” said GTC organizer Ralph Monschauer.

DJKM: Luke Kornder unstoppable

On his home track, Luke Kornder (SIM-ON) drove away from everyone. The racer from Zülpich won the qualifying, both heats and the final races on Sunday. “I am very happy with how the weekend went. I have won all the sessions since yesterday. That’s a super feeling, especially on my home track,” he beamed in the winner’s interview.

Behind him, the battle for the overall lead took centre stage: Marc Gerstenkorn (TB Racing Team) and Phil Colin Strenge (ADAC Württemberg e.V.) took turns in second place – before the final, the two are separated by just one point. In the first final, Cemil Bayyati (Lanari Racing Team) and David Gorcica (FORZA RACING) completed the cup ranks. In the afternoon race, Bayyati finished third ahead of Amin Kara Osman (SIM-ON) and Strenge.

Championship standings DJKM after 8 of 10 heats:
1st Marc Gerstenkorn (203 points)
2nd Phil Colin Strenge (202 points)
3rd Cemil Bayyati (176 points)
4th Luke Kornder (169 points)
5th David Gorcica (155 points)

DSKM: Guust Specken and David Trefilov share victories

2015 champion Alexander Schmitz (Team Kartsport.de) made his return to the top of the DSKM field with a pole position. In the course of the heats, David Trefilov (Maranello SRP Factory Team) fought his way to the top and started the first final from pole position. But the race ended for him early on. In the battle for the win, Guust Specken (CRG Holland) edged ahead of his teammate Christiaan de Kleijn (CRG Holland). Specken was very satisfied after his second win of the season: “We had a good start and I was able to save some tyres in the middle of the race. There are some friends visiting today, it’s great to win in front of them.” Behind the two Dutchmen, Daniel Stell (Dörr Motorsport) finished third. Tim Tröger (Maranello SRP Factory Team) and Stan Pex (SP Motorsport) rounded off the cup ranks.

Trefilov delivered a sensational recovery in the second race. From the back of the field he stormed to the front and won ahead of his teammate Tröger. “The race could not have gone better for us. After the setback in the first race, it was a perfect comeback and we proved our strength once again,” the winner summed up his ride. Specken crossed the finish line in third place this time, followed by Maxim Rehm (Rehm Racing) and de Kleijn. In the championship, Stan Pex already has a clear lead and holds all the aces to celebrate his second DSKM title.

DSKM championship standings after 8 of 10 rounds:
1st Stan Pex (190 points)
2nd Tim Tröger (132 points)
3rd Jorrit Pex (121 points)
4th David Trefilov (112 points)
5th Guust Specken (99 points)

DSKC: Maranello SRP Factory Team celebrates double double victory

Mach1 Kart protégé Linus Hensen (Mach1 Motorsport – Kartschmie.de) started the race with a best time in qualifying. There in the course of the heats he had to cope with a small setback and let the Maranello SRP Factory Team duo Thomas Rackl and Niels Tröger take the reins. The two of them settled the victory in the first final between themselves. After 23 laps, Rackl won ahead of his teammate. “It was a super race. Everything worked very well, the fight with Niels was a lot of fun,” the winner looked back. Hensen fought his way up to a strong third position. Fourth was Siep Kuypers (CRG Holland) ahead of Mark Negrusta (Birel ART Racing KSW).

In a strong opening phase, Hensen fought his way back to first place in the second heat. But as the race progressed, a collision occurred, causing him to lose four places and ultimately even retire completely. Meanwhile, the Maranello protégés changed positions. This time Tröger won ahead of Rackl and Gianni Andrisani (Mach1 Motorsport – Kartschmie.de), Dominik Reuters (AP-Racing) and Negrusta. With his victory, Tröger took a big step towards winning the DSKC. “The start didn’t go perfectly this time, but it was still enough to win. A big thanks to the team, together with Thomas we worked together excellently and consolidated our positions in the championship,” said the winner after the race.

DSKC championship standings after 8 of 10 races:
1st Niels Tröger (223 points)
2nd Thomas Rackl (167 points)
3rd Linus Hensen (137 points)
4th Juliano Holzem (111 points)
5th Tom Adams (99 points)

Mini 60 Series by Chrono Karting: First victory for Constantin Papst

Since the start of the season, the Mini 60 Series by Chrono Karting has been an integral part of the DKM supporting programme. 16 youngsters were represented in Kerpen and once again impressed with a high level of performance. Lenn Abbas (Rodopi Racing Academy) alone seemed unbeatable. He won both heats and the pre-final clearly ahead of his pursuers. But the cards were reshuffled for the final.

Abbas did not manage to pull away from the start this time and lost a few places in the fight for the lead. Constantin Papst, Carlos Nees (both Nees Racing) and Milan Rossi (Lanari Racing Team) formed a trio in the fight for victory. They changed positions several times and made it exciting until the end. They crossed the finish line wheel-to-wheel. Nees was a blink of an eye ahead and was the presumed winner. But a spoiler penalty threw him back to eighth place. The victory went to his team mate Papst ahead of Rossi and Abbas. The two Dutchmen Aron Weeda and Senn Lindemann (Paauwer Kart Racing) received a trophy in fourth and fifth place. Winner Papst was in high spirits after his triumph: “I have only been kart racing for a year and I am very proud to have won today. The race was great fun, a huge thanks to everyone who supported me.”

For the DKM finale, another premiere awaits at the end of October (27-29 October). For the first time, the highest German kart racing series will be a guest in Franciacorta, Italy. The circuit is one of the best in Europe and this year is the venue for the Kart World Championship in the OK Junior and OK classes.