The fourth round of the WSK Super Master Series is this weekend (now through March 9) at the Franciacorta Karting Track, and competition is heating up as the 400 drivers entered in the series take on its penultimate round for a chance at the championship. New to the championship, beginning this weekend, competitors will have a chance to bring home the new WSK Pole Position Trophy.
No definitive champions have yet come out in the majority of the competing categories, but this weekend may offer a chance for a few hopefuls to truly stand out.
KZ2 - A solid fight at the top
KZ2 presents the highest number of entries at the start of the season with 90 drivers. At the front of the fight is the new leader, Dutchman Senna Van Walstijn (CPB Sport/Sodikart-TM Kart-Vega), already winner of the 2022 series, and defending 2023 and 2024 champion, Italian Cristian Bertuca (BirelART Racing/BirelArt-TM Kart).
OK - Van Langendonck owns the lead
The OK Championship is down last year's WSK Final Cup winner Belgian Dries Van Lagendonk (Prema Racing/KR-lame-LeCont), Spaniard Christian Costoy (Parolin Motorsport/Parolin-TM Kart), and Scott Zac Drummond (Fusion Motorsport/KR-lame). With nearly 80 drivers expected to compete this weekend though, and next weekend's final left to tackle, the championship could still be up for grabs.
OKJ - Catching up to Hoogendoorne
Leading by nearly 100 points in the category Dutch driver Dean Hoogendoorn (Prema Racing/KR-lame-Vega) is the one to beat, having already won the last two races at Sarno and Lonato. Following up in the OKJ category is Hoogendoorn's teammate, Noah Baglin, and close behind is Canadian Ilie Crisan Tristan (Tony Kart Racing Team/Tony Kart-Vortex).
OKNJ - A battling trio
Since it's introduction in 2023, the OKNJ category has grown substantially, with 56 drivers expected to compete in Franciacorta. Leading the charge into the weekend is American Lucas Palacio (KR Motorsport/KR-lame-Vega), with American Nicola Stanley (MPAcademy Gamoto/Henza Kart-TM Kart) and 2024 WSK Final Cup champion defender Italian Michele Orlando (Dr/DR-Modena Engines) just behind.
MINI GR.3 - Lazaro vs Perico
One of the smallest categories in action, but perhaps biggest in competition. Two names are in a close battle for the championship going into Franciacorta: Portuguese Xavier Lazaro (DR/DR-TM Kart-Vega) and Italian Niccolo Perico (Team Driver/KR-lame). Standings at this time do not include a decision to Perico's appeal on the final round in Lonato (last week).
MINI U10 - Bergman dominates with 100 point lead
The youngest of the WSK categories featuring the 8 to 10-year-olds. So far, American Josh Bergman (Kidix/KR-lame-Vega) has won all three finals in the first three rounds of the season. The competition really comes in for second place in the championship, with Bergman's teammate, Caribbean Wynn Godschalk, Cypriot Andreas Papageorgiu (Monster K Factory/Monster K-TM Kart) and Italian Daniel Pasquali (CRG Racing Team/ T-Group-TM Kart).
About WSK Karting
WSK Promotion established the international karting series back in 2006. Since then, the WSK karting championships have achieved ever-increasing participation levels, becoming the most prestigious showcase of international karting, which in recent years has exceeded 30,000 overall driver participants. A goal achieved through the intense work of the whole WSK team, carried out with commitment, dedication and passion over these past 16 years.
And above all through the trust placed in them by the staff, federations, manufacturers, teams and the many drivers who choose the WSK races and championships to begin their career in karting and international motorsport.
Today the karting carried out in the WSK series proudly represents the starting point of current motorsport champions; in recent years almost the entire Formula 1 starting grid has been made up of drivers that grew up in WSK events.
Karting promoted by WSK goes beyond the track and behind the scenes. Through its videos, WSK Promotion takes fans backstage at each race and lets them in on the activity in the paddock, to fully relive all the excitement of every racing weekend.
Since its inception WSK Promotion has been committed to giving maximum visibility to its series for the fans and enthusiasts who, especially in this period, follow the races from home. Precisely for this reason it has all the technical infrastructure needed to be able to autonomously and remotely manage every live event.
