Successful start to the second half of the DKM season. More than 200 competitors in action at the iconic track. Devin Titz is crowned Mini champion with races to spare.

The German Kart Championship kicked off the second half of the season last weekend at the iconic Erftlandring in Kerpen. More than 200 drivers lined up at the 1,107-metre track for the fourth of five race weekends. In front of large crowds and with late summer weather making for dry conditions, the six classes produced some thrilling karting and the season’s first champion in the Mini category. The winners of the finals in Kerpen were Markus Kajak (DKM), Marc Alexander Reistrup (DJKM), Jeffrey Fikse (DSKC), Devin Titz (DMKM), Maxim Becker (X30 Junior), and Lars Ramaer (X30 Senior).

DKM: Win number two of the season for Markus Kajak

Ampfing winner Daniel Stell (Kartshop Ampfing) followed on where he left off and promptly secured pole position in Kerpen. However, it was Dion van Werven (CPB Sport) who led after the heats – until bad luck struck in the Super Heat: the Dutchman was forced out of the race on the final lap after a collision. Stell was on hand to clinch another victory, which also ensured he would start the final from pole.

The 28-lap final initially saw Stell take full advantage of his starting position and take an early lead, followed by Danilo Albanese (KR Motorsport) and Markus Kajak (Formula K SRP Factory Team). After a few laps, Kajak overtook both his rivals at once, before going on to take the chequered flag and victory. “It was a tough and tiring race for me. Once I had taken the lead, I pushed myself to the limit on every lap. I am now thrilled with the win,” said the Estonian after his second win of the season. Stell stayed in touch for much of the race, but ultimately had to settle for second place. Behind him, Albanese drove a controlled race to take a comfortable third place and defend his overall lead in the championship.

The battles for position behind the top three were particularly exciting. Dominik Reuter (AP-Racing) was fourth for much of the race, but then had to retire with a technical issue shortly before the finish. The beneficiaries were the Formula K SRP Factory Team duo of Christiaan de Kleijn and Emilien Denner, who climbed into the top five. Van Werven also produced a remarkable display: having started from the pit lane, he sensationally battled his way to sixth place and in doing so kept his title hopes alive.

DKM standings: 1. Danilo Albanese (306 points) 2. Dion van Werven (276 points) 3. Markus Kajak (259 points) 4. Daniel Stell (215 points) 5. Christiaan de Kleijn (206 points)

DJKM: Marc Alexander Reistrup extends his overall lead

An international field of juniors lined up in Kerpen, where, as early as qualifying, it was clear that they would be up against a flying Maxim Becker (Haupt Racing Team), who secured a dominant pole position with an advantage of almost 0.3 seconds. However, Becker suffered a setback in the opening heat. He was stopped in his tracks by a crash at the start, which saw him drop back down the standings. The beneficiary here was Marc Alexander Reistrup (CRG Holland), who led after the heats. Becker bounced back with victory in the Super Heat, meaning he started the final alongside the Dane on the front row of the grid.

Reistrup took an early lead at the start of the 23-lap final. He was followed by Becker and Milan Rossi (DAP Lanari Racing Team). That trio exchanged positions several times over the course of the race. Reistrup was back at the head of the field as the race entered its second half. From that point on, he refused to surrender the lead and went on to take his first win of the season. “That was a very close race. Once I had regained the lead around the middle of the race, I could not afford to make any mistakes,” said the delighted Dane at the finish. Reistrup was followed home by Becker, Rossi, Nicola Frigg (Ubiq Racing) and Mattao Mason (CRG Holland).

DJKM standings: 1. Marc Alexander Reistrup (344 points) 2. Milan Rossi (315 points) 3. Mattao Mason (271 points) 4. Maxim Becker (233 points) 5. Erik Poulsen (229 points)

DSKC: Jeffrey Fikse takes the chequered flag

In the DMSB Shift Kart Cup, 50 drivers battled it out for championship points at the Erftlandring. Emanuel Mai (Mach1 Motorsport) secured his first pole position. Jayden Thien (Belgium Racing) then resumed control in the heats, and led the standings on Saturday evening. It was the same story on Sunday morning. Thien won his Super Heat to defend first place. Victory in the second Super Heat went to Germany’s Rouven Wilk (Mach1 Motorsport).

Sunday’s final produced pure drama. Lutz Ohsenbrink (KSL Racing Team) took the lead at the start, closely followed by Jeffrey Fikse and Marc Gerstenkorn (Kartshop Ampfing) – Fikse then moved to the head of the field. Pole-sitter Thien did not get off to a good start, but fought back strongly and was then embroiled in a battle for the lead with Fikse. Thien attacked on multiple occasions in the closing stages, but Fikse was able to fend them off and take the chequered flag. The result changed subsequently as a result of several post-race penalties, including for the top three. Fikse submitted an appeal against the decision of the officials. Until the conclusion of this process, Fikse has been listed in first place in the provisional result, ahead of Svenja Dreher (Mach1 Motorsport), Julian Kamen (Belgium Racing), Thien and Rasmus Buxbom Andersen (Solgat Motorsport).

DSKC standings: 1. Jayden Thien (347 points) 2. Jeffrey Fikse (266 points) 3. Matej Preuss (208 points) 4. Rasmus Buxbom Andersen (197 points) 5. Emanuel Mai (160 points)

DMKM: Devin Titz wins the title

In the German Mini Kart Championship, the weekend was once again dominated by Devin Titz (CRG Holland). The youngster continued his winning run at the Erftlandring and wrapped up the title in the Mini class with races still to come. He wasted little time in setting the fastest time in qualifying, backed up that performance in the heats and Super Heat, and consequently started the final from pole position.

In that final, he and Alex Huizer (CRG Holland) produced a thrilling battle in the early stages. Huizer briefly took the lead, but Titz hit back to retake the lead and then managed his advantage in the second half of the race. Behind him, Huizer and Bruno Kortekaas (CRG Holland) kept the tempo high and the opposition in check. They were followed in fourth place by Henri Möhring (7L-Performance), ahead of Luca Tafelmeier (DAP Lanari Racing Team). After 16 laps of racing, Titz celebrated his fourth win in four races, and with it the title: “I had a great battle with my team-mate Alex at the start. I came out on top and am now thrilled with my victory and to have won the championship with races still to come.”

DMKM standings: 1. Devin Titz (381 points) 2. Henri Möhring (272 points) 3. Alex Huizer (258 points) 4. Bruno Kortekaas (189 points) 5. Jan Ruudi Algre (160 points)

X30 Junior: Guest starter Becker triumphs – Wickop extends his lead in the championship

Maxim Becker (Haupt Racing Team) pulled a surprise: starting in two classes at the Erftlandring, he not only secured pole position in the DJKM, but also in the X30 Juniors – a result that nobody had achieved before him in the DKM. However, Becker again endured less-than-perfect heats in the X30 Junior class and handed the sceptre to Carlos Nees (Nees Racing) on Saturday evening. Becker bounced back with victory in the Super Heat to secure a good starting position for the final.

Nees came out on top at the start of the final, but Becker was soon back at the front of the field. He then set the pace and benefitted from the battles raging for the positions behind him. Tom Wickop (VM Energy Corse Germany) emerged as Becker’s biggest threat, while Nees dropped back to third place after an exciting scrap. Behind the leading trio, Ben Götz (Ebert Motorsport) overtook his team-mate Joelina Denzel in the closing laps to take fourth place. “There was a slow phase immediately after the start, which I used to stay in touch with the leader. After that, I took my opportunity and extended my lead through to the finish,” said a victorious Becker after the race.

X30 Junior standings: 1. Tom Wickop (313 points) 2. Carlos Nees (269 points) 3. Joelina Denzel (249 points) 4. Ben Götz (235 points) 5. Bink van Scheijndel (208 points)

X30 Senior: Lars Ramaer rejoins the title race

In the X30 Senior class, it was Oliver Städler (CV Performance X JP Motorsport) who set the early pace. He underlined his ambitions with the fastest time in qualifying and two commanding victories in the heats. He also led the field after the Super Heats. The race wins may have gone to Bertram Sachse (Henza Racing Team) and Yoeri Schoens (Larea GT1 Racing), but Städler still secured pole position for the final.

In the final, the battle at the front of the field was joined by guest starter Amin Kara Osman (Haupt Racing Team). He took the lead at the start, before being put under pressure by Städler and later Lars Ramaer (Haupt Racing Team). With positions changing hands on a regular basis, the race headed towards a dramatic finale: Ramaer used his pace to climb ten positions and produced the fastest lap of the race to take victory. He was followed over the finish line in second place by Städler, with Kara Osman third. Nico Hantke (VDB Racing Team) and championship leader Aaron Garcia Lopez (CV Performance X JP Motorsport) also finished in the trophy positions.

“Generally speaking, it was a super weekend at my home circuit. I got off to a good start in the final, and from there was able to fight my way towards the front. Looking at the championship, that was an important win,” said Ramaer, who made up more ground in the overall standings and now trails the Spaniard at the top of the table by just seven points going into the season finale.

X30 Senior standings: 1. Aaron Garcia Lopez (288 points) 2. Lars Ramaer (281 points) 3. Marius Bonconseil (173 points) 4. Quinten Van Leeuwen (170 points) 5. Daniel Brozovic (164 points)

The German Kart Championship is now entering the finish straight. Pro Kart Raceland in Wackersdorf will host the season finale from 19th to 21st September. The remaining titles will be decided at the track in the Upper Palatinate region.