DTM stars Arjun Maini and David Schumacher attract attention with guest appearance. New winners promise exciting second half of the season. 135 drivers battled it out for points in Ampfing.
The German Kart Championship reached the halfway point of the season at the Schweppermannring in Ampfing. 135 drivers from 20 nations produced some thrilling racing at the 1,063-metre track. Guest starts by DTM driver Arjun Maini and DTM TV expert David Schumacher (both Arena E Team) ensured there was a special degree of attention on the OK-N class. Maini was impressed by how professional the sport of karting has become, actively got involved with the field, and visibly had fun throughout the race weekend. Schumacher also enjoyed returning to his motorsport roots, and met many familiar faces in the paddock. However, his final came to a premature end after a collision on the opening lap.
The two professional racers and all the other participants experienced unsettled weather, particularly on the Sunday. After sunny and warm conditions on Friday and Saturday, a storm on Sunday morning created an extra buzz around the track. The Super Heats took place on a track that was either wet or drying out, before the asphalt was totally dry for the finals. Victories at the third of five DKM weekends went to Matej Preuss in the KZ2 class, Mikas Toro Lundsholm in the Mini category, Henri Möhring in OK-N Junior, Jakub Kamenik in OK-N, and Marc Gerstenkorn in the KZ2 Cup, meaning three new faces took their place on the top step of the podium.
KZ2: Matej Preuss takes over after eventful start
Emilien Denner (Formula K SRP Factory Team) initially set the pace in KZ2. The Frenchman arrived as the new European kart champion, and appeared buoyed by his success. On Saturday, he secured pole position and won both heats. As a result, he led the way after the heats, ahead of Daniel Stell (Kartshop Ampfing), Marek Skrivan (TB Racing Team), Matej Preuss (Formula K SRP Factory Team), and Robert Kindervater (Formula K SRP Factory Team). With the track drying out on Sunday morning, it was Dion van Werven (CS Competition) who emerged victorious in the Super Heat. However, Denner held onto pole position for the final, ahead of Skrivan, van Werven, Stell, and Preuss.
Skrivan made the best start, but there was movement in the leading group in the early stages. As Denner attacked the Czech driver, Preuss seized his chance and moved into the lead. After that, the Formula K driver pulled clear and controlled the rest of the race. The battle for third place remained exciting. Four laps from the end, Skrivan collided with Tommie van der Struijs (MP Kartracing), resulting in both drivers dropping out of the battle at the front of the field. Preuss set the fastest lap of the race on the way to victory. Denner followed in second place, and van Werven completed the podium. Kindervater and Norton Andreasson (TB Racing Team) completed the top five. “The race went very well and gave me my first win of the season. As a result, I have significantly improved my position in the overall standings. I want to finish on the podium again in the coming rounds, and to end the year successfully,” said the winner after final.
Championship standings in the KZ2 class after 3 of 5 rounds: 1. Emilien Denner (236 points) 2. Dion van Werven (199 points) 3. Daniel Stell (196 points) 4. Matej Preuss (191 points) 5. Marek Skrivan (189 points)
Mini: Mikas Toro Lundsholm wins after lead changes hands on numerous occasions
In the youngest class, it was Albert Poulsen (Poulsen Motorsport) who dominated proceedings at first. The Dane took pole position in qualifying, won both heats, and was out in front again in the Super Heat. As such, he started the final from the front of the grid, ahead of Lion Osaj (Arena E Team), Leo Klok (CRG Holland), Mikas Toro Lundsholm (AF Competition), and Maddox Mason (Lanari Racing Team).
However, he then suffered a major setback, just before the start of the race: Poulsen’s engine refused to start, leaving the pole-sitter to play catch up at the back of the field. Back at the front, Toro Lundsholm took an early lead, ahead of Osaj and Roman Meister (TB Racing Team). As the race progressed, an intense battle developed, with the lead changing hands several times between Osaj, Toro Lundsholm and Klok. Meanwhile, Poulsen was fighting back impressively and rapidly catching the front of the field. In the end, Toro Lundsholm crossed the finish line just ahead of Klok. Osaj followed in Klok’s slipstream in third place. Ben Bernhard (Lanari Racing Team) and Mason completed the top five. Poulsen came home among the front-runners, but was handed a five-second penalty which saw him drop back to sixth place in the final classification. “I fought hard this weekend and am very proud to have won. There was no point in the race, when I could have allowed myself to make a mistake,” said Toro Lundsholm, winner of the final.
Championship standings in the Mini class after 3 of 5 rounds: 1. Albert Poulsen (255 points) 2. Mikas Toro Lundsholm (228 points) 3. Leo Klok (217 points) 4. Lion Osaj (188 points) 5. Maddox Mason (167 points)
OK-N Junior: Third win in a row for Henri Möhring
Championship leader Henri Möhring (Dörr Motorsport) continued his impressive season in Ampfing. The driver who receives support from Motorsport Team Germany secured pole position and won both heats. Even difficult conditions in the Super Heat could not knock him out of his stride: Möhring triumphed again, and started the final from pole, ahead of Bruno Alexander Greiling (Arena E Team), Edin Keserovic (Lanari Racing Team), Milan Rossi (Lanari Racing Team), and Carlos Nees (Nees Racing).
However, Möhring did not get off to a good start and promptly found himself under pressure. Greiling and Nees passed the pole-sitter, who fell back to third place. However, Möhring kept calm, closed the ensuing gap, and fought his way back to the leading duo. With eight laps remaining, he returned to the front of the field, and set about opening a slight gap. The driver from Hessen took victory, ahead of Greiling and Aurelio Longhitano (TB Racing Team), who worked his way onto the podium from sixth on the grid. Rossi and Jonathan Maier (AT-Motorsport) came home fourth and fifth. However, Nees then dropped back to eighth place after receiving a five-second penalty. As well as winning the final, Möhring also set the fastest lap time of the race en route to his third success in the third final of the season. “After the start, it was important to find my way back to the front. I did that in the end, and made it three wins in a row. That also allowed me to extend my lead in the championship,” said Möhring after his latest triumph.
Championship standings in the OK-N Junior class after 3 of 5 rounds: 1. Henri Moehring (296 points) 2. Milan Rossi (230 points) 3. Mattao Mason (182 points) 4. Carlos Nees (174 points) 5. Bruno Alexander Greiling (143 points)
OK-N: Jakub Kamenik produces dominant final Sunday
Guest driver Milosz Smuk (Gold Kart Racing Team) kicked off the OK-N weekend with the fastest time on his DKM debut. Victories in the heats went to Emilio Bernd (Marcus Bernd) and Jakub Kamenik (Lanari Racing Team), who consequently took the lead on Saturday evening. On Sunday, he continued the trend with success in the Super Heat. The Czech started the final from pole, ahead of Smuk, Ben Goetz (Ebert Motorsport), Marius Bonconseil (Ebert Motorsport), and Semir Velija (Lanari Racing Team).
In the final, Kamenik took an early lead and never really looked troubled. The Czech driver consistently extended his lead and controlled the race right through to the finish. “That was my first time in Ampfing, and I immediately felt at home. The track is great and a lot of fun to drive on. The final went very well, and it feels great to make it back-to-back wins,” said Kamenik, summing up his dominant performance in the final. Behind him, the battle for the remaining podium places really heated up towards the end of the race. Bonconseil held on to second place, ahead of Nikolas Simic (Lanari Racing Team), while Smuk narrowly missed out in fourth place. Velija completed the top five. The guest starters from the DTM held their own in the strong field. Maini started the final from 17th place and climbed up to 14th. Schumacher’s race came to an end on lap one, following a collision. Both enjoyed their outing on the kart scene and called upon their experience when working together with the Arena E Team. “It is super to be back racing in a professional kart series. The cooperation with the team is a lot of fun. It is awesome to work with the talented youngsters, who were able to give me a lot of advice after my first few laps,” said Maini, who thoroughly enjoyed his weekend in Ampfing. Schumacher added: “The kart track is like a big family. I have met so many familiar faces, and am pleased to be here. Out on the track, it is not as easy as it was nine years ago, but it is still a lot of fun. Our goal is to raise awareness and put karting in the spotlight – this is where the talented drivers of tomorrow are born.”
Championship standings in the OK-N class after 3 of 5 rounds: 1. Jakub Kamenik (283 points) 2. Ben Goetz (210 points) 3. Constantin Papst (209 points) 4. Marius Bonconseil (154 points) 5. Lias Erbersdobler (154 points)
KZ2 Cup: Third podium and win number one for Marc Gerstenkorn
Racing at his home track, Marc Gerstenkorn (Mach1 Motorsport) was the dominant driver in the KZ2 Cup on Saturday. The Swiss won qualifying and all three heats. Oliver Staedtler (Formula K SRP Factory Team) followed in second place after the heats, ahead of Emanuel Mai (Solgat Motorsport), Carl Luthardt (Kartshop Ampfing), and Niko Bognar (Formula K SRP Factory Team). Unsettled conditions in Sunday’s Super Heat mixed up the starting positions. Another local favourite, Oskar Steinbach (Kartshop Ampfing), won his group and secured pole position for the final. The second Super Heat was won by Jelte Bouma. Gerstenkorn dropped back to third place on the grid, following a collision, but remained in a promising position.
Shortly before the final, it started to rain lightly again. However, the dark clouds did not hang around for long. The race took place in sunshine and on a dry surface. Staedtler made the best start and took the lead in turn one. Just one lap later, Gerstenkorn passed him to move to the head of the field. He then proceeded to gradually pull away from the rest of the field. Mai worked his way into third place and found himself in a battle with Steinbach for the final spot on the podium. However, a red flag then brought the race to a premature end. Gerstenkorn went down as the winner, and also produced the fastest of the race. Mai was promoted to second place when Staedtler was handed a five-second penalty for a false start. That put the championship leader third, ahead of Steinbach and Milan van Winden (MP Kartracing). “Finally. I have often come close, but always came up just short of winning. After second place in Mülsen and third in Cheb, it was about time I won one,” said Gerstenkorn after his first win of the season.
Championship standings in the KZ2 Cup after 3 of 5 rounds: 1. Oliver Staedtler (244 points) 2. Marc Gerstenkorn (236 points) 3. Manuel Kastl (189 points) 4. Oskar Steinbach (123 points) 5. Emanuel Mai (107 points)
After reaching the halfway point of the season in entertaining fashion in Ampfing, attention now shifts to round four of the DKM. From 14th to 16th August, the German Kart Championship travels to the Erftlandring in Kerpen, where the drivers will embark on the decisive phase of the five title races.
