New tracks, new experience of comparing go-karts, drivers and mechanics – this was the next race of the German DKM Championship in Genk, Belgium. A beautiful but quite challenging race track with a great history called Home of Champions.
And it indeed was, with great competition and top drivers from all over the world in the OK Junior class. For a place that is mostly rainy, the weather was good this time and it didn’t rain….
Practice and atmosphere
The ambition was to show the competition that the previous round of the Czech Championship in Třinec offered. It was a big ambition and getting into the top ten was now the next goal for Max.
After the first runs and getting to know the track, Max was not too keen to talk and he admitted that the track was very difficult.. „It’s quite difficult to find braking points here“ was the only thing that came out of Max’s mouth. He continued to think about the track…
Official practice
In the practice sessions, Max stayed around 16th place and kept accelerating. The mood in the team had calmed down and the focus needed to be on capturing the best time in timed practice. He ended up just outside the top 10 in 14th place. He wasn’t too happy after practice and said he would go forward and fight after the start.
In DKM, there are three final races, a final superfinal and each race is announced right after it is finished. Hats off to the excellent organization including online coverage and pro shots.
As he said, so he did. First final heat from the start in 14th place, after the first corner Max was in eighth place, but while overtaking he damaged his front rim on the kerb and a fight for survival began, which ended in the last lap off the track…
He took a deep breath and made a great start to the next final run and even fought his way up to sixth place, but in a very competitive field of drivers who wouldn’t have it any other way Max ended up off the track….
By then he was pissed and that usually works out. Starting from last place, he finished the third final run in 13th and the superfinal in 12th.
Conclusion
Beautiful track, lots of great battles and more valuable experience and a good 12th place in the final.
