The final round of the WSK Final Cup gathered a record number of drivers on the South Garda Karting track for an end of season competition. The credit for this goes to both the organisation by WSK Promotion and the attractiveness of the Lonato circuit. The races were particularly intense in the beautiful Lombardy weather, with race incidents and retirements changing the face of the results. Senna van Walstijn (NLD-Sodi/TM) won the KZ2 title for Sodikart despite the surprise victory of Alex Maragliano (ITA-Maranello/TM). Dmitry Matveev (KR/Iame) won the OK Final, while Joe Turney (Tony Kart/Vortex) was the series winner. Emanuele Olivieri (ITA-IPK/TM) was crowned in OK-Junior after the Final victory for Enzo Tarnvanichkul (THA-Tony Kart/Vortex). Finally, Iskender Zulfikari (TUR-Parolin/Iame) won the Final and the title of the Mini category. The next generation of car champions is undoubtedly to be found among all these young up-and-coming karting drivers.

First F1 victory

At the age of 24, British driver George Russell took his first F1 win at the 2022 Brazilian Grand Prix in a Mercedes AMG Petronas, ahead of Lewis Hamilton. This is an opportunity to salute this brilliant driver and to take a quick look back at his career, which began in karting at the age of eight.

George won his first British Championship at the age of 11 in 2009 in the Comer Cadet class. He repeated the following year in Rotax Mini Max before making his international debut in Junior (KF3). He then won the 2011 European Junior Championship on an Intrepid / TM, finished 7th in the WSK Euro Series won by Max Verstappen ahead of Esteban Ocon and 16th in the KF3 World Cup won by Charles Leclerc.

10th in the FIA Karting Academy Trophy in 2012, he won a second European Junior Championship title (KF3) on an Intrepid / Vortex with Forza Racing. In 2013, he had his only season in Senior (KF) on an official Birel ART / TM. He finished 5th in the WSK Euro Series, 12th in the European Championship won by Max Verstappen, 13th in the World Championship won by Max Verstappen at PFI.

There are several points to remember from his karting career. His training in the British Championships and his early determination, his international breakthrough in Junior (KF3) among several drivers he would later meet again in single-seaters and in F1, his brief stint in Senior (KF). George is part of a remarkable generation of kart racers, many of whom are currently racing in F1. His greatest successes in karting were with Mirko Sguerzoni's Intrepid brand, first in the official team under Luigina Guerrini and Simone Sorio, then with Jamie Croxford's Forza Racing team.

After the conclusion of the WSK Final Cup, the season will end with a major event, the Rotax Max Challenge Grands Finals, which will take place from November 19th to 26th in Portugal at the Portimao circuit.

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