Compétition

Revelation Stanek, the big OK winner at Sarno

Always a karting fan, Nico Rosberg attended the start of the OK Final in the hot sunshine of Sarno. Pedro Hiltbrand (CRG / TM) was immediately in the lead followed by David Vidales (Tony Kart / Vortex) while Roman Stanek (Kosmic / Vortex) was 3rd. The Czech driver took control in less than two laps. Hiltbrand and Vidales fought elbow to elbow for 2nd place, and a battle ensued in the chasing group with a spectacular but not serious crash for Lorenzo Travisanutto (KR / Parilla). Two other favourites, Vidales and Hannes Janker (KR / Parilla) remained in the run-off. Harry Thompson (FA Kart / Vortex) made a remarkable return from 11th to 3rd place in front of Juho Valtanen (Kosmic / Vortex) and Zane Maloney (FA Kart / Vortex). Further back, Nicklas Nielsen (Tony Kart / Vortex) was in the top 10 from 27th position before dropping back. Luigi Coluccio (Birel ART / TM) was 9th with a gain of 14 places.

Halfway through the 20 laps of the race, Stanek was a solid 1.2” ahead of Hiltbrand, who was no longer close. Thompson was 3rd with the same gap, then Valtanen in 4th. The battle for 5th place was in full swing between Kas Haverkort (CRG / TM), Coluccio, Callum Bradshaw (CRG / TM) and their pursuers. Thompson accelerated five laps from the finish and closed on Hiltbrand at the rate of one-tenth a lap. Stanek won to general surprise after a remarkable run, while Hiltbrand was 2nd by 132 thousandths against Thompson, with Valtanen 4th and Haverkort 5th.

Report written live from the track, without taking into account to any subsequent penalties.