A new world performance for David Cosma Cristofor, vice-Champion Junior Rok

Having just returned from the FIA Karting World Championship in OK-Junior, where he achieved a very high level result, David Cosma Cristofor once again showed his talent at a world event by claiming the runner-up title at the Rok Superfinal 2023, held in Italy from 11th to 14th October 2023. A twist of fate may have deprived him of victory, but the talented Romanian driver confirmed his status as one of the world’s top Juniors with this latest performance, marked by faultless driving and extreme competitiveness.

For some twenty years now, the Rok Superfinal has been one of the world’s most prestigious events, revealing many drivers over the course of the 21 editions already contested. At the South Garda Karting circuit in Lonato, David Cosma Cristofor immediately made his presence felt in the Junior Rok category, placing himself at the top of the ranking in Thursday’s official Free Practice session. 1st in his group in Timed Practice at the wheel of his KR Motorsport chassis, the 14-year-old earned a place on the front row for his five Qualifying Heats.

Solid as a rock

David followed up his win in his first heat with the fastest lap of the race, but he received a 10-second penalty that was hard to accept. “On the starting grid, my engine had trouble starting,” explained David. “In the end, I managed to start the first race, but the stewards decided that I had received outside help, which was not the case. Unfortunately, this mishap had a negative impact on my race.”

Mentally sound and fast on the track, David continued his remarkable run in the heats with three significant wins, a 2nd place, two new best laps and even the best time in his warm-up on Saturday, the day of the Final. However, the pole position for the Final that was promised to him turned into a more distant 7th place on the starting grid due to the penalty on Thursday.

Far from abandoning his initial objective, David got off to an excellent start in the Final. Determined, he quickly climbed up to 3rd place and set off in pursuit of the two frontrunners. Unfortunately, they were able to open up a gap from the start of the race. By pushing himself to the limit, the 14-year-old managed to catch up with the driver in front of him and overtake him. But with less than four laps to go, the leader was out of reach.

With 104 drivers taking part in the Junior Rok category, David Cosma Cristofor finally climbed onto the second step of the podium with a great deal of pride, and a little regret too, but he didn’t forget to thank all his partners, the Bucharest International School, which is enabling him to pursue his sporting career in the best possible conditions, and his team: Zanchi Motorsport, his coach Dragos Gulie, his engine tuner Matteo, his mechanic Lorenzo and the Kart Republic factory for its fabulous KR chassis.

David Cosma-Cristofor – Press release / Photo © Davide Pastanella

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