Last Updated on 18 June, 2025 by FKC
In May we raced at ÖS-WE Ring. The track was wet after the rain, so participants were very careful in Qualification. They tested the track for the best grip. Many of them spun and some even slid off the track. Like Igor S – his best time was on lap 2. After that he was driving on the wet grass a few times. But he managed to be the 3rd fastest after Niklas E and Mattias N. It was the 2nd race for Niklas E this season and he got TQ in both of them.
In the Semi-Final all 14 drivers started simultaneously in the same group. Surprisingly no one spun in the first hairpin. Until the next turn… 🙂Mostly slid and spun the ones from the back of the peloton. In the front it went as it usually does at this track – Niklas E is in the front. Both Igor S and Berke took over Mattias N. Very close was also Niclas J. Berke had a good pace, but Mattias N was a bit smarter by choosing the better racing lines. That way he took back P3 from Berke. Next was Igor S. But it took several laps to be smarter there. Although the Latvian showed that he also can be smart and passed Mattias N again. A 2-time champion decided that he will be even more smarter closer to the end of the race. So he was, and took P2 from Igor S. Niklas E won this session. Niclas J was following Berke and then he made a nice move on the outside of ÖS-WE Ring turn, placing himself on the inside to the left-hand hairpin. That way he gained 1 spot compared to a start position. Joel and Sergej lost some places during Semi-Final, while Mattias H jupmed up by 4 positions.
The Final race started with Igor S took P2 from Mattias N after the 1st turn and then took the lead from Niklas E after turn 6. Berke lost position to a Championship rookie Elia who also passed Igor K before that. Berke wanted his position back but overdrove in a right-hand hairpin and spun letting Igor K and even Mattias H through. On the next lap Mattias N made a perfect move on Niklas E for the 2nd. The leader was close, but both Niklas E and Niclas J were even closer behind. In the famous turn 2 Niclas J went inside on Niklas E. They both were pushing Mattias N who nearly spun, but a 2019 GoKart PRIX champion helped him not to spin. This made Niclas J move up to P2 and let the leading Igor S take a breath for a few laps. The other Mattias wasn’t as lucky as his namesake and spun by himself. Berke moved up to P7. Then spun Igor K. Berke said “Thank you” and took P5. And this wasn’t even a half of the race!
Both Nik(c)lases were fighting for P2 while Mattias N made a mistake and spun. The gap behind him was big enough so he didn’t let anyone through, but he lost some precious time. Niklas E defeated Niclas J and accelerated to get Igor S. The track was drying out, and some good racing lines started to lose advantage to the alternative lines. Niklas E figured it out and started rapidly gaining on Igor S who didn’t want to risk and change his preferred line. Niklas was much faster than Igor, but once he reached the leader, it wasn’t easy to overtake. But again, his line worked and he had a better and faster exit from the last corner entering the last lap. Niklas passed Igor on the straight and got into the next corner as a leader. But a little too early hitting a gas pedal made his kart slide a little, losing the speed. Igor had a better exit and took back the lead. But the gap was minimal. Last turn, 2 different racing lines, but the finish line was close and Igor crossed it first! The 3rd was Mattias N because Niclas J spun. And behind them was Berke because Elia spun. What a race!
Thanks to all participants! Thanks to ÖS-WE Ring staff! Thanks to Giorgio for the video! And thanks to the weather! After this race Berke is still leading the championship. But the gap to P2 and then to P3 now just 2+2 points. However, since we will not count 3 worst or missed races by the end of the season it is worth checking the fixed amount of points in the separate column! Everything there is only getting started! 😉
Race documentation is here. And we will see you in Uppsala at the next event!