Xavier Lázaro finished third today in the Final of the 1st round of the WSK Super Master Series, held at the World Circuit La Conca in Muro Leccese. The Portuguese driver started the Mini Gr.3 Final from seventh position but immediately showed his determination to reach the podium places. On the Italian track, the young DR driver gave it his all to stay at the front, as his equipment was not as competitive as that of his main rivals. Despite this, Xavier Lázaro stood out and surpassed much of the competition, only falling short of defeating the two drivers who finished ahead of him: Niccolò Perico and Achille Rea, who claimed first and second places, respectively.
The Portuguese driver did not start the weekend that opened the WSK Promotion season in the best way, as he only managed the sixth-fastest time in his group during Qualifying, finishing 14th overall. In the three heats he competed in, always struggling with a lack of competitiveness in the TM engine, the young driver from Várzea de Sintra gradually improved his performance. He finished sixth in the first heat, then twice concluded in third place. The sum of these results placed Xavier Lázaro in fourth position for the start of Pre-Final A, a race he went on to finish in eighth.
Starting from seventh position in the Final, the Portuguese driver once again demonstrated why he is widely regarded as one of the strongest talents in the Mini category. In a fiercely contested race, Lázaro climbed up the ranks to position himself for a podium finish. He briefly dropped to fifth place after being hit by Italian driver Antonio Ianni but showed tremendous determination to reclaim third place, which he then defended with everything he had.
By securing third place in the category Final, Xavier Lázaro leaves this first of four rounds in the WSK Super Master Series within the top five of the Mini Gr.3 category. The next round of this competition will take place from February 5 to 9 at the International Circuit Napoli in Sarno, near Naples.
Always Improving
With the start of a new season, Xavier Lázaro arrived at the World Circuit La Conca fully aware that this is his final year competing in the Mini category. Eager to fight for podiums and victories, the eleven-year-old didn’t have the best competitive start, as he was unable to translate his free practice speed into results during Friday’s Qualifying. The sixth-place result in the timed session fell short of the driver’s expectations, as his goal was to contend for pole position.
Still on Friday, Xavier Lázaro competed in the first of the three heats of the weekend. Starting from fourth place, Xavier Lázaro quickly realized that his DR kart was slightly behind the competition in terms of pace. Even so, the Portuguese driver secured sixth place in his group, 14th overall. In heats 2 and 3, held on Saturday, the ‘little’ Xavier managed to improve his performance, securing third place in both. The young DR driver continued to notice a lack of power in terms of the engine but managed to compensate with his driving. During the races, he even held the fastest lap at certain moments.
Sunday to Fight For It
This morning, Xavier Lázaro started Pre-Final A from fourth place. The young DR driver, starting from the outside, got off to a good start, moving into third place as he entered Turn 2 at La Conca. However, he was unable to hold that position and struggled throughout the race with a chassis that was sliding significantly. The Portuguese driver ultimately couldn’t deliver a strong race but managed to “salvage” an eighth-place finish. Not ideal, but it could have been worse.
For the Final, Xavier Lázaro started from seventh position. On the inside of the track, as he approached the first two corners, Lázaro had a strong start, quickly moving up into a podium position. With the same lack of engine power that had plagued him all week, he worked wonders on the track to stay within the top three. However, he eventually dropped to fifth place after being touched by Italian driver António Ianni. At that moment, Xavier Lázaro didn’t let himself be discouraged and set off in pursuit of the podium, which he achieved before the checkered flag. Today, the Portuguese driver made the difference, with his driving skills overcoming the limitations of his equipment.
At the end of the race, Xavier Lázaro said, "This was a very difficult race, but I came out with an excellent result." The Portuguese driver added, "Weekends like this make me learn a lot and, above all, grow as a driver. A big thank you to my family for their support, to DR, and to my engine tuner, Marco Salemi, who did everything to ensure I could be competitive this week."
Photos: Sportinphoto Kart Photo-Agency
